Seng Leng lives in Mondulkiri province and is the youngest of five children. He enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with his brothers. Seng Leng has Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes skin abnormalities and tumors to grow on nerve tissue. Since he was a young child, Seng Leng has had a mass on his right cheek. In the past couple of years, it has grown in size. He is worried it will continue to grow and cause further discomfort when eating and talking. In November, a small team of maxillofacial surgeons will remove the mass from Seng Leng's cheek. Other surgical residents and medical students will accompany the surgeons to facilitate training of the next generation of surgeons. Removing the tumor will make Seng Leng feel more comfortable and less scared of further growth. Seng Leng shared, "I hope that the doctors can remove the tumor so I can go back home and go back to work without worrying all the time."

Rachana is a 27-year-old from Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers in the Svay Rieng province. Originally, Rachana worked in a bank but has been unable to work since his injury. He has one brother and two sisters, all of whom still live nearby. In his free time, Rachana likes to go through social media apps on his phone. In January 2022, Rachana was in a motorcycle collision and lost consciousness for about ten minutes. He injured his left foot and was treated at a local hospital, where he lost his left big toe due to trauma. The traumatic injury from the fall also left him unable to move his left upper arm. He visited several hospitals and a Khmer traditional healer, but the immobility has not been able to be treated. Rachana also has bent toes on his left foot, which can be a symptom of a neurological disease, making it painful for him to walk or run. He has also been depressed since his injury because his limited mobility affects his daily activities. When Rachana learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 2nd, surgeons at CSC will perform an arthrodesis fusion of his left toes, allowing him to walk again after this procedure. His shoulder injury is too old for a nerve transfer, but he may be eligible for a free flap muscle transfer at a later time. CSC is requesting $600 to fund this procedure. Rachana contributed $100 to his care. Rachana said: “I hope, after this surgery, my toes will be normal, and it will not be painful to walk or run. I also hope doctors will be able to help me with my arm later.”

Hellen is a nine-year-old girl who is approaching grade one. She is one of nine siblings, three of whom share the same congenital condition of clubfoot. Both of her parents are farmers. They cultivate maize and millet for food and sell the surplus to earn money for other expenses. Unfortunately, Hellen’s father, who is advancing in age and has clubfoot, cannot work extended hours. Therefore, his mother toils diligently on the farm to ensure they yield sufficient harvests. Hellen has clubfoot on her left foot and, fortunately, Hellen's family visited our medical partner's care center, the Plaster House NGO. There, the team began clubfoot treatment on October 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Hellen's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will use night casts to aid in her full recovery and later be able to walk comfortably. She did not receive treatment as a baby because of her parents' lack of knowledge about the condition and financial barriers. However, one day, a glimmer of hope emerged when Hellen’s father crossed paths with a young boy who had once faced a similar challenge but had now fully recovered. Filled with renewed hope, he inquired about how this transformation had occurred. The boy’s story revealed the existence of our medical partner's care center to Hellen’s father. Filled with optimism, he hurried home and shared this life-altering discovery with his wife. Together, they decided to bring their precious daughter and three of her siblings to The Plaster House. Hellen’s mother says: “I am glad there is a chance for my daughter to get treatment, I hope she doesn't have to live with this disability for the rest of her life.”