Chantha loves cooking and spending time at home with her husband and seven children. But for some time now, the 56-year-old Cambodian woman has struggled to hear the voices of those loved ones. "I can't hear people that well,” she shares, “so it is hard to communicate with others.” Chantha’s hearing has been deteriorating for decades now. “Chantha had otitis media, an ear infection, in both ears when she was 8 years old,” reports our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). The infection eventually caused a rupture in Chantha’s right eardrum, and “over time she lost hearing in that ear. She also still experiences pain and recurrent discharge,” says CSC. Chantha explains, “Sometimes I can't do my work because of the pain." Fortunately, though, Chantha’s pain and hearing loss do not have to be permanent. For $399, we can sponsor the myringoplasty surgery that she needs. In this procedure, doctors will seal the hole in her eardrum with a graft. The requested funding will also cover the post-operative medication and hospital stay Chantha will need to recuperate from the procedure. “I hope after the operation my mother's ear discharge stops, and she has good hearing and health,” Chantha’s son tells us. Let’s help make that hope a reality for this family and their mother.

This is Melany. She is 14 months old, and lives in Guatemala with her mother. She loves to play with her little dolls. Melany is malnourished. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), explains, “Her height and weight are nearly three standard deviations below normal, meaning her poor diet has prevented her from growing. She gets sick often because her diet has made her immune system unable to fight off germs.” Melany’s mother is raising her by herself. She has no support at home, and as a result, has to take Melany with her to work. Her mother washes clothes for a living, and carries Melany on her back as she goes from house to house. Her limited income does not allow for foods like eggs, vegetables and fruits. Luckily, we can help Melany and her mother out. For $512, Melany can receive adequate treatment to get back on track. WK explains, “Melany will receive food supplementation, growth monitoring, micronutrients, and deworming medication will help overcome malnutrition. Her mother will receive nutrition education to learn about how she can give Melany what she needs to get well. The extra calories will allow her to grow, strengthening her immune system and allowing her to develop mentally and physically like a normal child. Her body will finally be able to use her energy to develop instead of fighting off frequent illnesses.” Melany’s mother shares, "I am so happy with this program. Now my daughter will get the life she deserves."