Mey Ching is six years old and a first-grader from Cambodia. She is the youngest of three children and lives with her parents and siblings in Koh Kong. Her father is a fisherman, while her mother sells groceries. She enjoys reading and writing Khmer and playing hide-and-seek with her friends in the village. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried vegetables. For the past three years, Mey Ching has been experiencing a persistent daily cough, episodes of fever and throat pain, frequent snoring at night, and difficulty swallowing. Her ongoing throat problems make swallowing uncomfortable and disturb her sleep because of frequent snoring. The recurring symptoms can also make it harder for her to feel comfortable and fully enjoy school and activities with her friends. Mey Ching was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Mey Ching, which is scheduled to take place on September 8th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Mey Ching of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Mey Ching's mother said, “I hope the surgery will help my daughter breathe, swallow, and sleep better. I want her to feel healthy and free from these ongoing throat problems.”

Sina is a loving 63-year-old retired rice farmer from Prey Veng province. She has one son, who provides her support, and lives near her niece who sells groceries. Her favorite hobby is listening to monks give spiritual education. About three years ago, Sina developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Sina learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 13th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Sina and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but need help raising $238 more to fund the procedure. She says: "I hope that after surgery my vision will improve, so I can easily go out, take care of myself, and plant vegetables around my house."

Theng is a 53-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and lives with his wife, who also works as a farmer. They have four children who work in garment factories and a company. In his free time, he enjoys watching the news and boxing programs on television. Since 2024, Theng has been experiencing pain in both hips, with the right hip more severely affected than the left. He was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN), a condition in which reduced blood supply causes damage to bone tissue. He initially tried traditional Khmer herbal medicine to relieve the pain, but his condition did not improve. The pain in his hips makes it difficult for him to walk normally, and he now walks with a limp. His condition also affects his ability to work in the rice fields and carry out his daily activities. Fortunately, Theng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Theng of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for November 2nd. Theng can contribute $100, but needs help raising $1,135 more to help fund his procedure and care. Theng said, “I hope that after surgery, my hip pain will improve and I can walk more comfortably. I want to return to my farming work, take care of my daily responsibilities, and live more independently without struggling with pain.”