Van is a 75-year-old retired security guard from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is married and has two daughters, two sons, and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife, his oldest daughter, and his oldest son. In his free time, his favorite hobby is listening to spiritual education from monks on his phone. Van has been experiencing cataracts for the past seven months. He 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 he is not able to go places on his own. Van learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), to seek treatment. On September 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. He can contribute $25, but needs help raising $263 more to fund his procedure and care. Van said, "I hope that after the cataract surgery, my vision will improve so that I can see more clearly, recognize my relatives easily, travel to faraway places, and cross the road safely by myself."

Raya is a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is a middle child in a family of three boys, and just completed KG 1. His father works as a day laborer, while his mother takes care of their home. For about a year now, Raya has been experiencing severe tonsillitis. It started with throat pain, trouble sleeping and difficult in breathing. The illness has impacted the joy and experiences of his growing up. He finds it difficult to run around, play games or interact with his two brothers. Doctors have advised that Raya needs to undergo surgery, but unfortunately his family cannot afford it. If the condition is left untreated, his symptoms will persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Raya, which is scheduled to take place on August 11th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Raya of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. "We are worried about our son's health and accruing hospital bills. Our only wish is for him to be healthy, eat his food, and run around playing like any other child his age," his parents shared.

Matiyas is a two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His mother is a homemaker who looks after Matiyas and his younger sister, while his father is a taxi driver. Since birth, he has been fighting a severe, ongoing battle with chronic tonsillitis, a condition that deeply impacts his daily life and overall well-being. His struggle is at its worst during the night. Because his tonsils are constantly swollen, he faces significant airway blockage that makes it nearly impossible for him to breathe through his nose while he sleeps. Instead of resting peacefully, he spends his nights gasping for air and struggling to catch his breath, leaving both him and his parents exhausted and worried. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Matiyas, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Matiyas of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Matiyas's parents shared, "Our deepest hope is for our little boy to finally breathe easily, sleep peacefully through the night, and wake up refreshed instead of gasping for air."