Meet Seng, a 67-year-old woman from Cambodia. Seng is married with two sons, four daughters, and 15 grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray, according to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). “Seng developed a cataract in each eye 1 year ago. This causes her blurred vision, tearing, and she is afraid of sunshine. She can't see everything clearly, go outside on her own, or do her work well,” explains CSC. $225 funds cataract surgery that will remove the cloudy lenses from both of her eyes and replace them with artificial lenses. Funding for her surgery includes post-operative care, and after the surgery, she will be able to see clearly again.

When twenty-two-month-old Bakari was born in Tanzania, everyone thought he was a normal baby. However, after some time, his parents began to notice that his head was increasing in size at an unusual rate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tell us that Bakari was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain, resulting in swelling. “Bakari’s head [has] continued to increase in size, unfortunately he cannot sit and neither can he see. Bakari needs an operation to prevent further brain damage,” reveals AMHF. Bakari needs hydrocephalus repair surgery. During surgery, the excess CSF in his brain will be drained, and the outer membranes surrounding his brain will be repaired. Treatment will cost $775, which covers surgical and medical expenses, as well as five days in the hospital and two weeks at a physical rehabilitation center. “[Bakari] is the third born in the family. [He] is being raised by his grandma after his mother died of sudden death last year,” shares AMHF. The income his grandparents have, as farmers, is not enough to afford Bakari’s treatment, and provide for their six children and other grandchildren. “If only my grandson could get well and have the ability to stand and walk, I would be very happy,” says Bakari’s grandma.

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 Ta Lo. She is 54 years old, and lives in Burma with her husband. She has four grown-up children. Ta Lo and her husband primarily grow rice for a living, but also need to supplement their income by working as laborers for a few days a month. Working in the fields and as a laborer is physically demanding, and as a result of all these years of heavy lifting and hard work, Ta Lo has developed a condition called utrovaginal prolapse. This is a condition where one’s muscles, ligaments and skin around the pelvic region prolapse, or fall, out of their normal positions in the body. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, tells us, “Ta Lo noticed her prolapse when she was 23 years old, but it was very small and she only had a small amount of pain. As she has gotten older, it has gradually gotten worse. Now it is difficult for her to pass urine and stool, and sitting and working is uncomfortable.” Ta Lo had a fall two months ago, which worsened her condition and rendered her unable to work. There is treatment, but she simply can’t afford it. She shares, “I want to be able to move more easily and contribute to help my husband. I look forward to be able to cut branches and leaves for my house’s roof and be able to clean my house without discomfort and pain.” Ta Lo can receive surgery for $1,500. Upon completion, she will be free of her pain, and should be able to return to some normalcy. Let’s work together to make it happen for Ta Lo!