Sotheara lives with her parents, two sisters, and one brother. Her parents are rice farmers, and she attends the local school with her siblings. Her favorite subject at school is Khmer and English language and she would like to be a nurse when she grows up. At home, she likes to play with her sister, exercise, and eat fried eggs and soup with rice. For the past several years, Sotheara's mom has noticed she occasionally has discharge from a small hole in the front of her left ear. Regularly she suffers from, pain, swelling, itching, headache, and fever, which prevents her from attending school. Her parents are unable to pay for medication from the pharmacy to provide temporary relief. ENT specialists at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, have diagnosed her with a chronic pre-auricular pit sinus infection. This is a small hole or cyst just above the ear canal that some children are born with. The hole marks a sinus tract under the skin that’s in the wrong place. Most people don’t realize they have a sinus pit until they have an infection. On February 20th, Sotheara will have surgery to remove the sinus tract, and her parents need $297 to cover the cost of the procedure. After surgery, Sotheara will no longer have frequent infections or drainage from her left ear. Sotheara said, "I hope I will have no more pain, and the hole in my ear will be closed. I do not want to miss school."

Ireen is a 24-year-old single mother from Malawi. To support her family, Ireen grows maize. While fetching firewood, Ireen fell and fractured her elbow. Because of the pain, she is unable to perform daily tasks and work on the farm. If left untreated, it may result in the non-union of the fractured bone. She is scheduled for surgery on March 12th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $525 for her surgery and care. Treatment will relieve Ireen of the pain and help her resume working on her farm again. Ireen says, “I hope to receive treatment so that I can take care of my child.”

Ham is a 59-year-old monk from Kandal province Cambodia. He is widowed with two daughters, five sons, and fifteen grandchildren. When his wife passed away ten years ago, Ham moved in with his oldest daughter and her family. After retiring from rice farming last year, he decided to move to the village pagoda and become a monk. In his spare time, he cares for the grounds of the temple, prays, and reads religious texts. About one year ago, Ham noticed the development of a cataract in his left eye. This condition involves the clouding of the lens, resulting in a view that resembles looking through a frosted or fogged-up window. The cataract has been causing Ham discomfort, including itchiness, tearing, and blurred vision. These symptoms have heightened his concern about the risk of falling while walking, making him hesitant to venture out alone. When Ham learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 1st, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, Ham needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Ham shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can read the books at the pagoda and be able to go to town on my own."