Yon is a 66-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, but unfortunately he passed away. Yon and her husband work on a rice farm and plant vegetables surrounding their house. She likes to listen to the news on the radio and go to the pagoda to join in Buddhist ceremonies. About nine years ago, Yon developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation and tearing that prevented her from working in the rice field. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Yon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for more than four hours seeking treatment. Yon needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for May 11th. "I hope that my wife's eye irritation will go away after surgery so she will be able to better take care of herself and travel anywhere easily," Yon's husband said.

Kyomugisha is a school nurse from Uganda. She is a widowed mother of two children and lost her husband ten years ago. Both children are still in school at the secondary level. Ever since she lost her husband she feels she has been the mother and father to her children. With her limited salary, she has been able to pay for their school fees, provide them with basic needs and pay rent. Since four years ago, Kyomugisha began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath and persistent headaches. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Kyomugisha receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 2nd at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $264, and she and her family need help raising money. Kyomugisha says: “I pray that my surgery goes well. I hope my condition will improve and I can continue hustling with life because my children still need my support.”

Hai is a 60-year-old farmer from Cambodia with three sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. Her whole family helps out with farming, but she makes sure her grandchildren study. She enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio, and going to join Buddhist ceremonies at the pagoda. Four years ago, Hai developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurred vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Hai learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for more than three hours seeking treatment. On May 12th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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 $229 procedure. Hai's daughter said, "My mom cannot do much by herself when she cannot see. She tries to do housework and take care of herself but it is difficult. She helps me a lot with my children, so I want to see her be able to go places, like the pagoda, without help."