Lay is a 74-year-old grandfather from Kampong Cham province. He has been married for many years and has two daughters who are both married, and four grandchildren. Before Lay retired, he was a rice farmer with his wife. They are now supported by their daughters, who live nearby. At home, he likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio and visit with his grandchildren. Three years ago, Lay developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision and pain. He is unable to go outside in the bright sun or travel far from home due to poor vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Lay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for five and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 6th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Lay shared: "I am hoping after surgery I can finally see better and take care of myself."

Thanh is from Kampot province in Cambodia, and he and his wife are durian fruit farmers. They have a three-year-old daughter. In his free time, Thanh enjoys exercising, playing chess, and fishing. He also enjoys taking walks with his wife and daughter along the river. In January 2020, Thanh was in a motorbike collision and fractured his right tibia. He had an open reduction with an external fixation device at a local hospital, which was removed several months later. Unfortunately, the surgical site has become infected, with an exposed tibial bone. Thanh has chronic pain and cannot rid himself of the infection. He is unable to walk and feels ashamed that his wife must do much of the management of their small farm that supports their family. Thanh and his family traveled three hours to Children's Surgical Centre, where surgeons recommended debridement of the infected wound and a reverse sural flap. This technique is used to reconstruct defects in the lower part of the leg. Now, Thanh needs help with the $991 cost of this treatment. The cost includes surgery, medications, hospital care, and post-op rehabilitation. Thanh's wife shared: "My husband has been unable to walk or work for more than two years, which has been hard on our family. I hope that the doctors can fix his leg so he can walk well again and help manage the farm."

Cho is a 23-year-old woman from Thailand, living with her husband, son and her husband’s cousin in a refugee camp, in Mae Hong Son Province. Her husband works as a medic at the hospital in the refugee camp, and her husband’s cousin goes to school. Cho is a homemaker, and looks after her son. In her free time, Cho loves to play with her son, while on Saturdays, she likes to attend church. Cho is currently expecting her second child. At a recent antenatal visit, Cho's doctors told her that she would need to give birth via Caesarean section, due to complications she experienced when giving birth to her son. A C-section offers the best opportunity for a safe and healthy outcome for both Cho and her new baby. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Cho access the care that she needs. On September 8th, Cho will undergo a Caesarean section at Mae Sariang Hospital. Burma Children Medical Fund is seeking $1,500 to fund this procedure and ensure a safe delivery. “I want to work as a teacher in the future again, when my children are old enough to go to school,” Cho said.

Siem is a 68-year-old retired rice farmer from Kandal province in Cambodia. She is married but has no children and lives with her husband, a vegetable farmer. She helps him sell their produce at the local market, and at home, she enjoys listening to the monks praying on the radio when she has free time. A year ago, Siem developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia and frequent hearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Siem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 1st, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Siem says, "I hope I can see things clearly again so I can travel easily on my own and help my husband with our vegetables."

Phorn is a 42-year-old vegetable vendor. She is married with three sons, three daughters, and two grandchildren. She lives with her husband who is also a vegetable vendor and onion farmer. At home, she helps to care for her grandchildren and watches the news on her phone. Five years ago, Phorn developed a pterygium in her left 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 Phorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. Phorn needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 13th. She shared, "I hope after surgery my eye stops tearing and burning. I want to do housework, not be ashamed of my eye, and go back to selling vegetables."

Nhel is a 54-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is married and has one son and two daughters. Nhel lives with his wife and their youngest daughter. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends and caring for his grandchild. This past July, Nhel was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture of his left humerus. He visited a private clinic after the accident, but he unfortunately could not receive treatment due to financial constraints. It is currently difficult for him to use his left arm, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 1st, Nhel will undergo fracture repair surgery, which will heal the fracture and allow him to regain use of his left arm. Now, he needs help to fund this $483 procedure. Nhel says, "I hope my pain will stop and I can use my left arm again."

Meet Theara, a 17-year-old from Cambodia. She has six sisters and one brother, and her parents work as farmers. Theara works with her parents on their farm but is searching for a different job to help better support her family. At home, she enjoys cooking chicken and rice and watching stories on her phone. Two months ago, Theara developed a chalazion in her right eye, which is an inflamed cyst in the tear gland. As a result, she experiences irritation, itchiness, blurred vision, and is insecure about how her eye looks. Theara traveled for four hours to seek treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On December 30th, surgeons at CSC will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Theara's symptoms will improve. She needs help raising $210 to fund this procedure. Theara shared: "I hope my eye will feel well after surgery and I can look for a job."

Monicah is a widow and a mother of six children, who lives in Kenya. Her husband died in 1999, and she has struggled to bring up all their children on her own. Monicah had a small business of buying and selling chicken. She developed ulcers and was being treated for her condition. About one year ago the pain became so severe that she could not live alone. So she decided to visit and live with her sister who is older than her but is strong and healthy. Since then, her sister has been taking care of her. Before visiting Nazareth hospital, Monicah had gone to different hospitals without getting much relief for her pain. At Nazareth, a scan confirmed that she had gallstones (cholelithiasis). She was advised to have laparotomy to treat the condition. Monicah is in much pain, and she cannot fund her treatment. Once she has the laparotomy, she will be able to live on her own and better support her children. She needs $788 to cover her surgery. Monicah says, “I am just there bothering my sister. I am unable to take care for my children, yet they need my support. I beg for help so that at least this pain will go away, and I may resume my usual life. I shall thank God for his intervention and pray for it."

Vanna is a 38-year-old former construction worker from Cambodia. He is married and has a five-year-old son who has just started public school. His wife works in a local lamp factory. He enjoys reading the news, fishing, and playing football with friends In July of 2021, Vanna was in a motor vehicle accident in which he suffered loss of consciousness, trauma/paralysis to his right shoulder, and a fractured humerus. He had a fracture repair of his humerus done, and spent over a month in hospital. But he has also been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Vanna has no movement of his right shoulder due to trapezius nerve damage and cannot bend his elbow or move his fingers. He is unable to work to support his young family and is in chronic pain. Vanna traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On September 29th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to use his shoulder and arm again to find a job in construction. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Vanna said: "After surgery, I hope my right shoulder will have movement, I have no pain, and can work for my family again."