Bros is a 24-year-old tuk tuk driver who lives with his wife and daughter in Cambodia. After a full work day, Bros enjoys listening to the radio or playing football with his friends. Since childhood, Bros has experienced recurrent discharge from his right ear due to chronic ear infections. "It makes me unhappy that I get discharge every day,” shares Bros. “I need to put cotton in my ears every time this happens. Sometimes, I can't work as a tuk tuk driver because the pain is so bad, so I lose money to support my family." Doctors at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), discovered a cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth located behind the eardrum—in Bros’s right ear. A cholesteatoma initially develops as a cyst after chronic ear infections. Over time, the cyst sheds layers of old skin that collect within the ear and form a mass that can grow large enough to cause hearing loss, dizziness, or facial paralysis. For $809, Bros will undergo a mastoidectomy, a surgical procedure in which doctors remove the diseased cells in the hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull behind the ears. The cells—known as mastoid air cells—are diseased as a result of the chronic ear infections that spread to the skull structures near Bros’s right ear. Doctors will also remove the cholesteatoma that has grown behind his eardrum. Funding for Bros also covers the costs of two hearing tests, one night in the hospital, one day of inpatient post-operative care, and three outpatient follow-up visits in the month following surgery. “After a mastoidectomy, Bros will be able to have improved hearing, and the discharge will stop,” adds CSC.

"Phon developed a cataract in each eye three months ago," our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us about the 53-year-old man from Cambodia. "This causes him blurred vision, tearing, and discharge." Cataracts occur when the eye lens becomes cloudy, making it very difficult to see. If not treated, cataracts can lead to functional blindness over time. Fortunately, a simple and commonly practiced procedure can restore Phon's vision. $225 will cover the cost of a phaco procedure and IOL implants for each eye. The procedure involves removing the cloudy lenses and replacing them with clear implants. After surgery, "Phon will be able to see clearly again," CSC explains. As a rice farmer and father of five, it's important to Phon and his wife that he gets his vision back and is able to work again. "I want to find another job as a motor taxi driver to earn some money to support my family," Phon tells us of his plans for after surgery.

"I hope my eye gets better so that I can feel good about continuing work at the garment factory… I want to go outside without feeling shy around people," says Sophea, a 20-year-old woman from Cambodia. Sophea has a condition called exotropia that causes her left eye to turn outward. Sophea has also developed ptosis of her left eye, which causes her eyelid to fall. She experiences blurred vision and has a hard time seeing clearly. Her condition also makes it difficult to interact with family, friends, and coworkers. "I am shy with my friends and other people so I don't feel good doing my work or going outside," says Sophea. At only 20 years old, Sophea wants to get better so she can return to work with her colleagues at the garment factory. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre notes that Sophea traveled for over 5 hours with the help of her mother to receive treatment. Sophea's condition can be resolved with strabismus and ptosis correction surgeries. The procedure costs $220, which will make Sophea's left eye look and function normally. Her vision will improve and she can return to work feeling positive about herself. "I want to go outside without feeling shy around people," adds Sophea.

Meet Thorn, a 58-year-old mother and grandmother who lives in Cambodia. Thorn enjoys watching Thai dramas on television and doing housework. "Two years ago Thorn developed a cataract in each eye," explains our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "This causes her blurred vision and pain." A cataract is a thickened, cloudy lens. Over time, the altered lens loses its ability to focus light properly, resulting in blurry or dull vision and difficulty seeing faraway objects. Cataracts account for 50 percent of all cases of blindness worldwide, and formation typically occurs in both eyes, as Thorn is experiencing. $225 will cover the cost of surgery to remove the cloudy lenses from both of Thorn’s eyes and replace them with artificial lenses. This amount also includes post-operative follow-up care. After surgery, "Thorn's vision will improve and she will have regained independence," CSC tells us. Thorn shares her hopes after surgery: "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again and I don't have to worry about my eyes becoming blind. I hope I will be able to do my work and can go anywhere outside by myself very well." Thorn's son adds: "I hope my mother can see everything clearly again after treatment. I hope I won't have to worry about her eyes having problems in the future."

“I can't recognize faces of my friends and family, or go walking easily anywhere by myself,” shares Lim. With cataracts in both eyes, Lim experiences blurred vision and a fear of bright lights, especially the sun. Lim is 78 years old and lives in Cambodia. "She is married with two sons and six grandchildren,” says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). “She spends her time doing work around the house, visiting the pagoda, and listening to the monks pray." For $225, Lim will undergo surgery to remove the cataract in each of her eyes -- replacing the clouded lenses with artificial ones. “After the procedure, Lim will be able to see everything better than before and she will not be at risk of becoming blind,” says CSC. Lim adds: “After treatment, I want to spend time taking care of my grandchildren at home."

