Kosal, who is 35 years old, lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. His three sisters, and the majority of his family members, reside in a rural province and earn their living as rice farmers. Around one month ago, Kosal developed a sinus infection. As a result of the infection, he experiences a fever, and swelling of his sinus, as well as pus and drainage from his nostrils. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Kosal access the treatment he needs to relieve the pressure in his sinus and drain the pus from his nose. On May 2nd, Kosal will undergo a preauricular sinus incision at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will restore his ability to breathe comfortably. Kosal needs help to raise $297 to cover the cost of his procedure. Kosal shared, "I hope I can feel comfortable again and go back to my job feeling good."

Sok is a 40-year-old father of three from Cambodia. He and his wife are rice farmers on their ancestral land and have three children: a 16-year-old daughter, an 11-year-old son, and a 2-year-old daughter. When not working outside in the fields, Sok likes to play football with his neighbors and son. Sok has had a painful mass on his left knee for at least ten years. It has grown larger, making it impossible for him to walk without pain. Sok also experiences difficulty working outside, riding a motorbike, or helping his wife around the house. He received an x-ray at his local clinic and was diagnosed with a uric acid mass from advanced gout, also known as gouty tophus. A tophus can occur when the patient has gout and uric acid builds up around the joints, which is often painful. It is also possible for the mass to press on a nerve, which can be both painful and potentially dangerous. Larger masses need to be removed so they don't cause long-term damage to the joint. The local clinic team recommended Sok undergo surgery to remove the mass, but Sok was unable to afford the procedure. Fortunately, a neighbor told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and Sok traveled to CSC's care center to receive treatment. On October 3rd, surgeons will remove the mass. CSC is requesting $273 to fund this procedure. Sok contributed $100 to his care. Sok said: "After surgery, I hope I will be able to walk more easily and without pain, swelling, and infection."

Shashi is a 15-year-old student and the second-born child in a family of five children. His parents are farmers who depend on small-scale agriculture for sustenance and to generate some income to cover their daily expenses. Shashi was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition characterized by bilateral knocking of the knees that is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones. He first experienced this condition when he was 5 years old. Despite trying various traditional treatment methods, they were all unsuccessful. Due to the fear of being unable to afford the medical expenses, they did not initially seek help from a hospital. As a result, as Shashi grew older, his condition continued to deteriorate. What initially began as a slight bowing of his legs progressively worsened over time, causing immense concern for his parents. It became increasingly challenging for him to walk and engage in activities that required long distances of walking. He was forced to stop attending school because of its distance from home and the lack of transportation options available in his area. His condition has made it difficult for him to connect with his peers. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. Shashi is scheduled for corrective surgery on August 1st, and AMH is requesting $880 to fund the procedure. Treatment will hopefully restore Shashi's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Shashi says, “It is painful living like this. My legs hurt when I walk. I can’t play and socialize with my friends. I hope the treatment I get will make my life better.”