Saroeun is a 68-year-old grandmother. She and her husband have five sons, one daughter, and 15 grandchildren. When she was younger she worked in rice fields in Kampong Speu province. Now that she is older and has poor vision, she sells snacks from a cart in her small town. At home, she listens to the monks praying on the radio and visits her local pagoda when she can. Several years ago, Saroeun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her photophobia (poor vision in bright or low light), blurred vision, and tearing. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Saroeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 6th, doctors will perform small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Saroeun is able to contribute $75 towards the cost of her treatment and needs help raising $178 more to fund the procedure. Saroeun says: "I’m hoping that after the surgery, I’ll be able to see better so I can sell snacks, care for my grandchildren, and cook for them."

Shahidu is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married with three children. He has never attended school and cannot read or write, so he is unaware of his children's ages or classes. Shahidu primarily grows crops for his family's consumption. Three years ago, Shahidu was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. He has been experiencing abdominal pain and swelling, a feeling of weakness or pressure in the abdomen, and discomfort when bending over, coughing, or lifting heavy objects. These symptoms worsened over time, causing him significant pain and difficulty performing daily activities. If left untreated, inguinal hernias can lead to complications, such as strangulation, which cuts off the blood flow to the protruding intestine and can be life-threatening. Fortunately, on October 2nd, Shahidu will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Shahidu's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Shahidu said, "I just want to be healthy again to focus on farming and provide for my family. This pain has made life hard, but with the surgery, I believe things will get better. I’m grateful for the help, and I look forward to getting back to work and making sure my children have a better future."

Naphin is a cheerful two-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with her mom and brother in rural Kampong Spueu province. Her mom sells duck eggs off the back of her bicycle in the surrounding villages and markets. At home, Naphin loves to play with dolls and enjoys eating soup with rice. Naphin was born with syndactyly of both hands. This means her little and ring fingers are fused together on both hands. It is difficult for her to use her hand to feed herself or pick up objects. Her mother worries that she will face challenges when she starts school. Fortunately, on May 8th, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused fingers. Naphin's family is able to contribute $50 but needs your help to raise $394 more to fund this procedure. After surgery, she will feel more comfortable and will be able to use her hands more easily. Naphin's mother shared, "After the surgery, I hope Naphin's fingers will be separated and she can use her hands to eat and write more easily."