Sineth is a 13-year-old 8th grade student from Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger sister, who is in Grade 4. Her parents are rice farmers and work hard to support their family. Sineth enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a doctor in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and chatting with her friends. Her favorite food is fried pork with ginger. Sineth has scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often resembling a "C" or "S" shape. Her spinal curve has gradually worsened over the past three years and is now approximately 50 degrees in the thoracolumbar region. Although she does not currently experience pain, the increasing curvature affects her posture and makes it difficult for her to sit comfortably for long periods. This can make it harder for her to stay comfortable and concentrate during class, and the curvature may continue to worsen as she grows. Sineth's family was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), by another hospital. They traveled approximately four hours from Kampong Cham to seek specialized care. On August 17th, surgeons at CSC plan to perform posterior spinal fusion to help straighten and stabilize her spine and prevent the curvature from worsening. She needs $1,500 in support to cover the cost of her surgery and related medical care. This treatment will help support her spinal health as she continues to grow and allow her to remain active and continue her education. Sineth's parents said, “We hope that this surgery will help straighten and stabilize our daughter’s spine and prevent her scoliosis from getting worse. We wish for her to grow well, stay active, and continue her studies and daily activities with confidence and comfort.”

Chhnok is a 78-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married, and is a father and grandfather. He and his wife live close to one of their daughters, and their children support their daily living expenses. In his free time, Chhnok likes listening to the news, and hearing the monks pray through his radio. About a year ago, Chhnok developed a cataract in his right 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 is not able to go places on his own. When Chhnok learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 14th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Chhnok is contributing towards his treatment but needs help to raise an additional $213 for the procedure. He says: "I hope that after surgery, my eye can see better easily as I walk around, and that I will be able to recognize my relatives, and attend ceremonies at the pagoda."

Chan is 54 years old and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, a grocery seller. They have three grown children: one works for a private company, one is a construction worker, and the youngest is a rice farmer. In addition to farming rice, he often works as a day laborer to earn extra income and support his family. Approximately eight months ago, Chan was involved in a car accident while traveling as a passenger. During the collision, he was thrown against the interior of the vehicle and sustained a fracture of his right upper arm. He initially sought treatment from a traditional healer, but the fracture failed to heal properly and developed into a non-union. He experiences ongoing pain, weakness, and limited function in his right arm. The injury makes it difficult for him to lift, carry, and perform physical work, affecting both his farming activities and his ability to earn income for his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 3rd, Chan will undergo a fracture repair procedure, where surgeons will perform open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using a plate and screws to stabilize the fracture and promote healing. This procedure is expected to reduce pain, restore strength and function to his arm, and help him return to work and daily activities more comfortably. Chan can contribute $100, but needs help raising an additional $500 to fund his procedure and care. Chan said, “I have lived with this injury for many months. I hope the surgery will help my arm heal properly so I can work again, support my family, and live without pain.”