Eswin is a three-year-old boy who lives in Guatemala with his parents. He loves playing with his toy horse, and, "his favorite food is egg and beans," our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), shares. Eswin is currently having trouble meeting some of his developmental milestones. He has not learned how to verbally communicate, and he has trouble walking longer distances. Because they live far from the nearest hospital, running tests and diagnostic work is not an option for Eswin. His father drives a tractor on a farm for work while his mother stays at home. Since they have no land for subsistence farming, they must purchase their food, making it difficult for them to financially support the therapy needed to treat Eswin's developmental delays. "The therapy will allow Eswin to be much more independent," WK reports. He will learn to verbally communicate in speech therapy, and to walk properly. $386 will cover the cost of the therapy needed. Without treatment, it is likely that Eswin's mother would have to stay at home with him. After receiving therapy for his developmental delays, Eswin will be on the right track for school, and his mother will be able to go back to work to help support the family. "I hope my son will learn to run and improve his language so he can explain things and we will be able to understand him," Eswin's mother expresses. "I hope my child will improve and that he will have the chance to live a normal life."

23-year-old Savy, a factory worker from Cambodia, has had problems with ear infections since he was a child. "Savy began having bilateral pus ear discharge when he was six-years-old," reports our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "On the right side, he eventually developed a cholesteatoma." A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the ear drum. This causes him recurrent discharge with a bad smell, hearing loss, pain, and a ringing in his ear. "I get discharge every day and this makes me unhappy," Savy tells us. "I cannot work anymore because it is painful." Savy works in a factory to support his wife and child, but since he has been unable to work he does not have the income to pay for his medical treatment. He traveled two hours to CSC for proper care, and needs $809 to fund his mastoidectomy procedure. During this operation, doctors will remove the infected skin cells and then drain his middle ear. After a couple weeks of healing, "Savy's ear discharge will stop and his hearing will improve." Savy is excited to have his operation so he can return home where he enjoys listening to the radio and playing football with his neighbors. "I hope my ear discharge stops and I have no pain after surgery," Savy shares.

Meet Makara, a 37-year-old farmer from Cambodia. In his free time, he enjoys planting trees and listening to the radio. "When Makara was eight, he began having ear discharge and hearing loss in his left ear from otitis media," reports our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually referred to as an ear infection. These sort of infections are common in areas of Cambodia where hygiene can be poor. "Over time, this perforated his left tympanic membrane," CSC continues to explain. For the past almost 30 years, Makara has continued to experience recurrent ear discharge, hearing loss, and a ringing in his ear. "I am unhappy that I have ear pain and there is a bad smell," Makara shares. "It is difficult to communicate with other people." After hearing about CSC on the radio, Makara traveled to CSC with his cousin for proper treatment. For $399, doctors will perform a myringoplasty to repair the tear in Makara's tympanic membrane. This will improve his hearing and stop the discharge and pain. Makara is very excited to have his operation so that he can finally hear properly again. "I hope the ear discharge stops and I have good hearing," he shares.