Lawamutwe is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest of five children. His father works as a cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated stay-at-home parent. Unfortunately, due to a prolonged drought in the region, Lawamutwe's family has faced significant challenges in the past year. Their cattle have suffered starvation, resulting in losses and reduced financial stability. Lawamutwe and his father arrived at our medical partner's care center, brought by one of their relatives who live in the city. Due to a language barrier, the team brought in a Maasai translator to facilitate effective communication. Lawamutwe's father shared that he traveled over 400 kilometers to reach the care center to find medical care for his son. After a heartfelt welcome from our team, the staff performed a comprehensive medical assessment. They determined that Lawamutwe's orthopedic condition started at the age of three. He has shown signs of bowed legs, which have progressively worsened with time. As a young Maasai boy, grazing livestock is a fundamental part of Lawamutwe's culture, but his limited ability to walk long distances prevents him from engaging with his peers during these activities. Lawamutwe was diagnosed with a condition in which his left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. On June 6th, Lawamutwe will undergo surgery to help restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Lawamutwe's father said: "I wish for my son to be able to go and be with his fellow boys. I hope his legs won't be a reason he is always alone."

Sokim is a 39-year-old rice farmer, who lives with her husband and three children in Cambodia. Her husband also works as a rice farmer, and their three children are in school. On September 28th, Sokim was washing the family's motorcycle when she slipped and fell, injuring her left leg. At a clinic X-rays were performed, which showed that she had a previously undiagnosed tumor on her left femur. Since then, she has been in constant pain and cannot walk. Because she was not able to afford any treatment, she was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where a biopsy showed a chondrosarcoma of the distal femur. This is a common type of bone cancer that originates in cartilage cells and primarily affects adults. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. The doctors at the clinic referred Sokim to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for further treatment. After additional evaluation, Sokim has been scheduled to undergo surgery on October 19th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Center, during which the tumor will be removed and her femur repaired. Now, Sokim and her family are seeking $726 to fund Sokim's surgery and care. Sokim hopes that she will be able to walk without pain and continue with her rice farming after she has recovered.

Proeung is a loving grandmother with one son, four daughters, and ten grandchildren. Proeung raised her children as a single mom for most of their lives, and enjoys cooking and looking after them and her ten grandchildren. She is a retired rice farmer, and now spends her days with her family and friends in the village. She enjoys going to the nearby pagoda to pray regularly. In mid-October 2023, Proeung fell outside of her house and broke her ankle. She was treated at a local clinic, but the wound around the fracture has not healed. She has sought further treatment from a traditional healer in her village, but the skin around the wound has only worsened. She is in chronic pain and cannot walk without support. When Proeung learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled there hoping to seek treatment. On November 9th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin flap procedure to to eliminate pain and help her walk independently again, but Proeung needs help to fund this $673 procedure. She shared, "I hope I can walk by myself and be able to care for my family again."