Nhoeun is a 62-year-old rice farmer in Kampot province from Cambodia. Nhoeun is married with two sons and three daughters. Nhoeun and his wife are both farmers while his daughters work in a local factory and his sons are soldiers. When not working in the rice paddies, Nhoeun feeds and cares for several cows he keeps at home. In December, Nhoeun fell off his roof and fractured his left femur. Nhoeun is in pain and cannot walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On January 3rd, Nhoeun will undergo a fracture repair procedure and CSC is helping him raise $483 to cover the cost of this life altering surgery. After surgery, Nhoeun hopes to be able to walk again free of pain. Nhoeun shared, "I hope my leg will be fixed and I can go back to work to support my family."

Saw Kyaw is a 25-year-old man living in Thailand. He currently lives with his older sister, younger sister, mother and her niece. He moved from Burma to Thailand for job opportunities three years ago. He was working in a shop and was able to support two younger siblings who are studying in Karen State in Burma. Around the end of July, he was playing football with friends when he slipped trying to kick the ball. His lower right leg was very painful, but he was still able to bear weight lightly on that leg. At the time, Saw Kyaw didn’t have health insurance, so he went to a clinic instead of the hospital. There they examined his leg, gave him some medication for the pain and advised him to go to the hospital for an X-ray if the pain persisted. Saw Kyaw rested for two days and then went back to work. That day at work, Saw Kyaw was carrying a heavy load when he slipped again. This time, the pain was severe, and he was unable to stand on his right leg. He went to a hospital in Bangkok where they X-rayed his lower right leg and told him that the tibia was fractured. The doctor recommended surgery where they would use a metal rod to connect the bones and set them in the correct position to heal. Saw Kyaw was told that the surgery would cost between 40,000 to 50,000 baht (approx. 1,330- 1,660 USD). He told them that he did not have insurance and was unable to afford the surgery, so they gave him pain medication and bandaged up his leg. He returned to the hospital three times and each time the doctor recommended surgery, but Kyaw was unable to figure out how he could get that kind of money. His employer was not helpful and refused to assist with the cost of the surgery. Since Saw Kyaw didn’t have the money, he decided to just rest and see whether the bones would heal on their own. Saw Kyaw recalled that he had fractured his femur when he was young, and he had used a traditional medicated oil to help heal the injury. He hoped that he could use this on his new fracture. But now he cannot walk properly and cannot work since his accident. He is stressed about his condition and his future. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw Kyaw will finally undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 7th and will cost $1,500. He will able to go back to work after surgery Saw Kyaw said, “I would like to go back to Bangkok and find work again so I can go back to helping my family; my siblings who are studying in Burma, and also my mother who is getting older. I also want to save some money for my future. I will not work at the same place though as they have not been kind or caring since I had the accident.”

Loyce is a social and loving 46-year-old wife and mother of six. She had to drop out of school in grade 12 and could not realize her dream of becoming a banker, because her parents could not afford to keep her in school. She is determined to fully educate all her children. Loyce is now a businesswoman who operates a small retail shop in a trading center. A sole proprietorship, it barely generates enough revenue to cater to the family's basic needs and pay her children's school fees. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver.  For the past 9 months, Loyce has been experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, backache and vaginal bleeding. She visited a hospital in the region, and treatment was recommended. Since the couple could not afford to pay for the surgery, Loyce had no option but to live with the condition. Recently, the pain has become unbearable, and she visited Nyakibale Hospital and was examined by a gynecologist. She has been diagnosed with premalignant cervical lesion, and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Loyce's surgery. On November 8th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Loyce will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Loyce says: “I have truly experienced a lot of pain; I hate it so much, I've always had financial problems, but with your help, I believe that I'll be able to have my surgery and, with God's help, hopefully, recover.”

