"Visal is married with 3 sons, 6 daughters, and 10 grandchildren," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). She spends most of her time taking care of her grandchildren and doing house work. One year ago, Visal developed a cataract in each eye. "This causes her blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and she is afraid of sunshine," reports CSC. Cataracts occur when the lens inside of the eye becomes cloudy, most commonly as a result of age-related changes. Since Visal's neice received surgery at CSC, Visal decided to travel five hours with her daughter to come to CSC. For $225, a surgeon will replace the cloudy lenses in Visal's eyes with intraocular lens (IOL) implants, which will restore vision to both of her eyes. Visal's daughter hopes that Visal can see clearly again and can travel far with independence. "I hope my eye can see everything clearly again," says Visal, a 68-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia.

“Everyday I feel afraid,” Isabel shares. “I want to heal, and to have more time with my family. We just don’t have the financial resources to afford chemotherapy.” 55-year-old Isabel has cervical cancer. She is a mother of three children and lives in a small home in rural Guatemala. “She told our staff that she has never had a steady job,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Since childhood and adolescence she has worked as a housewife. Her husband is a farmer but he stopped working and supporting her about 10 years ago for undisclosed reasons. Now, she works selling clothing and crafts. Her dream for the future is to have greater success with her business and seek other forms of income for her family. Her favorite activity is attending church with her only brother.” Isabel came to WK after living with uncomfortable symptoms for three years. “She never had the courage or the money to seek care,” WK says. “There is a lot of discrimination against Indigenous people in the public healthcare system.” For $1,430, Isabel will receive chemotherapy to treat her cancer. Not only will she undergo treatment, but she will receive all of WK’s services -- bus transportation from her village to the government hospital, translation while in the hospital, and general case management. “Without assistance, Isabel will be unable to afford the life-saving care she needs,” WK says.