Beatrice is a one-month-old baby from Kenya. She is the youngest in a family of nine children. Due to the ongoing rain shortage, the parents have had to go out of their way to do casual jobs to provide for the family. The family has no insurance and cannot raise the required funds for her surgery. Beatrice was born at home, and immediately, her mother noticed she had swelling on her back. Referred by a friend to BethanyKids, her family traveled for two days and brought her in for an examination. Beatrice was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Beatrice is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Beatrice's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 8th. This procedure will hopefully spare Beatrice from the risks associated with her condition, allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Beatrice’s mother says, “I was confused when I first saw the condition my child has, and I did not know what to do. I’m really looking forward to her surgery.”

Oun is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer. She lives in Pursat province, revered as one of the holiest sites of Cambodian Buddhism. Her husband died of lung disease many years ago, so she lives with her son, his wife and her grandchildren, who are all rice farmers. When not helping out in the house, she likes visiting the local pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Four years ago, Oun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her tearing, blurry vision, and photophobia. Oun has to spend her days inside the house due to light sensitivity from her cataract, and she cannot do what she normally likes to do. 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 Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform phacoemulsification 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. Oun said: "I hope my eye can be fixed, so I can continue to spend time with my family and recognize faces."

Toeur is a 58-year-old widowed rice farmer from Cambodia. He has three sons, six daughters, and ten grandchildren. Since his wife has unfortunately passed away, he now lives with his youngest son. Due to his condition, he spends much of his time indoors listening to the news on the radio. One year ago, Toeur developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him to experience eye tearing 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. He shares that he is lonely without his wife and that being unable to go outside due to his poor vision makes him unhappy. When Toeur learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 1st, doctors will perform 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 funding this $253 procedure. Toeur says, "I would be very happy to go outside by myself and see all the faces of my grandchildren again."

Song is a retired rice farmer who shared that her husband passed away many years ago during the Khmer Rouge era. Song now lives with her son, who is also a farmer. Song enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio and joining ceremonies at the pagoda. One year ago, Song developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. As a result, she has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go out on her own. When Song learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 13th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund her procedure. Song says, "After surgery, I hope I can see well enough to go outside by myself and visit the pagoda again."

Noy is a 24-year-old farmer who is married, and has a two-year-old daughter. For several years, Noy worked in a local garment factory, but when the factory closed during the Covid-19 epidemic, Noy and his family moved in with his widowed mother, and Noy joined his wife in her work as a farmer. Together, they grow rice and vegetables. When Noy isn't working, he enjoys playing football and volleyball, and listening to music. He also helps his wife with the cooking, and in caring for their daughter. In March 2022, Noy was in a traffic accident, and fractured his left clavicle. He had surgery at a local hospital, during which a pin was placed to stabilize the fracture. The fracture has healed, but Noy needs to have the pin removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 12th, Noy will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Noy needs your help to cover the $304 cost of this procedure, which will enable him to fully increase the strength of his shoulder and arm, so that he can return to working on the farm, and to playing the sports that he enjoys. Ultimately, Noy would like to make enough money to buy a house for his family. Noy shared: "After the pin is removed, I hope I have no pain or infection. I want to work hard and be strong to support my family."

Said is a talkative, friendly and playful 4-year-old boy who loves to play football and to watch movies. Said's family consists of three other siblings, his mother, who is a housewife, and his father, who is a day laborer getting work whenever he can. Because of a medical condition, Said's legs bow outward and his knees don't touch, which caused difficulty walking. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $880 to fund a procedure that will take place on April 22nd to restore Said's mobility. This treatment will enable him to participate in a variety of activities as he grows and also decrease his risk for future complications. Said’s mother says, “The economy is not good and finding work is getting hard. The little money I get goes to food. If you can help my son have this treatment, I would be very grateful.”

Hai is a 34-year-old who is married with one daughter in the 8th grade. Hai's wife works in a garment factory. In his free time, Hai enjoys watching TV and spending time with his family. Five months ago Hai noticed a mass on his right ankle. It has grown and caused pain since then. He traveled two and a half hours to reach our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). A biopsy of the mass showed pleomorphic sarcoma, a rare type of cancer. Surgeons plan perform a below knee amputation to prevent the cancer from spreading and Hai's family needs help raising $446 to fund the urgent treatment.

Thon is a 62-year-old woman who collects recyclables around her community to earn a living. Sadly, her husband passed away over twenty years ago. She has four sons, who all work in construction. Thon lives with her niece, who helps her sort through refuse for recycling. When she is not working, she likes to watch movies on television. Things have gotten more difficult for her recently as two years ago, Thon developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her constant eye irritation and tearing. 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. When Thon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping to have treatment. On March 3rd, she will undergo 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 $216, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Thon shared, "after surgery, I hope my eye feels comfortable and won't burn or be irritated. I can continue my work outside with my niece and not worry about my eye anymore."

Kompheak is a 33-year-old father. He is married with three active boys ages six, five, and three years old. The oldest boy is in school, while the others stay home with their parents. He and his wife work as farmers and grow vegetables for a living. Two years ago, Kompheak was in a motor vehicle crash where he injured his hip. He has tried physical therapy and takes pain medication when the pain is unbearable, but the pain persists and he has difficulty walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Kompheak to receive treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform a hemiarthroplasty, where they will replace half of his hip joint. After recovery, he will be able to walk and work to support his family. Now, he needs help to fund this $539 procedure. Kompheak shared that he hopes that he can walk without pain and return to farming soon as possible to support his family.

Isaac is a 23-year-old from Kenya who works as a manual laborer, loading and off-loading sand in the Maai Mahiu area. His father passed away while he was young, and he has been living with his mother and sister. A few weeks ago, during work, Issac slipped into a ditch and broke his right femur. His colleagues came to help him and brought him to Kijabe hospital. It is difficult for Isaac to walk, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 11th, Isaac will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure so he can walk again. Isaac shared, “I am in pain and can’t walk without support. I am out of options since I cannot afford the cost of the treatment.”

Tina is a 39-year-old mango farmer. He's proudly married with three sons who are all in school. Since Phnom Penh has been on a COVID lockdown for a month, he has been unable to travel to sell his mangos, so he is currently staying at home with his family. Two years ago, Tina developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him itchiness and tearing. 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Tina learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there seeking treatment. Tina needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The procedure is scheduled for May 4th, and the total cost of his procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Tina shared, "I hope after surgery my eye's irritation stops and when I return to work I am feeling well."