Shashi is a 15-year-old student and the second-born child in a family of five children. His parents are farmers who depend on small-scale agriculture for sustenance and to generate some income to cover their daily expenses. Shashi was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition characterized by bilateral knocking of the knees that is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones. He first experienced this condition when he was 5 years old. Despite trying various traditional treatment methods, they were all unsuccessful. Due to the fear of being unable to afford the medical expenses, they did not initially seek help from a hospital. As a result, as Shashi grew older, his condition continued to deteriorate. What initially began as a slight bowing of his legs progressively worsened over time, causing immense concern for his parents. It became increasingly challenging for him to walk and engage in activities that required long distances of walking. He was forced to stop attending school because of its distance from home and the lack of transportation options available in his area. His condition has made it difficult for him to connect with his peers. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. Shashi is scheduled for corrective surgery on August 1st, and AMH is requesting $880 to fund the procedure. Treatment will hopefully restore Shashi's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Shashi says, “It is painful living like this. My legs hurt when I walk. I can’t play and socialize with my friends. I hope the treatment I get will make my life better.”

Chandy is a 56-year-old grandmother from Cambodia who lives with her husband and three of her four children. Her oldest child married last year and moved to a nearby village. Chandy and her husband are vegetable farmers, and they also help care for their grandchild when their daughter is at work. In her free time, Chandy enjoys listening to the radio and spending time with her family. Around fifteen years ago, Chandy had an ear infection. This infection caused her left ear's tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, to perforate. For this reason, Chandy experiences hearing loss, pain, and discharge. She feels embarrassed talking with other people, experiences frequent discomfort, and spends a lot of their income on numerous medicines from the pharmacy that don't help long-term. Chandy traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 4th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $487 to fund this procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chandy said, "I hope I can stop this problem and improve my hearing so I can go out more and make it easier to care for my grandchild."

Lim is a 61-year-old rice farmer living with her husband in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. They have two sons, three daughters, and three grandchildren. One son is a monk and her youngest daughter is a student in the twelfth grade. The other children are all construction workers. She and her husband work all day in the rice paddies to ensure the children have completed school and can support themselves. After work, Lim likes to listen to the monks chanting on the radio or visit the local pagoda for ceremonies. For the past several months, Lim has had an ulceration on the side of her mouth. She visited a government hospital, where she was given medication, but it does not heal and has continued to grow. The lesion bleeds when touched and is very painful for her. She is frequently nauseated and has difficulty chewing and swallowing. Lim has now been diagnosed with oral cancer. The government hospital recommended chemotherapy, but she is unable to afford the care. Fortunately, doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Lim will undergo cancer surgery to remove and replace the bone. Her surgery, medications, and post-operative care will cost $726. Lim says, "I hope after surgery I will feel better, have no pain and can go back to the rice field to help my husband."