Kong is a 60-year-old tour guide from Cambodia. He and his wife have three children. Kong has to travel a lot for his work, but he can support his family. He enjoys taking care of his children, helping them with their schoolwork and taking them on trips. Last year, Kong had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Kong experiences hearing loss, ear pain, and pus discharge. He has trouble communicating in his work now, and his wife is very concerned that he will have permanent hearing loss. Kong traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 8th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Kong said, "I hope that my ear can heal well after this surgery and that I can have an easy time going back to work. I do not want my family to worry too much."

Sor is an 81-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She has three children, ten grandchildren, and enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to the monks pray on the radio in her spare time. One year ago, Sor developed a cataract in each eye, causing her vision loss. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sor learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 11th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to see more clearly so I can go outside again and recognize things and return to the pagoda," Sor shared.

SreyLeap is a three-year-old girl from Cambodia. She has one brother and two sisters. She likes to play with her toys at home. Two years ago, she received a poorly administered injection, causing a flexion contracture of her right leg. She is unable to fully straighten her knee. When SreyLeap learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 7, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure of her left leg to help her walk again. Now, SreyLeap needs help to fund this $413 procedure. Her mother says, "I hope my daughter can walk easily after surgery."

Meet Phoeun, a 69-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Phoeun is married without children. She spends her time visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray and join in ceremonies,” describes our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). “Phoeun developed a cataract in each eye 1 year ago. This causes her blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and she is afraid of sunshine. She can't see everything clearly, do work well, or go anywhere outside,” explains CSC. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, which causes decreased vision and functional blindness. In Cambodia, 90% of blindness could be avoided through proper treatment. As with many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate and cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain such as cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services. $225 funds cataract surgery that will remove the cloudy lenses from both of her eyes and replace them with artificial lenses. Funding for her surgery includes post-operative care, and after the surgery, she will be able to see clearly again. After surgery, Phoeun looks forward to helping her niece cook and clean in their home.

“Edwin is so happy all the time, I just want him to grow and be healthy,” Edwin’s mom tells us. Edwin is a four-year-old boy living in Guatemala. He has Down’s syndrome, a genetic disorder that results from an extra copy of chromosome 21. This condition causes delays in physical growth, as well as cognitive effects. “He is not growing well, and he has very limited motor and speech capabilities,” our partners at the Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) medical center explain. “He needs physical and speech therapy so that he can gain these abilities, and he needs a thorough medical workup to rule out and treat the common causes of growth failure in Down’s syndrome, such as problems with the thyroid gland.” "With therapy, Edwin will begin to gain language and motor milestones, and he’ll be able to learn to help around the house and help with his own care. His social interactions will improve and, hopefully, he’ll be able to go to school as a result," WK continues. Edwin’s mother is raising him as a single mom, and it is often difficult for her to make ends meet. She is so excited about the prospect of seeing Edwin benefit from the therapy that WK can provide. For $1,385 we can fund this life changing therapy for Edwin and his mother – let's do it!