Chantha is a 37-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Kampong Chhnang Province with his wife, who works in a garment factory. Together, they are raising two children; their eldest is in Grade 6, and their youngest is 4 years old. In his free time, Chantha enjoys drinking coffee and chatting with his friends in the village. About three years ago, Chantha developed tuberculosis of his right ankle, which caused swelling, redness, and severe pain. Although he completed a full course of tuberculosis treatment and the infection was cured, it left his right ankle joint permanently damaged. Since then, he has continued to suffer from pain, stiffness, and difficulty walking. He now relies on crutches to get around, making it difficult to work, care for his family, and carry out everyday activities. When Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 14th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his right ankle joint and to relieve his pain, improve the stability of his ankle, and help him stand and walk more comfortably so he can return to his daily life with greater independence. Chantha can contribute $50, but needs help raising $561 more to fund his procedure and care. Chantha said, “My greatest wish is to wake up one day without this ankle pain. I hope this surgery will help me move freely again and return to the activities I have missed.”

Jimmy is a resilient husband from the Philippines. His children already have families of their own, and he does not rely on them financially. Instead, Jimmy and his wife depend mainly on his pension to meet their daily needs. He once worked abroad to sustain his family. However, due to physical pain and the effects of aging, he now hopes to undergo surgery so he can recover and return to work without worry. Four years ago, Jimmy developed an umbilical hernia. This hernia causes him pain on his side and after eating. It also gives him so much discomfort that he prefers not to move at times. Before his illness, Jimmy stayed active by playing basketball, but today he spends most of his time at home with his wife. His family encourages him to have the operation, so he no longer has to suffer. Fortunately, on April 17th, Jimmy will undergo a hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of Jimmy's treatment. Our medical partner is requesting the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. "I am very grateful for this surgery. I know that my discomfort will go away after the operation. I am quite optimistic about moving normally again," says Jimmy.

Yong is an 85-year-old woman from Kampong Thom province. She is a retired rice farmer who has three sons, three daughters, and eleven grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is retired, and her eldest daughter, who is also a retired farmer. Her favorite hobbies are attending ceremonies and visiting the pagoda. About one year ago, Yong developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her 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. 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 Yong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Yong said, "I hope that after my surgery, my vision will improve so that I can easily recognize my relatives and go out independently. I also hope I will no longer have to worry about my eyesight."