Pov is a 54-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one daughter, two sons, three grandchildren. Her husband recently retired from the military. When she is not working the fields with her husband, she enjoys listening to news on the radio and going to pagoda for ceremonies. Four years ago, Pov developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation, tearing, and blurry vision. 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Pov learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three-and-a-half hours seeking treatment. Pov needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for May 11th. Pov said, "I hope that after surgery I will feel no more irritation, that the tearing will go away. I am ready to go back to my farming, to work hard, and to see my grandchildren again."

Elisha is a toddler from Tanzania. He is the second in a family of three children. Elisha was diagnosed with bilateral acquired genu valgus. His legs are abnormally curved. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he experiences pain when he walks. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Elisha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 10. Treatment will hopefully restore Elisha's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Elisha’s mother says, “We wish to see our son walk and ran around like normal children but we can’t afford his treatment please help our son.”

Tom is a nine-year-old student from Cambodia. He really likes to ride his bike around the village and hopes to become a teacher when he grows up. Since he was born, Tom has had a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred and cloudy vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Tom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On February 12, doctors will perform a lensectomy surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $398 procedure. He says, "I hope that my eyes will be able to see everything more clearly now. This way I will be able to read, play with friends, and recognize people's faces."

Ant Htoo is a seven-year-old boy from Thailand. He is a first grade student. When he was six, his mother noticed a mass on his thigh. It is not currently painful, but his mother worries that the mass will get bigger as he grows. Ant Htoo's family sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on March 8. His family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Ant Htoo says, “I want to be a policeman."

Lim is a rice farmer with ten grandchildren from Cambodia. She has five children and enjoys listening to the monks pray. Three years ago, Lim developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, burning, irritation, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On January 22, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. "I hope my mother-in-law's surgery is successful so she can see everything clearly and so she can easily work and walk outside. I hope to not worry about her vision loss anymore," says Lim's son-in-law.

Mbwana is a child from Tanzania. He has been diagnosed with acquired bilateral genu varus. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Mbwana has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Mbwana. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 6. Treatment will hopefully restore Mbwana's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Mbwana’s mother says, “Please help us.”

Kou is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two daughters, four sons, and 11 grandchildren. A year ago, Kou developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Kou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 17, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. She says, "I look forward to spending time with my grandchildren."

Precious is a newborn baby from Kenya. Her mother is a college student. The two of them live with Precious's maternal grandparents. The family farms a small piece of land, growing maize and beans. When Precious was one week old, her head began to increase in size. Her grandmother noticed this change and brought her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. Previous needs to undergo a shunt insertion surgery to drain the fluid from her brain. The procedure is scheduled for July 12 and will cost $634. “I really need your help and I am kindly requesting for any assistance,” shares Precious’s mother.

Narong is a third grader from Cambodia. He has two brothers and a sister. He likes studying math and human anatomy. He wants to be a doctor when he grows up. He likes to play football and watch movies with his friends. A year ago, he was hit by a motorcycle while playing on the side of the road, and his left tibia was fractured. He went to an emergency clinic, where doctors fixated hardware to heal his fracture. Now, the hardware is causing him pain and is making it difficult for him to walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 1, Narong will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $214. This procedure will help him walk easily again. He says, "I hope I can return to school soon after my surgery and see my friends."

Rutaro is a motorbike taxi operator from Uganda. He is married with three young children, who are all in school. Rutaro and his wife practice small-scale farming to meet their family's needs. For fifteen years, Rutaro has been developing a progressively growing mass on the back of his neck. The mass causes him discomfort, especially when he wears his work helmet. Rutaro traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 5, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Rutaro needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure. Rutaro says, “I hope to get better after surgery and I continue with my work of riding the motorcycle.”

Samuel is a secondary school boy from Tanzania. He is the first born in his family of two. Samuel’s father is a farmer, and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. Since he was nine years old, Samuel has been experiencing difficulty breathing. Frequent illness causes him to miss school frequently. Samuel was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Samuel, which is scheduled to take place on January 4. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Samuel of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Samuel says, “Please help me breath better. I do not sleep well and I am afraid I am missing school so much due to being sick frequently.”

Meet Justus, a 66-year-old man from a rural village in Uganda. Justus is a farmer, growing bananas, beans, maize, and coffee to support his family. In his free time, Justus enjoys walking around his coffee plantation pruning and harvesting coffee beans, visiting his friends and relatives, and listening to the radio. For the last 12 years, Justus has experienced backaches, abdominal pain, and discomfort. These symptoms have worsened in the last few weeks, and he has been diagnosed with a hernia that requires surgery. On August 5, surgeons will operate to correct Justus's condition. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, requests $229 to cover his treatment. Justus is able to contribute $7 to the cost of his care. “I thank donors for supporting my treatment,” says Justus. After treatment, he looks forward to growing more coffee trees.