Mich is a 77-year-old retired rice farmer from Kandal province in Cambodia. She likes to go to the pagoda and join the ceremony. Mich has one daughter, two sons, and four grandchildren. Mich's husband died during the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodia. She currently lives alone, close to her daughter, who is a vegetable seller. About one year ago, Mich developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Mich has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go places on her own. When Mich learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC), she traveled for an hour seeking treatment. On July 24th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, Mich will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $263 to fund this procedure. Mich said, "I hope, after surgery, my eye can see better, so when I can go out, I recognize my relatives and get around well."

Sarun is a 72-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province. He is married and has four daughters and 15 grandchildren. Presently, Sarun lives with his wife, who is also a farmer, and his first born daughter who has mental problem. Sarun likes to watch boxing on the TV. About two years ago, Sarun developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Sarun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 6th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Sarun is able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but needs help raising $213 more to fund the surgery. He says: "I hope that after surgery my eye can see better easily, so I can go back to growing rice and go places on my own."

Yonatan is a lively six-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives in a close-knit family of four. Yonatan is growing up alongside his brother in a home filled with love, supported by his hardworking father, who drives a taxi, and his caring mother, who stays home to look after the boys. While Yonatan's father spends long, tiring hours on the road to provide for everyone, the boy’s happy childhood has been interrupted by a difficult health battle. Because of chronic tonsillitis, he is stuck in a stressful loop of recurring pain and constant trips to the hospital, which keep him away from the fun and games he loves. Two years ago, Yonatan had been experiencing fever, recurring sore throats, and difficulty swallowing. Because his high fevers and sharp throat pain kept coming back, even the simplest parts of his day have become incredibly hard. Sitting down for a family dinner is no longer fun. Instead, every bite of food is a painful struggle that leaves Yonatan exhausted. Even at night, when he should be resting, the discomfort keeps him awake and tossing and turning. This constant battle leaves Yonatan feeling so weak and drained that he just can’t find the strength to run, jump, or keep up with his brother like he used to. Yonatan was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Fortunately, our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is able to help. They are requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Yonatan, which is scheduled to take place on March 4th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Yonatan of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. "In our home, we are all counting down the days until Yonatan feels like himself again. What we are most excited about is seeing him enjoy his favorite snacks without that sharp, burning pain every time he tries to swallow. We miss seeing Yonatan full of life, and we can’t wait for him to finally have the strength to run around and keep up with his brother during playtime. For our family, seeing him healthy and active again will be the greatest gift of all," said Yonatan's parents.