“I hope my eye can see everything clearly again so I can help my family do work at the farm, and I can easily go walking anywhere outside,” says Phon, a 64-year-old woman from Cambodia. Phon, who has four sons, five daughters, and ten grandchildren, is a patient with our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Three years ago, Phon developed cataracts in both eyes. A cataract occurs when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, which in turn causes decreased vision and functional blindness. CSC explains that the cataracts have caused Phon’s blurred vision and tearing. $225 will fund Phon’s postoperative care in addition to the cataract surgery itself. During the operation, the clouded lenses from both of her eyes will be removed and replaced with artificial lenses. Soon after the surgery, she will be able to see clearly again. Phon likes to watch the social news on TV and play with her grandchildren, and surgery will help her resume these activities she enjoys.

Kamal is similar to many 4-year-old children: observant, excited, and full of energy. “Kamal enjoys playing all day long,” says his father. He is currently in kindergarten, and lives with his three older siblings and family in Nepal. One day, Kamal tripped while he was playing on the porch outside his house, and he fractured his right femur. His leg has become swollen and is causing him a lot of pain. He also has been unable to make any movements on his own without help, and has been missing school since his injury. Our medical partner, Possible, is able to bring him back to full recovery through a common procedure to realign his femur, and prolonged stabilization of his legs in a special cast called a hip spica during his recovery. His in-patient treatment, X-rays and labs, and procedure costs $224, and within 90 days his leg will be fully recovered. He will soon be able to return to school and be active in the many ways he is used to.