Four years ago, Khan - an 80-year-old mother and grandmother from Cambodia - developed cataracts in both eyes. Her cataracts, which involve the clouding of her eyes’ lenses, have progressed, and now Khan can see very little. Khan traveled two hours to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), who explained that the cataracts are causing "her to become partially blind and experience pain, tearing, and discharge." Khan tells CSC that she is looking forward to her surgery so that she can once again, "walk to the pagoda and join in the ceremony." Khan is eager to regain her independence and the ability to see her husband, children, and 15 grandchildren. For $225, Khan’s cataracts will be surgically removed and replaced with clear artificial lenses. After the operation, Khan will be able to see again without the risk of tearing, discharge, pain, or the rapid deterioration of her vision. "I hope I will be able to see clearer than I do now so that I can participate in my grandchild's wedding, which is soon," Khan adds.

Meet Rosy, a one-year-old girl from Guatemala. Despite coming from a loving family, Rosy is chronically unwell as a result of acute malnutrition. “Rosy’s family is extremely poor, and the majority of her caloric intake comes from nutrient poor tortillas,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “This diet has restricted Rosy’s ability to grow physically and mentally, and now she is hitting developmental milestones months behind an average child her age.” Without intervention, Rosy’s condition will impact her health and ability to succeed in school. Her immune system will be unable to successfully combat infections, translating into further sickness, low energy, and inability to concentrate. As a result, her ability to learn will decline, thus decreasing her likelihood of succeeding later in life. Rosy is an only child, so if her parents receive nutritional education and supplemental support, they will have a good chance of ensuring economic stability for the family. “I want what is best for my child,” says Rosy’s mother. “I have heard about what you do, and I hope you can help me be a better mother to her.” Rosy’s family can put Rosy’s health back on track with our help. For $535, Rosy will receive the proper treatment for her malnutrition. This treatment will supply her with growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to help her attain healthy growth. In addition, Rosy’s mother will receive nutrition education that will build her confidence in ensuring Rosy has a healthy childhood.

Kelvin is an active boy who likes to run and play with other children, but is held back by a bilateral deformity of his knees that prevents him from walking normally. Kelvin's mother is a single parent who works hard to support him, but does not have the disposable income to afford the medical care he needs to live a normal life. She says she would love to see her son be able to play normally. “My son likes to run a lot, but he keeps falling every time he tries to run. I just hope that one day he will be able to run steadily without falling.” A $500 surgery can correct Kelvin's knee deformity and enable him to walk normally. With our support, Kelvin can grow up active and mobile!

At only three-years-old, Queen is already proving she’s a champ. After suffering from persistent fevers as a baby, Queen was taken to a hospital where she ended up having surgery for hydrocephalus, a medical condition in which the abnormal accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid around the brain causes swelling and painful headaches from the increased pressure in the head. If left untreated, hydrocephalus can lead to brain damage, a loss in mental and physical abilities, and even death. With early diagnosis and timely treatment, however, most children recover successfully and go on to lead normal lives. Queen was treated with an internal shunt (a small tube placed in her brain to drain fluid), but it has already needed two replacements. An external shunt will have fewer complications and potentially save Queen's life. With our help, doctors at CURE Zambia can perform a stunt revision and make sure Queen is a hydrocephalus success story!

Lalashe is a vibrant two-year-old who enjoys playing with friends. His parents earn a modest living by keeping a few cows and managing a small farm. However, they cannot cover their daily expenses and also pay for the medical care their young son needs. Lalashe has suffered from nasal encephalocele, or swelling of the nose, since he was born. His condition is becoming more serious and making it difficult for him to breathe, especially while he's sleeping. Lalashe's parents are afraid that "one day we shall wake up and find that Lalashe stopped breathing at night." Lalashe's doctors are suggesting a surgical reconstruction of his nasal cavity. This procedure will cost $820. They are confident that, "the reconstruction of Lalashe's nasal cavity shall enable him to breath well and grow like any other child." Let's help Lalashe get the help he needs to enjoy life as a toddler!

