Sok is a 40-year-old father of three from Cambodia. He and his wife are rice farmers on their ancestral land and have three children: a 16-year-old daughter, an 11-year-old son, and a 2-year-old daughter. When not working outside in the fields, Sok likes to play football with his neighbors and son. Sok has had a painful mass on his left knee for at least ten years. It has grown larger, making it impossible for him to walk without pain. Sok also experiences difficulty working outside, riding a motorbike, or helping his wife around the house. He received an x-ray at his local clinic and was diagnosed with a uric acid mass from advanced gout, also known as gouty tophus. A tophus can occur when the patient has gout and uric acid builds up around the joints, which is often painful. It is also possible for the mass to press on a nerve, which can be both painful and potentially dangerous. Larger masses need to be removed so they don't cause long-term damage to the joint. The local clinic team recommended Sok undergo surgery to remove the mass, but Sok was unable to afford the procedure. Fortunately, a neighbor told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and Sok traveled to CSC's care center to receive treatment. On October 3rd, surgeons will remove the mass. CSC is requesting $273 to fund this procedure. Sok contributed $100 to his care. Sok said: "After surgery, I hope I will be able to walk more easily and without pain, swelling, and infection."

Sinuon is a 39-year-old woman from Cambodia. Together, she and her husband have a four-year-old son. Her husband is a day laborer, while Sinuon and her son collect aluminum cans and bottles to recycle for additional income. In March 2020, Sinuon was involved in a motor vehicle accident and fractured her left tibia. She went to a government hospital, where her bone was stabilized with metal hardware. Now that her fracture has healed completely, Sinuon wants to have the hardware removed from her leg to avoid potential health problems in the future and improve her comfort and mobility. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 4th, Sinuon will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Sinuon needs help to fund this $304 procedure. Sinuon said: "After surgery, I hope that I can walk well to collect cans with no aching in my leg."

Levina is a charming 4-year-old girl and the youngest child of three in her family. Sadly, Levina had a twin brother who suffered from a high fever when they were about nine months old and tragically passed away. Levina, too, faced challenges during her early years, as her overall health showed many challenges. However, she managed to survive and gradually saw improvements in her general well-being as she grew older. Levina has been diagnosed with right valgus, meaning that her right leg bows inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she experiences difficulty in walking. In April 2022, Levina visited our partner's care center and began receiving treatment to correct her leg deformity, as her legs were severely bowed. However, given the severity of her condition, her initial surgery proved insufficient to fully heal her condition. Consequently, she has returned for another surgery in order to progress further with her treatment plan. Levina’s parents are once again seeking assistance to cover the costs of the treatment she began when she was three years old. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund her treatment, which will hopefully restore Levina's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Levina’s mother says, "Thank you so much; the first treatment has helped my daughter so much. We have hope that when she completes her treatment, she is going to be able to walk freely."