Ty is a 24-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. His wife works as a footwear factory worker. His father is a rice farmer, and his mother works in a garment factory. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with friends in his village. When he was 13 years old, Ty had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in his right ear to perforate. For this reason, Ty experiences chronic ear discharge, hearing loss, itchiness, and tinnitus or ringing in the ear. The condition has significantly affected his daily life. He has difficulty hearing and communicating with others, which often leads to frustration and emotional distress. It also affects his sleep and social interactions. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Ty receive treatment. On June 9th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. He can contribute $75, but needs help raising $288 more needed for his procedure and care. Ty said, “I have lived with hearing problems since I was young. I hope this surgery will improve my hearing so I can communicate more easily and enjoy a better quality of life.”

Kelemua is a hardworking widow from Ethiopia who, at 80 years old, still supports her five sons by farming the land. However, she is losing her independence because of severe cataracts. Her vision is severely clouded, causing light sensitivity and making it difficult for her to move around safely. Her daily farm work and household chores now pose a risk of injury with her limited eyesight. And she is no longer able to contribute to the family’s income or do the work she loves. Two years ago, Kelemua developed a cataract in both eyes, causing her pain, blurry vision, and tearing. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. Fortunately, Kelemua is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery on June 10th, when surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens in both eyes. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly and resume her daily activities. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $300 to fund her procedure. "My greatest hope is to regain my sight so I can move around safely again. I miss working on the farm and helping out at home, and I want to get back to contributing to my family’s life," said Kelemua.

Srey Lin is a cheerful nine-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger brother in Takeo Province. Her father works as a chef at a private school, and her mother is a garment factory worker. She is currently in Grade 4 and enjoys studying mathematics. When she grows up, she hopes to become a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys playing Khmer traditional games with her friends and eating spicy fried chicken. On June 1st, Srey Lin sustained a third-degree electrical burn to the fourth finger on her right hand after picking up a live electrical wire from the floor of her home. The injury caused a painful wound on her right ring finger. Despite receiving regular wound dressings at a local hospital, the wound failed to heal and developed tissue necrosis. She continues to experience pain and discomfort, which affects her ability to use her hand normally. When Srey Lin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove damaged and dead tissue from the wound, promote healing, reduce pain, and help prevent further complications. Now, Srey Lin needs help to fund this $417 procedure. Srey Lin's mother said, “As a mother, it is very difficult to see my daughter in pain every day. I hope this treatment will heal her wound, relieve her suffering, and allow her to use her hand normally again.”