Hem is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Pailin Province in Cambodia. She is married and lives with her 64-year-old husband. They have four children. Her first and second children are rice farmers, her third child works for an organization, and her youngest child is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks praying and keeping up with the news. Hem has a herniated disc at the L4-L5 level of her lower spine, a condition in which a spinal disc presses on nearby nerves. She has experienced intermittent lower back pain for approximately three years, but about one month ago, the pain began radiating down the back of her left leg. She also experiences intermittent numbness in her left leg and weakness when extending her left toe. These symptoms have made walking and carrying out her daily activities as a farmer more difficult. Hem was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), by a relative. She traveled approximately seven hours from Pailin to seek specialized care. After evaluation, doctors recommended surgery to relieve the pressure on the affected nerves. Hem is scheduled to undergo laminectomy and decompression of the L4-L5 spine on August 17th. She has contributed $100 towards her treatment but needs an additional $1,400 in support to cover the cost of surgery and related care. The surgery aims to relieve pressure on the nerves and help reduce her back and leg symptoms, allowing her to walk more comfortably and return to farming and her normal daily activities. Hem said, “I hope that this surgery will relieve my back and leg pain, improve the numbness and weakness in my left leg, and help me walk more comfortably again. I wish to return to farming, and continue my normal daily activities.”

Thae Thae is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, two older sisters and two younger brothers, in a village in Karen State, Burma. Thae Thae is a homemaker and also has a small shop selling snacks. Thae Thae was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Thae Thae is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on September 23rd at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Thae Thae's procedure and care. Thae Thae said, “When I found out that I have heart disease and needed surgery, I cried. Knowing that I do not have money for surgery, I was in despair. Due to financial problems, I couldn't sleep at night. Now that I know about the organization and the donors who will help me, I feel relieved."

Soem is a 76-year-old man and a retired farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has one son, five daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. He lives with his wife and his youngest daughter, who is a farmer and grows crops. In his free time, Some enjoys listening to monks chanting through his phone and the radio. About two years ago, Soem developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, similar to 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Soem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On July 7th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Soem said, "I hope that after my eye surgery, my vision will improve so that I can recognize people and objects more easily and go out with greater confidence and independence."