Seng Thai is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. During his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and reading books. He is the youngest of three in his family, with one sister and one brother. When Seng Thai was a young boy, he developed a right ear infection that spread to his left. This infection left both of his eardrums perforated. Because of this condition, he experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and ringing in his ears. These symptoms make it difficult for Seng Thai to hear in school. Seng Thai and his guardian traveled one hour by motorbike to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for evaluation and treatment. On January 17, he will undergo surgery to repair his eardrums. This will allow his hearing to improve. Now, CSC is requesting $831 in funding.

Fred is a 25-year-old man from Kenya. He has two other brothers, a plumber and a motorcycle operator. His single mother tends to their small farm to earn a living. Fred and his mother live together on their ancestral land. On December 20, Fred fell from a tank from which he was drawing water. He sustained a femur fracture and was rushed to our medical partner's hospital. He underwent an X-ray and is scheduled to undergo an open reduction internal fixation procedure on December 22. Fred's family contributed $260 to his care, but they need help to pay his remaining $1,451 medical bill. “I want to be well," says Fred, "to continue earning a living and probably start my own family."

49-year-old Lim lives in Cambodia with her four children and two grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys watching Korean dramas on TV. "Two years ago Lim developed a pterygium in her right eye," reports our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). A pterygium is a growth of pink tissue on the white of the eye. "This causes her blurred vision, burning, and redness," CSC explains. This condition usually develops as a result of UV sun damage to the eye, and commonly occurs among laborers in equatorial regions who do not have adequate eye protection. Although it is non-cancerous, the pterygium will continue to grow over time and can interfere with Lim's vision if left untreated. "I don't feel good doing work or going outside," Lim tells us. Lim traveled three hours with her sister to reach CSC for treatment. For $150, doctors will be able to remove the growth on Lim's eye and use another piece of her healthy eye tissue to patch the affected area. This is a very short procedure, and after using steroid drops for 1-2 weeks her eye will be fully healed. After her procedure, Lim will be relieved of the burning, irritation, and redness from the eye growth. She is looking forward to returning to take care of her family. "I hope my eye will be good looking with no more cyst," she says. "I want to be able to make desserts for selling in front of my home to earn money to support my family."

Meet Eliru, a 24-year-old man living in Uganda. He is a third year university student and the son of a single mother. “Eliru has one parent who is a peasant and struggles to pay his school fees,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Six months ago, Eliru developed a painful swelling in his right shoulder that he later learned was a lipoma, a benign tumor composed of fat tissue. Eliru’s lipoma is adversely affecting his day-to-day life: “he feels pain during lectures and this affects his studies,” says AMHF. The pain is also making it harder for Eliru to help his mother. “He cannot carry anything heavy,” AMHF states, “and this affects his ability to help his mother with domestic work at home.” AMHF explains, "Eliru cannot afford his treatment and wishes to be helped so that he can be well.” If the lipoma is not removed, it is likely that his lipoma will continue to grow and his pain will increase. For $120, Eliru will receive a surgery in which his lipoma will be removed. AMHF expects that after the surgery, the swelling will go down and Eliru will no longer be in pain. “I hope to be fine and well after the surgery,” shares Eliru, “and to be able to finish my studies.”