Lika S., 3

Lika is a quiet 3-year-old girl from rural Kratie province in Cambodia. She lives with her father, who works as a rice farmer, her mother, grandmother, and baby sister. Her mom takes care of her sister and grandmother at home. Even though she's young, Lika dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up. She enjoys the duck eggs her mom gathers from the wild ducks near the Mekong riverbanks in their province.

Lika struggled to grip objects with her hand, causing concern for her mother about how it might affect her schooling in the future. Her Mom was worried she might have faced teasing from other children. To improve her finger function, Lika needed plastic surgery to reposition the scar tissue and nerves properly. Lika's case was reviewed by specialty hand surgeons, who determined that the finger had atrophied and the contracture had rendered it useless, hindering her ability to use the rest of her hand. She had a successful contracture release and a terminalisation (amputation) of her middle right finger at the distal interphalangeal joint under general anesthesia. She was given antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection, and her mother met with the physiotherapy team for exercises on Lika's hand once her incision is healed - an essential part of her recovery to help her gain strength in her right hand. An amputation at such a young age can have profound effects on a child, both mentally and physically. Despite the challenges, Lika's mother remains optimistic that her daughter will adapt. Support from her family will play a crucial role in helping her normalize her disability and misshapen hand when she starts school and interacts with other children. Lika's mother said, "We are so grateful that the doctors made Lika's hand better so she would be strong and other children will not make fun of her. Thank you Helpster Charity Donors for the best support ever!"

Lika struggles to grip objects with her hand, causing concern for her mother about how it might affect her schooling in the future. Her mom worries she might face teasing from other children. To improve her finger function, Lika needs plastic surgery to reposition the scar tissue and nerves properly.