Meet Dy, a 67-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. “Dy is married with one daughter and three grandchildren,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “In her free time, Dy enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray and helping her daughter prepare vegetables at home to sell to others.” She earns a small income as a rice and crop farmer. Dy has a pterygium in her left eye, a small red growth on her inner eyelid. The pterygium is not malignant, but causes discomfort and interferes with vision. They are very common in sunny climates, and are often seen in patients who work outdoors with inadequate sun protection, such as farmers like Dy. "The pyerygium causes her blurred vision, burning, irritation, tearing, redness, and she is afraid of sunshine," continues CSC. As a result, she has difficulty working and going places alone. With $150, Dy will receive treatment for the pterygium. Doctors will make an excision to remove the growth, and then will patch the area with tissue from the cornea to return the eye to a normal appearance. “A pterygium excision surgery will release the burning, irritation, and itching Dy is experiencing,” explains CSC. “Her eye will look much better.” These funds provide for the surgical costs, hospital stay, and medicines Dy will need for recovery. Dy shares, "I hope my eye can see everything clearly so I can continue my work at the farm field, do any work easily, and go anywhere outside." Let’s help Dy live more comfortably.

"I can't see everything clearly, do work, or go walking outside anywhere,” says 67-year-old Chhin, a wife, mother, and grandmother from Cambodia who developed a cataract in each eye one year ago. A cataract occurs when there is a buildup of proteins in the lens of the eye. This causes the lens to become cloudy and disrupt the passage of light through the lens, impairing vision. Most cataracts are due to age-related changes and account for 50 percent of all cases of blindness worldwide. Formation typically occurs in both eyes, as Chhin is experiencing. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) share that these cataracts "cause Chhin to be partially blind and experience pain, irritation, and tearing." For $225, Chhin will undergo surgery to remove the cloudy lenses from her eyes and replace them with artificial ones. Funding also includes two days of hospital care, eye drops and ointments, medicine to reduce pain and prevent infection, and one post-operative consultation. After surgery, “Chhin will be able to see clearly again,” says CSC. "I hope I can see everything clearly,” says Chinn. “I can help my daughter do some housework, take care of my grandchild at home, go to the pagoda and join any ceremony, and go anywhere outside by myself."

While walking home from school in Nepal, four-year-old Lokesh slipped and fractured his right elbow, our medical partner, Possible, shares. "It has swollen considerably and is tender too." Ever since his fall, Lokesh has been taking medicine as a temporary way to manage his pain, Possible adds. Because of his injury, Lokesh is unable to do the things he used to. "Lokesh enjoys spending time with his little sister at home," Possible shares, "he also likes to help his mother cook in the kitchen." $579 covers the cost of the surgery that Lokesh needs to ensure his elbow heals properly, and he regains full use of his arm, along with antibiotics and follow-up appointments. "Lokesh's fractured bones will be aligned correctly and secured," Possible explains. "Within a month, it will heal properly and he will get his mobility back." Lokesh's father shares his son's hesitation of having this important surgery. "My baby is scared about the surgery. I am having a difficult time trying to convince him that all will be well."

For the past six months, 46-year-old Margaret from Kenya has been affected by backaches, dizziness, and heavy bleeding, subsequently causing her to develop anemia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares that Margaret received a myomectomy in 2008 to remove fibroids from her uterus. "Due to the fibroids Margaret has not been able to conceive," AMHF explains. Instead, she chose to start her family by adopting her daughter, who is now seven years old. When her symptoms recently worsened, Margaret sought further medical care. "After taking different medications without success, the gynecologist suggested an ultrasound scan to be done which showed she has multiple uterine fibroids,” AMHF states. "The gynecologist said the best treatment now is a TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy)." This procedure will completely remove Margaret's uterus and cervix, relieving her of currently debilitating symptoms. Without treatment, "the anemia may get worse, requiring transfusion while the fibroids will continue to grow, causing more pain, bleeding and discomfort." $790 covers the cost of surgery, a five-day hospital stay, lab work, and the medicines that Margaret needs for a healthy recovery. Margaret "runs a small business of selling scrap metals," AMHF shares. "This business is not able to make enough money to meet the cost of the operation." “I have always wished to have a family of my own. Due to these fibroids I could not get a child," Margaret shares, "I adopted my daughter now aged seven years and I hope to get well and adopt a second child. I hope my surgery will be successful."