Sarom is a 52-year-old widow from Cambodia, who works as a rice and vegetable farm laborer in Kandal province. Her husband passed away six years ago, and she now lives alone. She has two sons and one daughter with no grandchildren; her oldest son works as a company laborer, while her other two children are still students. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks chanting through her phone. Five years ago, Sarom developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Sarom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. Sarom needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $298. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for August 4th. Sarom says: "After a successful surgery, I look forward to my vision greatly improving, so I can easily return to work and no longer worry about my eyes."

Beatris is a 14-year-old student from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who is a homemaker, her dad, who works in construction, and her six siblings. Her favorite subject at school is PE and her favorite sport is volleyball. Beatris's parents noticed she was not gaining weight properly and frequently had nosebleeds, and took her to the local doctor which eventually led to her heart condition being diagnosed. She has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. On September 9th, Beatris will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Beatris's heart so that blood will no longer leak through it.. Beatris's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Beatris's mother says: "We are waiting patiently for my daughter's surgery, we came from far and we are hopeful."

Paw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, her husband, and seven siblings in the village in Hpapun District, Karen State, Burma. Her parents and husband are small-scale farmers with two of her siblings, while the other siblings are students. She is also a farmer and helps her family on the farm, until she became ill in October 2025. At the family farm, they grow rice, raise chickens and pigs, and forage for vegetables in the forest. Paw has a heart condition that requires replacement of the aortic and mitral heart valves, as well as the repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Paw continues to experience fatigue, and she suffers from breathing difficulties when she is tired. She can no longer walk long distances. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund the complex surgery that Paw needs. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 1st. Once completed, Paw should be able to live more comfortably and to have a more active and healthy life. Paw said, “I cannot work with my parents and siblings as I get tired easily, and I feel sad for them. Once I recover, I hope to help my family, and in the future, I want to be a teacher and teach grade one and two students in my village.”