Vun is a 64 year-old loving grandmother. She lives in Prey Veng province with her husband. Both of them are retired rice farmers and their four children help support them by working in factories. Vun loves spending time with her eleven grandchildren and volunteering at the local temple. About five months ago, Vun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. 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 Vun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 4th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and 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. She shared, "I hope after surgery I can see better and be able to recognize my grandchildren."

Dickson is a married man from a village in Lilongwe District. He has one child who is in primary school, and to support his family, he depends on a motorcycle transport business locally known as Kabaza. He also practices small-scale farming where he grows maize, tomatoes, and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes. Dickson was hit by a car while he was on his motorcycle, and he sustained a fracture to his left upper arm. He was rushed to our medical partner's Nkhoma Hospital the same night where he was diagnosed with distal radius fracture, and he was scheduled to undergo open reduction and internal fixation surgery. However, Dickson cannot afford to pay for the surgery although he is willing to pay the little that he can afford. This condition has had a negative impact on Dickson’s life as he feels pain from the fracture, and he is worried about his family’s well-being as he will not be able to work on his farm or his business due to the fracture. If the condition is left untreated, pain and swelling may continue to worsen over time and there might be a misalignment of the fractured bone. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $525 to fund his surgery. After treatment, Dickson will be relieved of his pain and able to work to support his family again. Dickson says, “I have no idea how I will take care of my family with no income from my business. I hope to get well soon.”

Sok Kha is a 54-year-old widow who lives alone in Kratie province. She has one daughter who works in Kampong Som province. She grows bananas and mangoes to support her simple lifestyle, visits with neighbors, and enjoys cleaning and arranging her home. This January, Sok Kha injured her wrist in a motorbike accident. Since she was unable to afford care at the local hospital, she visited a traditional Cambodian healer where she received herbs and a splint. A month later, her hand was still red and swollen and she had a pressure injury on her wrist caused by the splint, making it difficult for her to use her hand. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, are able to treat her injury and on February 22nd, Sok Kha will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which costs $483. The procedure will repair the displaced bone, eliminate the infection, and make it possible for her to use her hand and perform daily tasks again. She said: "After surgery, I hope I will be able to work in my orchard and have no more pain or infection."