Demise is a 64-year-old farmer from Ethiopia. He and his wife work together on their farm and have twelve children. A year ago, Demise developed a cataract in his left eye and was diagnosed at a government-funded hospital. However, due to a scheduling error, Demise never received proper treatment. Now, Demise has thick, cloudy vision. He has difficulty walking on uneven ground, detecting familiar faces, and reading his Bible. Moreover, Demise finds farm work difficult and relies heavily on his family to manage his responsibilities. Fortunately, on November 4th, Demise will undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the clouded lens, improving Demise's blurry vision. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Demise states, "After a year of waiting, I only want to work my land again, see my family's faces clearly, and read my Bible. I want to stand on my own and not be a burden to anyone."

Soem is a 76-year-old man and a retired farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has one son, five daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. He lives with his wife and his youngest daughter, who is a farmer and grows crops. In his free time, Some enjoys listening to monks chanting through his phone and the radio. About two years ago, Soem 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, similar to 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Soem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On July 7th, 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. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Soem said, "I hope that after my eye surgery, my vision will improve so that I can recognize people and objects more easily and go out with greater confidence and independence."

Bisrat is a two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He has a wonderful mother who stays by his side to take care of him, and a hardworking father who works as a driver to support everyone. He also has three older sisters who love him very much. One year ago, Bisrat started to experience snoring, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite. This ongoing sickness is deeply worrying for his parents. They are trying their best to manage a large household while giving their son the constant, day-and-night care he needs. Bisrat was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Because he is sick so often, Bisrat cannot run around, play, or grow the way a healthy two-year-old usually does. Instead of enjoying his childhood, he spends much of his time feeling unwell and in pain. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Bisrat, which is scheduled to take place on July 19th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Bisrat of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Bisrat's parents shared, "We hope to give our son the physical freedom to thrive, explore, and enjoy his early childhood with all the energy and life he deserves."