Chantha is a 46-year-old motor taxi driver. He is married and has three sons who are students. His wife is a garment worker in a local factory. When he is not driving his taxi, he likes to exercise or listen to the news on the radio. One year ago, Chantha developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and sensitivity to light. It is difficult for him to drive his motor taxi in bright sun or at night. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there hoping for treatment. On December 7th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Chantha shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see clearly again. I want to drive better and go places without worrying that I cannot see well."

Grace is a small scale farmer and a mother of four children. Her husband died 18 years ago and left her a small house that later fell down beyond repair but she has recently managed to put up a small mud-made single room for shelter. All her children were not able to attend school. Her eldest is now 35 years old and is married while the youngest is 18 years old. She relies on the sale of her farm produce to cater to her basic needs. Four years ago, Grace began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small painless swelling which recently started increasing in size. She has never visited any health facility to seek treatment. Currently, she experiences airway obstruction and severe headaches whenever she carries a heavy load and this has greatly affected her farming. She occasionally develops high temperatures, especially around her chest and neck. She was diagnosed with a goiter and after a review by the surgeon, a thyroidectomy was recommended. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Grace receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Grace says, “I pray that I may look normal again through surgery. I hope to live a comfortable life because the swelling makes me feel abnormal. I will continue with farming once I recover after the surgery.”