Ly is a 62 year old husband and father, living with his wife and youngest child in Cambodia. Ly's wife sells clothes at the local market, while Ly stays at home, playing chess with his neighbor, reading and exercising. For the past six months, Ly has experienced problems with his right middle finger, which is stuck in a bent position. This issue is usually the result of inflammation within the tendon sheath of the finger. Ly cannot straighten or flex his finger, and it is swollen and painful, which makes it difficult for him to carry out simple, everyday tasks. Ly is also concerned that his finger will be permanently bent in its current position. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Ly will undergo a surgical repair of his right middle finger on October 7th, at Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Centre. The surgery should correct Ly's situation, and enable him to return to a healthy and productive life. Ly needs your support to fund the $572 required to cover the cost of the procedure, medicines and post operative care. Ly told us: "I hope after surgery my hand gets better with no pain or swelling. I want to work with this finger and hand again so I can enjoy my life."

Dennis is a hardworking student and the firstborn in a family of two. He is in class eight and at the end of the year, he will be sitting for his national exams. He enjoys playing football with his friends. He lives with his single mother who works as a casual laborer getting work whenever she can. His mother describes Dennis as the only hope in their family. On 11th August, as he was playing with his friends, Dennis fell and sustained a closed fracture of the left arm. He is unable to use his hand which is in severe pain. His education is also affected. Dennis' mother does laundry for the neighbors to support her family's basic needs. With what she earns, she is unable to pay for her son's surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 2nd, Dennis will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. He will be able to use his hand, experience no pain and he will go back to school. He will also continue enjoying playing football with his friends. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Dennis mother says, “I struggle a lot providing for my family. I am not in a position to pay my son's hospital bill. I plead for help so that he gets the required treatment and he may continue with his education. He is the hope of our family.”

Paw is 52-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, two daughters and son-in-law in a refugee camp. She and her husband are homemakers, while her eldest daughter and son-in-law are teachers. Her youngest daughter is a student. She has cataracts and she has blurred vision in both of her eyes. Because of her poor vision, she has difficulty walking around the refugee camp and she has had to stop weaving and selling traditional Karen clothes from her home-region of Burma. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Paw. On December 29th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Paw's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. "I hope that my treatment will be successful. I want to be able to see well. I want to continue weaving clothes in the future, and I want to live with my family for the rest of my life,” she said.

Sorn is a 76-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. He has five daughters, seven sons, and 20 grandchildren. He currently lives with his wife and their youngest daughter, who works as a teacher. Some of his favorite ways to spend his time are listening to the news and to monks pray on the radio. Four years ago, Sorn developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him to experience eye tearing, itchiness, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Sorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for seven and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 15th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and 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. Sorn shares, "I want to be able to see well again so I can complete daily tasks by myself."

Mary lives with her husband and 5-year-old child in Kenya. She is 28 years old and works as a laborer on farms. Her husband does labor jobs when we can get them at construction sites. Their combined income is inconsistent, and they have no savings or medical insurance. Mary has been unwell for a while now. She had a hemorrhagic stroke in January of this year, which has mostly been resolved. However, an ultrasound revealed that she has a right ovarian serous cystadenoma. These are abnormal growths that need to be removed. If left untreated, they can turn into cancer (serous carcinomas). Mary needs surgery, but cannot afford it. She is scheduled for an oophorectomy procedure, which is the surgical removal of an ovary or ovaries. This surgery will cost $1074, and she needs help raising the payment. Mary says, "I am in so much pain and need treatment. If left untreated I am scared of losing my life.”

Saean is a 28-year-old delivery driver working in the capital city of Phnom Penh. He is married and has a three-year-old daughter. His wife is a garment worker. He likes to play tennis and football, read, listen to music, and fish. Saean was in a traffic accident in April and injured his right forearm. After the accident, he went to a hospital for an x-ray but decided to get treatment by a Khmer traditional healer instead. His condition did not improve and his neighbor told him to try visiting our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There, he was diagnosed with a right radius fracture with ulnar styloid, swelling, and pain. CSC put a cast on his arm for 4 weeks and his pain has decreased, but now it is time for screw fixation to fully heal his right radius fraction. Fortunately, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre can help. On June 7th, Saean will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure allow him to move his arm easily again and finally heal from the accident. Saean says, "I'm hoping my right forearm fracture is fixed so I can work again without pain."