“Brenda, now 24, has overcome a lot in her life,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). Brenda was born without a left arm. "My parents educated me and treated me as if I were normal,” Brenda shares. WK adds, "She said it was difficult for her parents because they had to put in extra effort to teach her things that were easy for other children." Despite these difficulties, Brenda has gone on to live a more normal life and has even recently received her driver's license. Doctors recommend that Brenda get a prosthetic arm. "This prosthetic arm will allow her to do things she has never been able to do in her life - actions that she has only seen done, but never thought would be possible for her to achieve," WK adds. Currently, Brenda lives with her boyfriend, teaches third grade, and attends law school. With her teaching salary, she is unable to afford the prosthetic arm. With $1,255, Brenda will be able to visit the treatment center and receive a fitted prosthetic arm. “This treatment will change Brenda’s life,” WK tells us. “She will be able to complete actions that she has never been capable of. Once she is married and she starts to have children, the arm will help her accomplish daily activities more easily.” “I’ve always admired her,” says Brenda’s boyfriend. “She has shown me that she can do anything she puts her mind to.”

Meet Djouvensley, a 4-year-old boy from Haiti. “He is an only child and is very close to his mother, and shy around people he doesn’t know,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “He hasn’t started preschool yet, in part because of his cardiac condition, but his mother plans to enroll him as soon as he has healed from surgery.” “Djouvensley was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle, a birth defect in which both major arteries flow out of the same chamber of the heart, creating circulatory problem,” reports HCA. “This leaves him weak and at risk of death if not corrected.” It is important that Djouvensley’s condition is treated as soon as possible. The treatment for double outlet right ventricle is surgery. Upon looking at the heart to decide the best course of treatment, surgeons will proceed to connect the aorta to the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle. This will fix the circulatory problem and ensure blood flows through Djouvensley’s heart correctly. An organization called International Children’s Heart Foundation is helping with the costs of the surgery. With their generous subsidy, Djouvensley only needs our help in raising $1,500 for the surgery. After the surgery, doctors anticipate that Djouvensley will no longer experience any cardiac symptoms. He will be able to live a normal life and do the things he enjoys without complication. “We are so thankful to everyone who is helping my son,” shares Djouvensley’s mother. “I can never thank you enough but God will reward you.”

"Melona is a loving and hardworking mother,” shares our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). While the past several years have been challenging, this 28-year-old single mother of four children “is still positive about life because she is drawing strength from her children.” Melona has hyperthyroidism—a condition that causes the thyroid gland to be more active than usual. This hyperactivity causes an excess amount of thyroid hormones to build up in the body. The body naturally responds to the rising hormone level in a variety of ways, typically causing a faster heart rate, anxiety and hand tremors. “Melona has been suffering with this condition for 11 years,” ICM explains. Since the onset of her condition, the lump on her neck has noticeably increased in size. As a result, “Melona feels embarrassed whenever people look at her.” With $525 in funding, Melona will receive surgery to remove her thyroid gland. In doing so, she will no longer produce excess amounts of hormones, allowing her body to return to its normal hormone levels. Although this operation typically has a very short and painless recovery period, Melona will spend five days in supervised hospital care to support the beginning of her recovery. The proposed treatment will greatly help Melona and her children. ICM explains, “After the treatment, Melona can look for other jobs that could help them in their daily needs. She will also gain confidence and her self-esteem will improve.” "Despite of our financial difficulties, I am still hoping that one day I will receive treatment so that I can go on with life with out difficulty and take care of my children well," Melona says.

Meet Ly, a 61-year-old father of 10 and grandfather of 10 from Cambodia. Ly works as a farmer to support his family by growing potatoes, soybeans, and cashews. Unfortunately, over the last several months his ability to do this has drastically changed. Ly’s vision is blurry due to mature cataracts in both eyes. “I miss watching boxing on the TV with my friends on Sundays. I’m sad I cannot do things for myself or my family,” says Ly. To get the appropriate treatment for his cataracts, Ly needs a surgery for which he has traveled six hours from his home to receive. With $150, we can support Ly with the healthcare he needs. “This treatment will restore Ly’s eyesight in his right eye and prevent blindness,” writes a doctor from our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. Let’s raise the funds and help Ly return to a fulfilling and productive life!