Meet Channy, an 11-year old fifth-grader who lives in Cambodia. Channy lost both of her parents when she was younger, and is now supported by a local NGO. “For the last three years Channy has had discharge from both of her ears along with perforated tympanic membrane [ear drums] in both ears as well,” reports our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “She has a little hearing loss in her left ear but it is much worse in the right ear, which is the ear she will have an operation on.” As a result, she has a tough time hearing people, and it makes her schooling particularly difficult, as she can’t hear her teachers in class. For $400, Channy will have a myringoplasty surgery that will stop the discharge in her right ear, and will improve her hearing significantly. Let’s work together to make it happen!

This is Srun, a 77-year-old mother of four and grandmother of six from Cambodia. Srun’s vision has gotten blurry over the years due a mature cataract in her eye, and she is in need of surgery so she can see clearly. “She can't see anything clearly, go outside alone, watch TV, or take care of her grandchildren when her children ask her to,” our partners at the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) tell us. "She relies on her daughter for help, which makes it so that her daughter has to take time off from her job as a teacher." For $150, we can pay for Srun's surgery to remove her cataract. She will be able to see clearly and regain her independence. CSC tells us, "When her surgery is done, she looks forward to helping her daughter clean the house, playing with her grandchildren, going to the pagoda whenever she wants, and watching TV again.”

This is Tem, a 23-year-old rice farmer who loves to play volleyball and travel around on his moto through his hometown in Cambodia. One year ago, Tem was on his moto when a car blindsided him and broke his femur on impact. Tem sought "bambooslim" treatment from traditional Khmer healers but he has never fully recovered and has great difficulty walking. Tem will need surgery to fully recuperate from the accident. Tem has lived with his injury for so long that he can now walk quite slowly without crutches, although his doctors share that "when he sits down he must keep his leg straight and that can get very uncomfortable. He cannot go to work and now relies on his mother to support him." Tem shares that he "dreams of returning to school and learning English and basic computer skills," but must receive proper treatment first. For $405, we can pay for Tem to undergo surgery to reset his broken bones so that they can properly heal. This operation will allow Tem to walk normally again so that he can return to working at the farm and contribute to his family's income. Tem will also be able to play volleyball, return to school, and live a life free from pain!

Thun is a 66-year-old woman living in Cambodia with her two children and six grandchildren. Over the last four years, Thun has developed cataracts in both her eyes, making it very difficult to see. Our partners at Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) tell us, “Thun’s vision has been blurred, making it hard for her to care for herself and her family. Thun’s eyes hurt so much sometimes and she feels so hopeless that she cries. She fears that she might lose her vision completely.” Cataracts are the most common cause of age-related vision loss around the world. The surgery to remove cataracts is relatively simple and painless, but most important, it is very effective in restoring vision. “Thun misses going places on her own and looks forward to visiting the pagoda during ceremonies if the surgery is a success,” our partners at CSC tell us. It will only cost $150 to fund this surgery for Thun and help her to do the things she wants without the limitations of her cataracts – let's do it!

Handsome Oltang'amwaki is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania, who is the only son in a family of four children. Oltang'amwaki severely injured his elbow when he fell asleep too close to a fire, which caused his clothes to catch fire. Luckily someone was nearby to help put out the fire, but he was left with a large burn on his elbow. Oltang'amwaki's parents are livestock keepers, and before his injury Oltang'amwaki would help his father tend to the livestock. Oltang'amwaki needs surgery to treat his injury, but our medical partner at African Mission Healthcare Foundation explain their challenge. "His parents love him very much and were terrified when their son had the fire accident. As much as they want to help their son, they have not been able to come up with enough money to cover the cost of operation which Oltang’amwaki needs." Due to his condition Oltang’amwaki can no longer bend his arm and has difficulty performing his daily chores. “I wish I could stretch my arm all the way so that I can better help my mother to fetch some water and do other small chores,” Oltang’amwaki says. $550 will cover the cost of single contracture release surgery. With this surgery Oltang’amwaki will be able to use his arm freely and continue to work hard alongside his family!

Meet Mganga, an five-year-old boy from Tanzania. Mganga lives with his parents and three older siblings and loves playing with trains and Legos. His father works at a local restaurant and his mother sells fruit and vegetables in their village market. Mganga has bilateral clubfoot, making it difficult and painful to walk. “If not treated,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, “Mganga will most likely develop early osteoarthritis of the small bones and his day to day activities will be impaired due to difficulty in walking.” While Mganga’s parents can provide for the basic needs of their children, the extra cost of surgery is a challenge. His parents tell us, “We so much want Mganga to be able to walk properly like the rest of our children. We trust that by having straight feet it will be easier for him to walk and he will be happy to go to school.” $1,160 covers the cost of Mganga’s surgery, which will allow him to walk properly and reduce the risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Together we can ensure that Mganga can pay for the care he needs!

Melder is a 20-year-old mother of one who lives with her husband and child in Kenya. Melder is a gold miner and she spends all day mining to support her growing family. Her husband is a farmer who holds a small farm with cows and chickens. Melder is pregnant with her second child, but is experiencing a difficult pregnancy. She has back pain, severe headaches, and lower abdominal pain, all of which make her job in the mine difficult. Although Melder and her husband both work hard at their jobs, they have not been able to save money for a safe delivery. For $215, Melder will deliver her baby in a health facility with skilled clinicians and will receive advanced care in case of any complications. “I hope to continue with my usual duties and be a responsible parents to my children,” says Melder. Let’s support Melder and her family as they welcome a new baby!