Four-year-old Sinan is a KG 1 student living in Ethiopia. He is the only child of his loving parents. His mother sells vegetables, while his father is a wood craftsman at a local furniture workshop. One year ago, Sinan started to experience a loss of appetite, painful swallowing, severe snoring and nightly sleep disruptions. His throat hurts all the time, swallowing is painful, and his sleep is interrupted every night. He eats so little that doctors had to prescribe medicine to help him regain his appetite. Initially, Sinan's parents didn't realize how serious the situation was, so they treated him with simple painkillers from the local clinic. Four months ago, however, his symptoms grew much worse, and they took him to a specialist hospital. Doctors found severe tonsillitis, and said that he needed surgery as soon as possible. For his parents, the hardest part is watching their only child in pain, day after day, and needing medicine simply to eat. They work hard, yet they still cannot pay for the operation that would make him well. This weighs heavily on them. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Sinan, which is scheduled to take place on October 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Sinan of his symptoms, and helping him to live more comfortably. "We have waited so long and we feel helpless. We cannot wait for this surgery to finally be done," said Sinan's parents.

Chheanly is a 29-year-old military service member from Cambodia. He recently got married and lives in Kampong Thom Province with his wife, who works as a farmer. He is the third child of five siblings, and his older siblings are married and live in nearby villages. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends, but he is no longer able to participate because of his injury. In July 2025, Chheanly was involved in a motorcycle accident while transporting food down a mountain, resulting in multiple injuries, including a right clavicle fracture and a severe right brachial plexus injury affecting his entire arm. Since the accident, he has developed a right flail arm with complete weakness, pain, and stiffness. He is unable to move his right shoulder, elbow, wrist, or fingers, leaving the arm nonfunctional. This condition has significantly impacted his daily life, preventing him from performing many activities independently, affecting his ability to continue his military duties, and limiting his participation in activities he previously enjoyed, such as playing volleyball with his friends. When Chheanly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On August 6th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his right shoulder joint and to help stabilize his shoulder joint, reduce pain, and improve the position and function of his arm. This procedure will also prepare his arm for future treatments aimed at improving movement and independence. He can contribute $100, but needs help raising $511 more to fund his procedure and care. Chheanly said, “I hope this surgery will improve the stability of my shoulder, reduce my pain, and be the first step toward improving my arm function so I can become more independent and return to my daily life.”

Savy is a 68-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and lives with her husband. They have two children: one works as a primary school teacher, and the other is a nurse. In her free time, she enjoys growing vegetables around her home and visiting the pagoda. In 1981, Savy suffered a gasoline burn on her right forearm. Although the wound healed after receiving dressing care, it left extensive scarring. Around 2004, she underwent surgery and skin grafting at Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) for a smaller lesion in the same area. About seven months ago, a new wound appeared on her right forearm and gradually grew larger. A biopsy on September 29, 2026, confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. The wound causes pain and makes it difficult for her to use her right hand comfortably for everyday activities. Savy traveled for eight hours so she could receive treatment. On October 27th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to remove the cancerous tissue and help the wound heal. It may also help reduce her discomfort and allow her to use her right hand more comfortably for daily activities, such as tending to her vegetables and caring for herself. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $483 more to fund her procedure and care. Savy said, “I hope the treatment will help my wound heal and reduce the pain in my arm. It has been difficult to use my hand for everyday tasks, and I wish to do more things on my own again. I hope I can feel more comfortable and return to my daily life with less difficulty.”