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."

Srey Touch is a 44-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two daughters, three sons, and an infant grandchild. She enjoys spending time with her family at home and cooking for everyone. In her free time, Srey Touch reads the news on Facebook and watches Cambodian dramas on TV. About ten years ago, Srey Touch developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind, or dust, leading the cells to grow abnormally over the pupil. As a result of this condition, Srey Touch has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going outside. When Srey Touch learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for an hour seeking treatment. On February 8th, Srey Touch will undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. CSC is requesting $225 to fund this procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Srey Touch said: "I hope, after surgery, my eye will stop feeling irritated and I can go back to my job and my family without being uncomfortable."

Samnang is a 31-year-old farmer from Cambodia. Residing in rural Kampong Speu province with his elderly parents and older brother, Samnang and his brother are subsistence rice farmers. What they do not eat, they sell at the local market in exchange for vegetables and other items. Before his injury, he enjoyed football matches with neighbors as part of everyday life. In September 2023, Samnang had a motorbike collision with a car, falling hard on his right shoulder on the pavement. This caused head trauma and paralysis of his right shoulder and arm. He was taken to a local hospital, where it was confirmed that he ruptured his brachial plexus, causing certain muscles to be unusable. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. However, he was unable to afford the care that is required to help and has not been able to use his arm or work for the past four months. He has pain over his shoulder and no sensation in his forearm. Samnang traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On January 30th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to have some function of his right arm restored. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Samnang said: "I hope I can use my hand again so I can work and my brother will not have to take care of me."