“Saroeun has blurry vision in both of her eyes and can’t read, see faces or things clearly, or go to the pagoda alone,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) explains. Saroeun, who is 74-years-old and lives with her five kids and six grandchildren in Cambodia, has mature cataracts in both of her eyes. “After her vision is better, she looks forward to going to the pagoda without help from her friends, taking care of her grandchildren, and helping her daughter sell groceries at her local store,” CSC continues. $150 covers the cost of Saroeun’s cataract surgery which will provide her with clear vision in her right eye. She is will be receiving surgery on her left eye next week. Let's help her regain her independence!

Sharmila is an adorable six-year-old girl living in Nepal who loves skipping and playing games! Her favorite game is “chungi,” a Nepalese version of hackey sack played with a ball of rubber bands. Sharmila lives with her grandparents, two brothers, and her parents, who farm and own a small roadside tea shop. One day, Sharmila fell on her hand while playing outside. She experienced severe pain and has been unable to move her hand ever since. If Sharmila does not receive treatment for her fracture, she could lose complete use of her hand. Doctors say that Sharmila “is really sad that now she will not be able to play chungi for some time.” For $805, we can fund Sharmila’s surgery for her hand fracture so she can get back to playing with her friends!

Meet Jhupa! She is a lovely 60-year-old married woman who lives with her husband, her son, and her daughter. Recently, Jhupa injured her foot after she stepped on a thorn. Her wound became infected and she and her husband had to travel to Bayalpata hospital, leaving their two children at home by themselves. At the hospital, Jhupa's infection was deemed serious enough that her foot needed to be amputated. To complete the procedure, doctors need to perform a skin graft, which can only be performed at Nepalgunj Medical Teaching Hospital. For $1,465, we can fund Jhupa’s skin graft so she can walk again and get back to caring for her children!

Mu Lar is fourteen-years-old and lives with her family in Burma. She is a very happy girl who always wants to play with other kids. She loves school and hopes to be a teacher someday. Because of her heart condition, she has had very little energy and her fingers and toes show signs of clubbing. It is hard to play with other kids because she gets exhausted easily, and walking to school tires her. Her heart condition also causes her to eat very little and has stunted her growth, so she looks much younger than she actually is. For $1500, Mu Lar can receive an artery shunt that will correct her congenital heart condition. This will alleviate her constant feeling of exhaustion. Mu Lar looks forward to being able to walk to school and helping out around the house. Let’s get Mu Lar back to being a normal girl and playing with her friends!

Alia is a 35-year-old mother from Guatemala. Following symptoms of fatigue, low oxygen levels, and a bad cough, Alia was treated for tuberculosis (TB). When her symptoms persisted and her TB test came back negative, a more thorough exam revealed subtle signs of a chronic process damaging the lungs. Alia's symptoms make it difficult for her to perform daily chores and take care of her young children. Frustrated with these limitations, Alia hopes to recover her health and to be better able to take care of her family soon. For $1200, we can provide Alia with a much needed lung specialist consultation as well as additional laboratory testing. This testing will guide the selection of advanced antibiotic therapy and will hopefully halt her lung damage.

Ramita is a two-year-old girl who has been unable to say her first words. Ramita was born with ankyloglossia, often called "tongue-tie," a congenital anomaly that can affect speech, feeding, and oral hygiene. Because of her condition, Ramita cannot speak, feels discomfort in her tongue, and has trouble eating. Her mother is very worried about her only child’s speech development, but the cost of surgery is out of reach for Ramita’s parents. Her mother does agricultural work and her father works in India to support the family. With your help, Ramita can receive the $965 surgery she needs to live a healthier life and let her voice be heard!

Wissara is a 34-year-old Buddhist monk from Burma who has been living all his life with a heart condition that causes shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. Wissara was first diagnosed with his condition at eight years old and was once admitted to the hospital after a fainting episode. His parents, grandmother, and sister have all rallied to help him over the years, but they could not afford to pay for the all the tests, medication, or surgery that Wissara needs to correct his condition. For the past 15 years, Wissara has lived a quiet, simple life in a monastery. He and the other monks eat just two meals a day and collect alms each morning that they share equally. His days consist mainly of prayer, meditation, and chores around the monastery. Wissara hopes to continue to study Buddhism, and one day teach others about the practices and philosophy of the religion. For $1500, we can give Wissara the surgery he needs to live a healthier and more peaceful life.

Gayatra is in danger of permanent disability because of an accident that happened 18 years ago. When she was just three years old, Gayatra fell off of a balcony and fractured her foot. Her family hoped she'd be able to travel to Kathmandu for surgery, but they couldn't afford the associated costs, and her injury went untreated. Today, Gayatra is living with a contracture deformity, a stiffening of the ligature, in her right foot. This has made it difficult for Gayatra to do basic things, like walk and perform household chores. Gayatra needs surgery even more now than she did 18 years ago. With our $1,415, she'll receive treatment that will improve her mobility and prevent permanent disability. Post-recovery, Gayatra will be able to stand, walk, and complete household work with increased ease.

"I want to get well so that I [can] continue with my farming instead of depending on people to feed me," Lucy shares with her doctors. Lucy is 53 years old and the proud mother of grown children. She also has uterine fibroids, which are causing her unbearable abdominal pain and bleeding. Without treatment, Lucy is at risk of severe anemia and continually decreasing quality of life. Lucy lost her husband four years ago and depends on subsistence farming for her livelihood. Due to her condition and the excessive pain that it causes, Lucy can no longer farm and now depends on others for her food. A total abdominal hysterectomy will cure Lucy's condition. However, neither Lucy nor her children can afford the cost of the surgery. For $885, we can help Lucy get back on her feet and ensure that this treatable condition does not lead to further complications!

Surja is a 40-year-old woman living in Nepal. She has been dealing with uterine prolapse for the last five years, a painful condition which prevents her pelvic muscles from providing adequate support for her uterus. Surja's husband passed away fifteen years ago, and she's had difficulty supporting her 16-year-old son since. The last five years have presented an even greater challenge because of her condition. Her labor-intensive tasks at work include breaking rocks and carrying heavier loads - impossible to carry out in her current condition. Despite these hardships, Surja remains hopeful. She wants to get healthy and continue caring for her son. For $1,165, we can fund Surja's surgery so she can regain the ability to work and support herself and her son!

Esther is a 27-year-old mother of two from Kenya. She takes care of her children and grows kale in her garden to supplement her husband's small income. Her daily routine is becoming impossible, though, because of large uterine fibroids that put her in a lot of pain. For only $885, we can ease that pain. Esther says she "longs to see her children grow up to be successful." With a total abdominal hysterectomy, Esther can return to focusing on her children and this dream.

Catherine is a curious four-year-old girl from Tanzania. She loves to play with other kids even though she has trouble walking properly due to a burn scar contracture (tightened skin) on her left foot. Catherine's mother was still in school when she had her, so Catherine lives with her grandmother. Her grandmother is taking care of many other children and cannot afford to pay for Catherine's operation. Catherine's grandmother dreams of seeing her granddaughter walk again. Let's raise the $505 needed for the contracture release surgery and help Catherine walk again!