Francis is a small-scale farmer. He is a married man with five children, all of whom are currently attending school. His wife, like him, is engaged in small-scale farming, yielding produce primarily for their own consumption with a limited surplus available for sale. For eight years, Francis has had a left inguinal hernia. This condition has significantly restricted his movements and has also diminished his work performance. Presently, he leads a modest lifestyle, working hard to provide school fees for his children who are attending both primary and secondary school. If left untreated, his symptoms could persist and eventually lead to strangulation, which is a serious condition that could be fatal. Francis has never sought medical treatment or assessment at a hospital before, primarily due to financial constraints. Fortunately, on August 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Francis's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Francis says, "I will be grateful when my surgery is done with your support, as I have no alternative means to pay for such surgery myself."

Heng is a bright 6-year-old boy. He has three siblings - one brother and two sisters - and two of his siblings are married and live elsewhere in the village. His mother is a homemaker, and his father is a rice farmer. Heng attends kindergarten, which runs for half of the day, and enjoys playing with his toy trucks at home. His favorite meal is fried eggs and milk. Four years ago (when he was two years old), Heng developed a fever, received an injection at a local clinic, and soon after, developed muscle contractures that limited his ability to flex or straighten his right leg. He has no pain but is unable to fully straighten his knee, and he cannot walk well, something other children tease him about. When Heng's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On October 24th, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure on Heng's right leg in order to improve the range of knee flexion and help him walk. CSC is requesting $482 to fund this procedure. Heng's family contributed $100 to his care. His mother said: "We hope Heng can walk better after he has his operation."

Srey Vin is a newly married 22-year-old and a mother of a four-month-old son. Her family lives some distance from Phnom Penh, where she and her husband both work in a garment factory that produces name-brand shoes and athletic wear. Srey Vin loves spending time with her baby and listening to the radio or watching music videos on YouTube. While she was pregnant, a large mass suddenly grew around Srey Vin's mandible, or jawbone. She went to a clinic near her home but was not able to receive help. The clinic suggested that Srey Vin travel two and a half hours to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for consultation. At CSC, Srey Vin was diagnosed with a giant cell granuloma - a benign tumor that grows from bone cells. They most often occur in the front portion of the lower jaw. These tumors can grow rapidly, cause pain and destroy bone. The tumor has grown very large in Srey Vin's jaw. As a result, she experiences discomfort and difficulty eating and talking. She worries about the tumor growing even larger. Fortunately, the surgeons at CSC can help Srey Vin. On November 7th, Srey Vin will undergo surgery to remove the mass and place a bone graft from her left fibula onto her mandible. Hopefully, this procedure will decrease the pain and discomfort Srey Vin experiences and improve her ability to talk and eat. Her family needs help to fund the $726 operation. Srey Vin shared, "I hope I can remove this growth so I stop worrying all the time and can take care of my son."