Meng Heang is a playful three-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his two siblings and parents. To support their family, his father works selling children's bikes, and his mother works selling perfumes. Meng Heang enjoys watching puppet musicals and playing with his toys! For some time, Meng Heang has been experiencing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. He also snores every night and has difficulty breathing. He was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids. If his condition is not treated, it will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Meng Heang, which is scheduled to take place on July 18th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving him of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. His parents share that they hope Meng Heang will get better and be able to eat and sleep well.

Lucas is a teenage boy and the third born out of seven children born to his mother. He is currently in the fifth grade in primary school and shared that his best subjects are social studies, Mathematics and Swahili. He likes playing football with his friends, but he has difficulty playing freely. When Lucas was a baby, he fell into an open fireplace and his left leg was burned severely. Although he had surgery then, burns scars (contractures) developed on his leg at the knee joint. They cause tightening around the joint making it hard for him to walk. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lucas receive treatment. On May 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him walk easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Lucas says, "I will be very happy if I get this treatment since I will be able to play football with my friends and also walk well."

Clare is a loving mother of seven children from Southwestern Uganda. She and her husband are farmers, but shared with us that their farm's output produces very little income. Without a functional insurance system in Uganda, their access to healthcare is very limited. Clare has had a lipoma on her right hand for more than three years. She has pain and numbness on her hand, affecting her day to day farming. She came to Nyakibale Hospital and doctors have recommended surgery to treat her condition. She appeals for help, since she cannot afford the surgery. On May 17th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Clare needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Clare says: “I have had this condition for all this long but could not get care due to lack of money. I will be glad to get your support.”

Elias is a 68-year-old father of six. He and his wife rear sheep and farm crops for a living. Their oldest child is now 43 years old, while their youngest child is 26 years old. Elias shared that his children are not able to provide much support for him and his wife regarding his medical care due to their own family obligations. For four years, Elias has had a left inguinal hernia. As a result, he experiences pain, and the different medications he has tried have been unable to help. Elias visited our medical partner's care center Rushoroza Hospital, where the doctors recommend surgery in order for him to heal. Fortunately, on April 19th, Elias will finally undergo hernia repair surgery. Upon recovery, he will be able to live more comfortably and confidently. AMH is requesting $170 to fund Elias's surgery and care. Elias shared, “I hope to get well again through surgery after trying several medications without improvement. I hope I'll be able to continue rearing my sheep after recovering completely.”

Habert is a 41-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, living with his wife and four children. Habert also works as a farmer with his wife, in order to supplement their income. Four years ago, Habert developed a swelling on the left side of his jaw. The mass is large and growing in size, and he experiences a lot of pain and disfigurement from the swelling. Habert requires surgery to excise the growth, which could become malignant if it isn't treated. Fortunately, Habert traveled to Karoli Lwanga Hospital in Nyakibale, which is the care center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. He is now scheduled for surgery to remove the mass on June 7th, for which African Mission Healthcare is requesting $188 to fund his procedure. Habert says: “I am hopeful that since I have approached you, my health will be restored and I will resume farming as I take care of my family.”

Chhoeun is a 45-year-old rice farmer. He is married and has one daughter and three sons. His wife is a garment worker at a local factory, and his children are students. When Chhoeun is not working in the fields, he likes to play basketball with friends or his children. One year ago, Chhoeun developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him photophobia, tearing, and blurry vision. As a result, he has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he cannot go places on his own. When Chhoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 2nd, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, Chhoeun will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure. Chhoeun shared with us, "After surgery, I hope my eye can see clearly again. I hope to easily plant rice and go out by myself without difficulty."

Em is a 42-year-old rice farmer. She's married and has four daughters and one grandchild. Em's husband is a construction worker. In her free time, Em likes to listen to music and the news on the radio. Five years ago, Em developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness and tearing. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. Em has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Em learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 19th, Em will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. CSC is helping Em raise $225 to cover this procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Em says, "I hope after surgery my eye stops tearing and burning. I want to go plant rice and not worry about it anymore!"

Yan is an elderly rice farmer, living with his wife and daughter in rural Cambodia. He also has two sons, another daughter, and nine grandchildren. Yan enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Yan developed a cataract in his right eye, which causes blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and tearing. When Yan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours to seek treatment. On May 16th, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform cataract surgery, and they will also implant an intraocular lens in his right eye. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $253 to fund Yan's treatment, which will enable Yan to see clearly, once again. Yan told us: "After surgery I hope I can see people clearly, visit the pagoda by myself, and take better care of my wife."

Hai lives in Kandal province in southern Cambodia. He is married and has a son who is one year old. Hai's wife was a factory worker, but she stopped when their child was born. Hai enjoys playing football and listening to music in his free time. Hai was involved in a motor accident in October 2020 and experienced trauma to his back and lower limbs. After the accident, Hai went to a government hospital where he received X-rays and medications and was then sent home. Hai still feels poorly, continues to feel pain in his back, and has difficulty walking. He remains in a wheelchair and cannot work. Surgeons plan to use posterior instrumentation to stabilize his spine. A posterior instrumented fusion involves the placement of screws and rods in the spine. This procedure will provide realignment and stabilization of the spine allowing fusion to occur. Hai is seeking $1,500 to fund his surgery, as he is unable to pay for this treatment on his own. Hai shared, "I hope that I will walk again and can get my job back to support my family."

Chhat is a 64-year-old rice farmer. She has two sons, five daughters, and many grandchildren. Sadly, her husband passed away many years ago. Now she lives with her youngest son, while her other children live nearby. When she is not working, she likes to travel around visiting her grandchildren. She also enjoys listening to music on the radio. Two years ago, Chhat developed a cataract in her left eye causing her blurry vision and sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chhat learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 9th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Chhat shared, "I have not been able to work much since I got this problem, so I hope my vision gets better and I can go back to work, and help more around the house."

Lengai is a 7-year-old boy and the last born of four children. Lengai is a friendly and playful boy who is of age to attend kindergarten. He wants to go to school like his siblings, but due to a deformity on his right foot, he is not able to walk the long distance to and from school. Lengai's parents work as livestock keepers to make a living for their family. Lengai was born with a congenital deformity called syndactyly on his right foot and the fingers of his right hand. As a result, he cannot walk without pain, and is not able to move and use his fingers easily. Lengai's parents noticed his condition early on in his life, but due to the distance from their village to the nearest clinic, and the high cost of care, they were not able to seek treatment for him. Through a mission organization, Lengai was referred to our medical partner's care center, the Plaster House, for treatment. Lengai has been scheduled to have surgery on his right fingers so that he can use his hand in carrying out his daily life activities. Soon after, he will undergo treatment to correct his right foot. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Lengai receive treatment. On May 7th, surgeons at their care center will perform his hand surgery. Once recovered, he will be able to use his fingers with ease. Now, Lengai needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Lengai’s mother shared, "We were unable to seek treatment for our son not because we were okay seeing our son struggling to walk and use his right-hand fingers, but instead because of life's hardships. Please help our son."

Veasna is a 68-year-old who earns an income to support himself and his wife through selling basic items in their community. They have been proudly married for 37 years. While driving his motorbike in his province, Veasna had an accident and fell on his right shoulder. Now, it is difficult for him to move his shoulder or use his right arm or hand, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On March 22nd, Veasna will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will help to restore mobility to his right hand so that he can use it normally again. Veasna shared, "I hope that, after this surgery, I will have the use of my hand back as soon as possible."