After traveling three hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Sokhom looks forward to getting back on his feet. Sokhom works as a taxi driver in Cambodia, and "enjoys playing volleyball, watching Chinese movies with Khmer subtitles, and listening to pop music." Sokhom has had recent difficulty generating income and being active due to a broken right femur from a car accident in July. "I can't walk or work to support my life," Sokhom says. His broken femur causes pain and prevents him from being mobile and able to live his daily life. CSC recommends that Sokhom undergo and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery to fix his femur. In this procedure, doctors make an incision to realign and set the bones in place with rods and plates in order to ensure a proper recovery. $405 covers the cost of surgical supplies, physiotherapy, and follow-up appointments for the months following the operation. "After an ORIF surgery, Sokhom will be able to walk properly again without pain," CSC adds. "I hope after surgery I will be able to walk properly again," Sokhom shares. "After I am healed I would like to go back home and continue my job again."

Meet Sun, a 68 year-old grandfather from Cambodia with three sons, five daughters, and 15 grandchildren. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) tells us, “Sun operates the speaker systems used at ceremonies around Cambodia. When he is not at work, he enjoys reading the bible and doing work around his home.” “Two years ago, Sun developed a cataract in each eye,” CSC says. “This causes him blurred vision, pain, and tearing.” Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. This can ultimately result in total blindness. With limited vision, Sun explains, “It is hard to do work very well and I have a painful feeling in my eyes. It is difficult to read letters or go anywhere outside.” For $225, we can fund surgery to treat Sun’s cataracts. During this widely practiced operation, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lenses--replacing each with a new, artificial substitute. Sun expresses, "I hope after treatment I can see everything clearly again, so I can do my work operating speakers easily. I hope I can also read letters clearly and easily go anywhere outside on my own.”

Meet Kyakwera, a 32-year-old woman from Uganda. Kyakwera is married with six children. Kyakwera has a goiter, an abnormally large swelling of the thyroid gland. The pain from the condition has forced her to stop working, and “today, Kyakwera has severe pain while swallowing saliva or any kind of food. She cannot eat properly,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Goiters are often caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. While usually harmless, if they grow too large, they can impede swallowing, as is the case for Kyakwera. Kyakwera and her husband have a very small income. "She used to work on her garden but no longer has the strength to work due to this condition," her doctor says. Kyakwera and her husband are unable to support their large family and afford the treatment that Kyakwera needs. $170 can fund a thyroidectomy to remove her thyroid gland. “After the surgery, Kyakwera will stop having the severe pain and she will be able to eat," AMHF explains. "Kyakwera will be able to work and take care of her children." Kyakwera shares, “I am hoping to go back home without any pain.”