Marivic is a 53-year-old mother of two from the Philippines who loves taking long walks and doing household tasks. As a housewife, she dedicates her time to taking care of her family. Their eldest son is the breadwinner of the family, while her husband works as a tricycle driver. Marivic has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She can no longer do strenuous work or heavy lifting due to the size of her breast mass. It often causes her discomfort while moving or doing chores. Her doctor advised her to limit activities that could worsen her condition. Despite these challenges, Marivic remains hopeful that help will come. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Fortunately, our medical partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP) is helping Marivic receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy on August 29th at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP needs your help in raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Marivic will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Marivic shared, "I am deeply grateful for the foundation’s help. Without this free surgery, I do not know when I would have received the treatment I need. This assistance has given me hope and eased the financial burden on my family."

Vun is a 38-year-old construction worker from Kampong Cham, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who grows cassava, and their two school-aged children. As the family's primary income earner, he works long hours performing physically demanding construction work while also helping his wife on the farm whenever possible. About two months ago, Vun began experiencing severe lower back pain that radiated down his left leg. The pain gradually worsened and became especially severe during the past week, making it difficult for him to walk, stand for long periods, and continue working. A CT scan revealed a large herniated disc between the L5 and S1 vertebrae, compressing the nerve. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled two hours to reach the hospital and seek specialized care. On July 17th, he will undergo an L5–S1 discectomy (spinal surgery) at CSC to remove the damaged disc and relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The surgery is expected to reduce his pain, restore his mobility, and help him return to work and support his family. However, the cost of treatment is beyond what his family can afford, and he needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. They can contribute $100, but need help raising $1,500 more to help fund his procedure and care. Vun said, “I hope this surgery will take away the pain that has made even simple movements difficult. I look forward to walking normally again, returning to work, and providing for my family without being limited by my back.”

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father works for a private company, while his mother stays at home to care for the children. He enjoys playing with toys alongside his sister, and his favorite meal is soup, especially lemongrass sour soup. Laysing was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side. His parents first noticed the condition when he began walking. As he has grown, the scoliosis has caused him to tire easily when walking or playing. The condition makes everyday activities difficult and sometimes causes discomfort. Laysing's parents are concerned about his posture and possible complications in the future. Laysing's family heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled four hours to attend a consultation. After extensive testing, doctors recommended that Laysing have spinal surgery. Without treatment, Laysing's symptoms will continue, and he will be at risk of future complications. On March 23rd, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal "growing rod" into Laysing's spine to help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. This treatment will help him stand taller, move more comfortably, and reduce fatigue. After recovery, he should be able to play, walk, and participate in daily activities more easily, improving both his quality of life and his confidence. Laysing's mother shares, “I pray that after the surgery, my child will feel stronger, stand taller, and live freely without discomfort, embracing a future full of hope and happiness.”