Ruth is an 11-year-old girl from the Eastern region of Kenya. She is in Grade 5 and is the youngest of three children. Her father is a local farmer and her mother mother is a homemaker. They live in a traditional mud house. She is a jovial and social young girl who aspires to become a doctor in the future so that she can help children in need of different treatments. When Ruth was 7 years old, her mother began to notice an unusual knee deformity which greatly affected her mobility. Her walking style is characterized by limping, and she cannot walk long distances. This has greatly affected her studies, as she is unable to attend school which is quite a distance away. Ruth is scheduled for a knee repair surgery with our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) on July 17th. Ruth and her family are requesting $1,224 to fully fund the procedure. This surgery will enable her to walk without pain and to attend school. It will also greatly boost her self-esteem and enable her to interact with her friends at school. Ruth’s mother said, “I am pleading for support for my daughter to undergo surgery and continue with her normal life like other children.”

Muk is a 46-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and has four sons and seven grandchildren. She lives in the capital city of Phnom Penh with her husband and youngest son, who is a high school student. Muk sells pork for a living and, in her free time, likes to watch the news and check her social media. About two years ago, Muk developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. As a result, she has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going outside. When Muk learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for an hour seeking treatment. Muk needs to undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. This surgery costs $225, which covers all medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Muk will undergo surgery on August 7th. She contributed $50 to her care. Muk shared, "I hope I can have surgery and go back to my life without worrying and be able to do my job better."

Se is a 53-year-old police officer from Cambodia. He lives in Takeo province with his wife and teenage son. Se has been working with the police for more than twenty years. In his spare time, he likes spending time with his family, and growing vegetables and herbs in his garden. Nine years ago, Se was diagnosed with diabetes. About two years ago, he noticed a wound on his right foot. He has been diagnosed with a diabetic foot ulcer, an open sore or wound that is common in patients with diabetes and is commonly located on the bottom of the foot. He experiences pain and discomfort, and the wound is infected. When Se learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Fortunately, CSC can help. On September 11, surgeons at CSC will perform a plantar flap and skin graft procedure to cover the wound and prevent further damage. During the procedure, the surgeon will carefully remove healthy tissue from a nearby area of the foot or from another part of the body. The flap will then be carefully positioned over the damaged on the foot. The surgeon will connect the blood vessels of the flap to those in the recipient area using microsurgical techniques. This allows the flap to receive the necessary oxygen and nutrients for healing. Once the flap is in place and the blood supply is established, the surgical site will be closed with sutures or other closure techniques. Hopefully this will repair the damaged tissue, promote healing, and enable Se to walk comfortably again. Now, he needs help to fund this $673 procedure. He is eager to be healthy and active again. Se shared, "I hope I can walk again without pain."