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."

Boran is a grandmother from Phnom Penh. She has two sons and three grandchildren. She lives with her oldest sister, and they have recently retired from selling food in the local market. Boran enjoys cooking and visiting her local pagoda. About one year ago, Boran developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus she is unable to travel on her own. When Boran learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On February 13th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant a new lens in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She said, "I hope after surgery I can see well again and go places on my own."

Say Poe is a 6-year-old daughter of three from Burma. She lives with her family in a village in Karen State, Burma where her grandparents and stepfather are farmers while her mother runs a small shop and the rest of the family sells rice when able. Say Poe goes to school and likes to play with her doll in her free time. Currently, Say Poe’s vision out of her right eye is blurred and she has facial palsy on her left side. Her right ear also sometimes bleeds. Her condition does not cause her great pain, but it affects her vision and makes it difficult for her to see. Doctors recommend Say Poe undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Say Poe's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 9th. Say Poe's mother said, “I am so nervous and worry something will happen to my daughter severely. I hope she will be able to get proper treatment and has no complications [head injury post trauma]. I am worried and feel stress about her. I will try everything to help her get treatment. I want her grow up and live like other healthy children. I want her to become an educated person and helpful for the community."