Habtamu is an 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia who lives with his mother in the city and shares a close bond with his brother and sister. Habtamu experienced an accidental puncture wound to his left leg. Unfortunately, the injury never healed properly. For over a year, he dealt with continuous pain, daily swelling, and persistent fluid discharge from the wound. Because of the constant discomfort, he was forced to stop attending his fifth-grade classes. He is unable to run, play, or move around. Following a review at our medical partner's care center, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, doctors recommended that Habtamu undergo a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected dead bone or tissue. If not treated, it can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. Fortunately, on September 30th, Habtamu will undergo surgery that will help his leg heal, alleviate his symptoms, and prevent future health complications. He needs help raising $900 to fund his procedure and care. Habtamu's mother shared, "I hope to see him walking confidently, as seeing him suffer at his young age breaks my heart."

Zaw Min is a 55-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, son, and grandson in Tak Province, Thailand. Before his condition worsened, he ran a bicycle repair shop at his home. However, he had to stop working due to his deteriorating health. His wife earns a living by selling vegetables. In the middle of 2024, Zaw Min began to experience troubling symptoms, including back pain. He was diagnosed with urethral stones and was referred to a specialty hospital for further care. Currently, he experiences some discomfort while walking and also experiences back pain. Doctors recommend performing a cystolithotomy, a procedure to remove bladder stones, to address his symptoms. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 19th. Once completed, Zaw Min will hopefully live more comfortably and can return to work. Zaw Min said, "Thank you very much for giving me a hand. It relieves me of my stress, especially financially."

Nich is a 50-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and lives in Battambang Province with her husband, who serves in the army at the border. They have three children; the eldest sells pork at a local market, the second child works as a coffee seller, and the youngest is a university student. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and helping with household tasks. In September 2024, Nich suffered severe burns in a gas explosion while cooking. Although her burn wounds healed after treatment at a local clinic, she developed significant scar contractures affecting her neck and both armpits, with the neck being the most severely affected area. She later underwent burn contracture release surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Following that procedure, her condition improved, and she experienced better movement and comfort. However, over time, the scar contracture gradually recurred, causing increasing tightness around her neck. The tight scars make it difficult for Nich to turn or extend her head normally, and she sometimes struggles to eat because of the restricted movement. On June 18th, surgeons at CSC will perform a free flap procedure to release the severe neck contracture and reconstruct the affected area with healthy tissue. This surgery is expected to improve neck movement, reduce tightness and discomfort, enhance function, and lower the risk of future recurrence. The procedure will also help her eat more comfortably and carry out daily activities with greater ease and independence. Nich said, “I am very grateful for the treatment and support I received before. It helped me feel much better for a long time. I hope this surgery will further improve my condition, allow me to move my neck more freely, and help me enjoy daily life with my family without discomfort.”