Seng Hour is a 16-year-old student who resides in Pursat province with his parents and two younger sisters. His father is a teacher, his mother is a rice farmer, and his sisters are students at the local school. Seng Hour is in grade 10 and enjoys chemistry; he would like to become a teacher. At home, he enjoys his mother's fried beef and vegetables and playing volleyball with friends. In August 2023, Seng Hour was in a motorbike accident and fell onto his right side. His family sought treatment from a local clinic, but his right arm and hand remain paralyzed, and he cannot use them. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand, and injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Because Seng Hour is unable to use his hand, he has stopped attending school. Seng Hour traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment, the only center in the country where the treatment he needs is available. On January 9th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery with the goal of regaining some function in his arm. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Seng Hour said: "I hope the doctors can fix my arm so I can go to school and get a job to help my family."

Gebra is a 10-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest in his family of three children. His parents are farmers. They depend on their yield for the family's sustenance and sell water at a retail store for additional income. While this supplementary income helps with some expenses, they still face challenges in affording a balanced diet and, occasionally, face challenges in providing school supplies. Gebra developed a mass on the right side of his chest when he was just one month old. Although his parents sought medical attention for him when he was a baby, the doctors advised them to wait until he was older for surgery. When Gebra turned seven, they took him to the hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, that facility was not equipped for surgeries, and due to financial constraints, Gebra's family had to wait for three years. They then sought treatment at another hospital, where one of our partner doctors referred them to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, for assistance with the surgery cost. The mass on Gebra's chest has continued to grow, limiting his range of motion in his right shoulder. Gebra will undergo surgery to remove the mass on February 6th. Now, Gebra's family needs help to raise $724 to fund this procedure. Gebra's mother said: "I hope my son gets the treatment that will help with the mass on his chest because, as he grows, it makes him feel uncomfortable being around people."

Edina, a 41-year-old mother of seven, works as a vegetable seller, earning about $2.97 per day for her family's upkeep. She finds joy interacting with her customers and has a fondness for chicken and nsima, a Malawian staple porridge made from maize flour. Four years ago, Edina discovered a small, painless swelling on the right side of her neck. After seeking medical advice at a nearby hospital, she was diagnosed with goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She was instructed to wait for an opportunity for surgery, but her condition has worsened, causing breathlessness, neck pain, and difficulty lifting heavy objects. This has affected her work capacity and resulted in a decrease in income. Inspired by a fellow community member's journey to seek help, Edina visited our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre, where a surgeon reconfirmed the need for a thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Faced with financial hardships, Edina is seeking support for her surgery treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edina receive treatment. On March 20th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to relieve her symptoms and help her resume her vegetable business at full capacity. Now, Edina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Edina says, “I feel so fortunate to get the opportunity for support. Thank you so much, I believe surgery will help me get back to normal life."