Sorn is a 70-year-old proud mother of seven and grandmother of five who lives in the Battambang province of Cambodia. Her husband passed away 15 years ago and her children live far away, tending their own farms. Sorn lives alone and enjoys listening to local monks pray on the radio. For the past five years, Sorn has had headaches, nasal congestion with sneezing, and a chronic runny nose, making it difficult for her to breathe. She feels embarrassed to visit her family and neighbors due to her affliction, so she spends much time alone at home. Sorn visited a local hospital for care but was unable to afford the cost of treatment, and medicine from her local pharmacy did not help. Sorn heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a neighbor, and traveled six hours for diagnosis and treatment. ENT surgeons from CSC diagnosed her with nasal polyps and have planned a bilateral nasal polypectomy for January 17th. Sorn's family has put together $37.50 toward her treatment, and CSC is requesting $397 for the full cost. The requested amount will include the operation, hospitalization, and post-op medications. After surgery, Sorn should be able to breathe more easily through her nose and no longer have pain. Sorn shared, "After surgery, I hope to breathe easily through my nose and stop my headaches. I want to plant my vegetables to sell at the market and support my own living."

Saron is a 60-year-old Khmer traditional musician. He lives in Cambodia with his wife, who is a singer. As artists were targeted during the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, the few surviving traditional musicians are well-respected in Cambodia. Together, they have one daughter, two sons, and eight grandchildren. In his free time, Saron likes to listen to music and take care of his grandchildren. About six months ago, Saron developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he cannot go out independently. When Saron learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 5th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this surgery. Saron shared: “After surgery, I hope I can easily go out, recognize things well, and play music again.”

Timothy is a sweet 4-month-old baby who is the last born in a family of four children being raised by two caring parents. The father works as an ICT specialist, and the mother is a banker. Their jobs enable them to provide for their family but with three children in school, they need to spend a significant amount of money to cover school fees and other school expenses. Timothy was born with a congenital condition where his leg was twisted inward and downward. The parents were advised on the best treatment plan for their son’s condition at the center where Timothy was born. He started treatment for clubfoot with a series of castings and then had a tenotomy. After the procedure, they faced an unexpected hurdle. The hospital could not provide the Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) to Timothy. As this equipment was crucial in his treatment process, they were directed to our center for further assistance. Upon arrival at our center and a sit-down with our team, our clubfoot specialist realized that Timothy’s foot still required casting. This news was troubling to the parents, as they had spent two months in treatment with the hope that they were about to finish treatment. After spending so much money on their first attempt at treatment. The parents have exhausted their savings. They are asking for help to cover their son’s treatment. Timothy's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Timothy's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk with ease once as he grows and can live a full life ahead. Timothy’s mother says, "We still have hope that our son will be fine; we just have to get through with the treatment."