Khim is an outgoing 36-year-old lady. When she isn’t rice farming, her favorite thing to do is socialize with her neighbors. When she was five-years-old, Khim suffered from Noma, an infection which destroys tissues of the face, especially the mouth and cheek. Around 80% of people die from the disease but, against the odds, Khim survived! In 2007, Khim came to Children’s Surgical Centre and received reconstructive surgery on her face to repair some of the extensive damage. She has been able to breathe normally thanks to the surgery, but still has some difficulty eating and drinking and feels embarrassed about her appearance. The doctors at CSC want to provide her with further reconstructive surgery (a lip flap) which will improve her mouth function and help increase her self-esteem. Let’s support her by raising the $350 she needs for this procedure!

Sokhy is a cheerful thirteen-year old girl from a small farming village in Cambodia. When Sokhy was just nine months old, she was burned in a cooking fire. She suffered bad burns to her upper body, especially her hands. Sokhy tells her doctors that her burns have made routine, everyday tasks painful and arduous. While Sokhy has been receiving treatment from CSC since 2005, doctors have recommended she have contracture release surgery on both hands, which will restore their mobility and function. Children’s Surgical Centre(CSC) is asking for $300 for the procedure, which will provide young Sokhy the relief and comfort she so desperately needs. With your help, Sokhy will be able to return to school with all her friends and continue on with a happy and healthy life we all deserve!

Mercy is a young mother who, along with her husband, tends a vegetable garden and raises livestock in the southern Philippines. A doctor recently discovered a large cyst on one of Mercy's ovaries. It is a cause of considerable pain and is hampering her ability to contribute to the family’s income. More importantly, Mercy's condition is preventing her from taking care of her 11-year-old son. With an income of less than $3 a day, Mercy and her family can’t afford the surgery she needs. $405 will cover the cost of her cystectomy and enable her to get back to life as usual. Let's make it happen for her!

Ofelia spends her time tending to her vegetable garden and chasing after her two animated children. But for the last eight months, Ofelia has been intermittently immobilized with pain and unable to leave her bed. She’s unable to do essential day to day tasks to care of her family. Ofelia's doctors found an ovarian cyst that needs immediate surgery. She needs a laparotomy to remove the cyst and possibly her whole ovary. But with her husband’s salary of $73 a month, they are unable to afford it. Ofelia is hopeful when asking the Watsi community for help, “It is only with the help of a noble organisation that my dreams of having the surgery will be realized.” A donation of $122 will pay for Ofelia’s hospital fees, $194 will pay her surgeon, and $89 will cover the cost of her lab, blood, and medication costs. Let’s help get Ofelia out of bed and running with her kids again.

Chhoun is a lively and resourceful five-year-old Cambodian boy who loves to play soccer. When Chhoun was five years old, he fell from a tree and injured his arm. Now, eight years after the accident, Chhoun's elbow faces inward, making every day activities painful and arduous. Choun's favorite subject in school is literature; unfortunately, due to his condition, he now writes with his left hand, even though he is right-handed. He says he feels embarrassed about his arm. Doctors have recommended that Chhoun have an osteotomy (surgical bone realignment) to repair his elbow. Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) is seeking $300 to cover the cost of Chhoun's treatment, which will provide increased mobility and start Chhoun on a path toward a happy and healthy life!

Having had serious complications in a previous pregnancy, Irine wants to deliver with a skilled birth attendant from Lwala Community Alliance to enter motherhood safely. Sub-Saharan Africa experiences high rates of maternal and child mortality. In Kenya, 34% of deaths in children under 5 are attributed to neonatal causes. Proper healthcare during pregnancy can help curb these rates. Irine prays, “to give birth to a healthy baby," and we can help ensure it happens. $215 will cover the cost of 4 prenatal visits at the clinic, 6 home visits from a community health care worker, delivery at a hospital facility and a postnatal checkup.

Hee is an energetic nine year old girl from Cambodia who loves to sing and dance. Last October, while playing in a tree outside of her house, she fell and broke her wrist. Hee visited a local healer who put her in a bamboo splint to treat the injury. Physicians at the Children’s Surgical Center think that the splint was too tight, because the muscle tissue surrounding Hee's injury died. Hee’s specific condition is called a “Volkmann’s Contracture.” It is defined as a permanent flexion contracture (shortening of the muscle) of the hand at the wrist, which results in a claw-like deformity of the hand and fingers. Because of this Hee cannot write and perform everyday tasks. It certainly makes dancing more difficult. Hee, who lives with her brother and is cared for by family friends, needs surgery to treat this condition. If the surgery is successful she should regain function of her hand and ideally be able to do everything she could do before the injury.