Samrong is a sweet, clever six-year-old from Cambodia. He is the oldest child and has one younger brother. His father is a fisherman, and his mother works in the local factory. Samrong is in the first grade, where he enjoys learning about Khmer literature in school, and he would like to be a policeman when he grows up. Samrong was born with syndactyly of his right hand. This means that several fingers of his right hand are webbed, and there is often a fusion of the bones in his finger. As a result, he has difficulty with fine motor skills, like writing with a pencil or holding objects, and his parents are concerned he won't be able to keep up in school. On November 2nd, surgeons at our medical partner will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused digits, allowing Samrong to use his hand easily. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $444 to fund this procedure. Samrong's parents contributed $100 to his care. His mother shared: "After surgery, we hope Samrong's fingers will look like other children's, and he can use his hand well."

Six-year-old Tay lives with her mother, sister, and brother in a village in Shan State in Burma. Tay's mother is a teacher. When Tay was three years old, she was frequently ill with a rapid heartbeat and fingertips that would turn blue. Her mother brought her to a nearby hospital, where the doctor told them that Tay had congenital heart disease and would need to be treated in Yangon. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tay's mother did not feel it was safe to take Tay to Yangon. When she turned five, Tay's symptoms worsened, and her mother brought her to a hospital in Yangon in August 2022. At the hospital, Tay was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect, and her mother was told that Tay would require surgery- which the family could not afford to pay for. Fortunately, Tay's aunt referred her to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, for help. Now Tay is scheduled to undergo atrial septal defect closure at Pun Hlaing Hospital on May 13th. As Tay is becoming progressively more ill- with episodes of rapid breathing and weight loss due to a lack of appetite- this procedure is critical for her health and well-being. Burma Children Medical Fund is seeking $1,500 to cover the cost of Tay's care. “When I learned that my daughter [Tay] needs surgery, I felt very sad and I cried because I cannot afford to pay for her surgery. But when I learned that the organization [BCMF] will support the cost of my daughter’s surgery, I felt very happy and thankful to all the donors and that organization. I want to see her healthy,” said Tay's mother.

Sambo is a 63-year-old rice farmer who lives in Prey Veng province with his wife, who is also a rice farmer. In his free time, Sambo enjoys going to the pagoda to pray, and studying Buddhist books. In 2002, Sambo suffered a bad insect bite on his right ankle that caused severe swelling. After some weeks with no improvement, he underwent a drainage procedure at a local hospital. Unfortunately, the wound never healed properly, and continued to cause pain. In 2010, Sambo visited Children's Surgical Centre, at which time the doctors recommended a biopsy. Sambo became too nervous to undergo the procedure and went back home. Now thirteen years later, he has returned as the wound area has gotten worse over time. Sambo has now been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer which can form around chronic skin injuries. He experiences itchiness, pain, and difficulty bearing weight on his right ankle. If left untreated, the carcinoma may grow and cause further complications. Sambo traveled three and a half hours seeking treatment at Children's Surgical Centre. On October 18th, surgeons at CSC will perform an excision and skin flap procedure to remove the cancerous tissue and help him feel comfortable again. Now, he needs help to fund this $673 procedure. Sambo shared, "I hope I can finally stop this problem and go back to work on the rice farm."