This is Ngae, a 58-year-old widow from Burma who has three daughters and two sons. Ngae sells a variety of vegetables to support her family, making about $2-4 a day. With a daughter married and living in Bangkok, Ngae works hard to put her young son through school and manage the rest of the family as well. Starting in November of 2015, Ngae’s health began to limit her ability to carry vegetables in a basket and sell her goods by the roadside. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) shares that at one point while selling corn, she suffered an unexpected uterine prolapse. For quite some time, Ngae has been ignoring her prolapsed uterus due to an inability to pay for, or access, treatment. But now, she is experiencing back pain, lower abdominal pain, and frequent urination. With $1,500, Ngae will receive the surgical treatment she requires, which may include a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or repairs to prevent her uterus from falling out. Surgery will better illuminate a solution to her health condition through examination of the pelvic or apical reattachment ligament points. Pelvic examinations, blood work, and post-surgery respite are all included. BBP expects that Ngae will be able to return to her normal routine. Ngae says, “I want to have the surgery as soon as possible and I hope that my surgery will be successful. I want to return to selling vegetables on the roadside.”

Oeun is an 83-year-old grandfather from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Oeun has hypermature cataracts in both of his eyes, making it hard for him to walk around alone, eat, and distinguish people’s faces.” Oeun feels guilty about his lack of independence because it forces him to constantly rely on his son to help him with everyday activities. CSC continues, “Oeun has six children and ten grandchildren. Before his vision got bad, he liked to read books.” With $225 in funding Oeun will receive surgery to remove the cloudy cataracts from his eyes, replacing his old lenses with artificial ones. Following surgery, his vision should be clear! Oeun tells CSC that after surgery, “He looks forward to going to the pagoda, visiting his kids in other provinces, and, most of all, eating without assistance.”