Milia is a 5-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the oldest of three children. He is a very active boy who enjoys making cars from wood and used bottles. He dreams of driving big trucks. Milia’s father is a pastoralist who depends on livestock for the family’s livelihood. Although life has been challenging, the family holds strong hopes for Milia’s future. They dream of seeing him walk comfortably, attend school, and grow with normal legs. Milia was diagnosed with bilateral varus; both his legs were bending outward as he grew older. Several factors can cause this condition, including growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. They believe that the corrective surgery will help straighten his legs and prevent long-term disability. His family is seeking support to give their child a healthy and active future. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Milia. The procedure is scheduled for January 19th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Milia's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Milia's father says, "Living off herding cattle is good for the village life, but when I learnt of the cost for his treatment, it got me worried that I won't be able to afford the surgery, and he might end up living life with this deformity."

Romonea is a 10-year-old girl from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. She lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her parents work in the city as sales staff for a beverage company. She is currently in the fifth grade and enjoys reading and writing Khmer. She dreams of becoming a doctor in the future. Romonea was born with a right leg length discrepancy, and the condition has gradually worsened as she has grown older. Because of the difference in leg length, she experiences difficulty walking and pain when walking long distances, which affects her daily activities and mobility at school and home. In the past, her mother brought her to a government hospital, where doctors recommended that she seek further treatment at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 8th, Romonea will undergo surgery to help improve her leg alignment and mobility. Her family needs help raising $582 to fund her surgery and care. Romonea's mother said, “My greatest hope is to see my daughter walk comfortably without pain and have a better future. I want her to be able to go to school, play happily, and live like other children her age.”

Reaksa is a hardworking barber from Takeo province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his sister, who works in a garment factory. His father is a truck driver, and his mother also works in a garment factory. In his free time, Reaksa enjoys listening to music and helping his parents with daily tasks around the home. In 2016, Reaksa fell down the stairs at his home, injuring his hip. Since then, he has suffered from ankylosis of the hip with severe flexion deformity, which makes it difficult for him to walk, sit, and maintain a normal posture. He also experiences back pain when sitting for long periods. After the accident, he was treated at a government hospital with medication, but his condition did not improve. He was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), where doctors treated him with a cast. It initially relieved his pain and allowed him to walk without support. However, over time, his posture gradually worsened, and the hip deformity became more noticeable. On March 16th, Reaksa will undergo an uncemented hip replacement procedure on his left hip. Reaksa can contribute $100 for his treatment, and needs help to raise an additional $1,400 to cover surgery, a special prosthesis, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Reaksa shared, “My hip still makes it hard to sit and walk properly, and I worry about my posture getting worse. I hope the treatment at CSC will help me move more comfortably and live without pain.”