Phoeun is a 36-year-old construction worker from Cambodia, where he lives with his wife. When he isn’t working, he enjoys playing soccer and helping his wife on their farm. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), informs us that since Phoeun was five years of age, he has had recurring discharge from his left ear. The discharge is due to a cholesteatoma, which is a cholesterol-filled cyst that develops in the mid region of the ear. “I get ear discharge every day so I am upset. Sometimes I can't go to work because of pain in my ear,” shares Phoeun. CSC has informed us that, without treatment, this condition “causes hearing loss, pain, and tinnitus.” These complications can be eliminated with a mastoidectomy. During this procedure, portions of mastoid tissue near the ear will be removed in order to allow surgeons to remove the cyst. Treatment will cost $809, a fee that includes surgical and medical fees, meals during his stay in the hospital, and three post-surgical follow-ups. "After the operation I hope I stop having ear discharge and won't have any more ear pain,” shares Phoeun.

Ri You is a 26-year-old woman from Cambodia who works as a hairdresser. “In her free time she enjoys learning about makeup and studying English,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “When Ri You was 17, she began experiencing ear discharge from both sides with hearing loss. This has been a recurrent problem that she has treated only with ear drops and some antibiotics," CSC shares. Now, Ri You’s eardrum is perforated on both sides, meaning there are holes in the membranes separating the inner and external ear. “I am unhappy that I have ear pain and it is difficult for me to communicate with other people,” she says. Ri You will receive bilateral myringoplasty—a surgery on each ear that will reconstruct the eardrum—for $598. This amount will cover the cost of the surgeries and post-operational care. CSC expects that the surgeries will eliminate Ri You’s ear discharge and improve her hearing. “I hope after the surgeries the ear discharge will stop and I can have good hearing,” says Ri You.

“Maung Win is a 45-year-old man who lives in Burma with his wife and 18-year-old son,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “He has lived in the township his entire life and works as a shop vendor with his wife. Their son is currently studying at college.” “Maung Win has rheumatic heart disease,” reports to BBP. “He is often tired and feels tenderness in his chest. It is difficult to breathe when it is hot at home. Due to his conditions, he has to take medicines every day and has to buy more medicine once a month. It is difficult to afford to costs of medicine and is sometimes difficult to work as a shop vendor due to fatigue.” $1,500 will cover life-saving cardiac surgery for Muang Win. This procedure will increase his ability to breathe and decrease his tiredness. Post-surgery, he should be able to return to work full-time. “After surgery, I want to work hard for my family, especially for my son who is studying at college,” Maung Win says. “I worry for my son and his schooling. I worry that I cannot earn as much money as I can to support my family.”

Katusiime is a 40-year-old woman living in Uganda with her husband and four children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares, “Apart from the little subsistence farming that Katusiime does, she is mainly a house-wife who stays at home and looks after her four children.” Her husband, the family’s primary financial earner, is a teacher, whose salary is used to pay the school fees for their children. Since 2010 Katusiime has had a thyroid goiter, a condition where the thyroid gland is enlarged. “Katusiime went to a government hospital where surgery was recommended but she could not afford to pay for it,” AMHF explains. “Her condition worsened this year after Katusiime started having difficulties swallowing food.” “Katusiime experiences pain while sleeping and can no longer carry heavy things, like produce, from the farm,” AMHF continues. “She gets fevers and feels cold all the time. All these symptoms have left Katusiime very helpless because she can no longer work as well as before.” $170 will cover the cost of Katusiime’s thyroidectomy surgery, which will remove her thyroid and alleviate her pain. This will allow her to recover fully and continue working in her garden and taking care of her family. AMHF reports that, “If not treated, Katusiime may experience respiratory embarrassment and have an increasingly difficult time eating.” “I hope to be free from the pain and work harder,” shares Katusiime.

Kyi is a quiet 26-year-old woman who lives near the Thai-Burma border. She was born with an encephalocele, a neural tube defect that results in a sac-like protrusion of brain fluid. Kyi tells her doctors that she mostly keeps to herself because she is embarrassed about her appearance. She says she hopes to have her protrusion removed so she doesn't feel shy about going out in public. Kyi left home several years ago because of a difficult, dangerous family situation, and has since supported herself by cleaning homes. Her salary is enough to cover her basic expenses, such as food and a place to live, but she cannot afford the medical treatment she needs. For $2,000, we can fund Kyi's encephalocele removal surgery and give her the confidence to lead a more full life. After surgery, Kyi plans to build a new life for herself in Thailand, where employment opportunities are better.