Lonh is a 78-year-old rice farmer with three daughters and six grandchildren. He likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray and join ceremonies. Two years ago, Lonh developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision, burning, itchiness, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Lonh learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours with his daughter seeking treatment. On October 26, doctors performed small incision cataract surgery in each eye and inserted intraocular lens implants. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly again. Now, Lonh needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope I can see everything more clearly," he says, "so that I can easily go anywhere outside or go to the pagoda by myself without needing to disturb another person to take care of me."

“81-year-old Im developed a cataract in each eye three months ago,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) tells us. They add that Im, who lives in Cambodia, experiences “blurred vision, tearing, and burning. It is hard for her to see everything clearly, go outside, or do her work.” Cataracts occur when proteins build-up over the eye lens, gradually forming a cloudy layer over the natural eye lens. Without intervention, this layer slowly solidifies--leading to impaired vision and eventually blindness. After a neighbor informed them of CSC’s medical services, Im and her daughter traveled over four hours to reach CSC’s clinic. $225 will cover the cost of Im’s cataract surgery. In each eye, surgeons will remove the cloudy eye lens and replace it with a clear, artificial substitute. 75% of Cambodia’s vision-related issues are caused by cataracts, making this operation the most widely practiced eye surgery in the country. It is also highly effective--within a day of her procedure, Im will regain her sight. Im, who is married with three daughters and 20 grandchildren, stays at home in Cambodia to help take care of her house and family. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to the monks pray and visiting the pagoda. “I hope my [eyes] can see everything clearer than now,” Im shares. “I want to help my daughter cook food, clean the house, and take care of my grandchildren. I [want] to easily go anywhere by myself, too.”

Anne is a one-year-old girl from Haiti. Our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), reports that “when Anne was born, her mother noticed that her baby’s head was too soft and she cried a lot,” so she brought Anne in for testing. CT scan results revealed that Anne has hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain, causing the head to enlarge. This can result in brain damage, and can be fatal if left untreated. Anne’s mother is young and still attending school. Anne and her mother live with her grandmother “who is old and unable to help her with the needs to raise Anne," adds PM. Anne's father is also young and is still in school. Anne’s treatment will cost $1,260, and consists of a hydrocephalus shunt placement to drain out the fluids that have accumulated in her head. This treatment will save Anne’s life, and give her the chance to grow and develop normally. Anne’s mother shares, “my wish is that the surgery happens successfully, I am looking forward to good results of the treatment that will prevent my baby’s head from getting much larger. I love Anne very much because she is my first baby, I will always love her.”

Luckenson is a six-year-old boy from Haiti. He is one of four children and his single mother supports the family by working as a housekeeper. Luckenson is very malnourished and has problems getting sufficient nourishment. He is six but weighs only ten pounds. His mother is sometimes unable to work because she needs to take care of him. For $900, we can fund a surgery that will consist of putting a tube in his stomach, allowing him to eat and get nourishment properly. Luckenson will be able to grow and to feed, so he can properly develop and have a healthy life!