Catherine is a three year old toddler and is the second child in a family of two children. She lives in Tanzania. She is a quiet and laid-back child who doesn’t speak much. She enjoys spending time with her mother, who is employed as a pharmacist. This sometimes requires her mother to take her to work. Catherine’s father is a carpenter, crafting furniture in Mpanda. Both parents work diligently to meet their family’s needs, but their income is limited, preventing them from covering substantial medical expenses. Catherine has clubfoot of both legs. She began displaying signs of bowed legs when she started walking. Her legs gradually bowed outward, and while the defect was mild, it worsened as she grew older. This condition causes discomfort when she walks, making it challenging to ascend stairs or squat. During one of our partner's outreach visits, the medical team had the opportunity to meet Catherine and her parents. After a brief assessment, the team diagnosed her with fluorosis and bilateral bowleggedness. Following our visit, the family was advised to seek treatment at the medical centre. In August, after a two-day journey, Catherine arrived at the centre. She quickly felt at ease, as she was familiar with some of the medical team members. Following an initial meeting, she was scheduled to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Fortunately, Catherine's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Catherine's clubfoot repair. After treatment, her legs will be corrected and she can grow up active and healthy. Catherine’s mother says, “I wish my daughter to be better, this condition limits her so much and I feel sorry for her because she has a hard time keeping up with her friends.”

Son is a 64-year-old retired rice farmer who has two daughters, three sons, and eight grandchildren. Since retiring from the rice fields, she is working some hours for a construction company, where her husband and youngest son also work. In her free time, Son likes caring for her grandchildren and visiting her local pagoda to pray. Ten years ago, Son 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Son learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Son needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence, which is scheduled for July 17th. Son is able to contribute $50 and needs help with $225 to cover the cost of medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. She shared, "I hope I can see more clearly so I can do more to look after my grandchildren, and I would like to plant more vegetables around my house."

Ly Huor is an inquisitive 18-month-old toddler from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and three older brothers in Phnom Penh province. His father is a taxi driver and his mother is a homemaker. His brother are all in public school and he stays home with his mother - they hope he can start school as he grows too. Ly Huor enjoys eating rice soup, playing with toys, watching cartoons, and playing with his siblings. In February, Ly Huor's right hand was burned when he placed it in a fire. His mother took him to a local clinic for wound care, but the dressing was soon removed by his mother because it irritated him. Normally, during the healing process, the body attempts to repair the damaged skin by forming new collagen fibers, which are the building blocks of scar tissue. Collagen is laid down in a somewhat disorganized manner, and it doesn't have the same elasticity and flexibility as normal skin. Therefore, when Ly Huor's finger developed scar tissue, it caused the skin on his index finger to contract and tighten. Burn scar contractures have developed on his index finger. He is unable to straighten his finger, which makes it difficult for him to grasp objects. When his mother tries to stretch his finger, he cries out in pain. On July 28th, surgeons at our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to release the scar tissue and restore mobility to his fingers. Ly Huor's family is able to contribute $25 to the cost of the surgery and they are asking for help to raise $495 to fully fund the procedure. His mother said, "We are worried that Ly Huor will not be able to use his hand like his brothers. We hope the doctors can fix his fingers so he can attend school with the other children when he is older."