Kuntha is a 61-year-old corn farmer from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Cham Province with her elderly mother and her fourth sister, who works at a bank. She is the eldest of five siblings. While all of her younger siblings are married, she remains single. She enjoys listening to monks prayers and growing vegetables around her home in her free time. About 10 years ago, Kuntha noticed a small lump on the left side of the front of her neck. The lump gradually became larger over time. After evaluation at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter affecting the left thyroid lobe. Although the lump is not painful, it has become more noticeable over the years, making her worried about her health and self-conscious about the appearance of her neck. She also fears that it may continue to grow if left untreated. Kuntha traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 13th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Kuntha is contributing to her treatment, but needs help to raise an additional $294 to fund the procedure. She said, “I hope this surgery will remove the lump and give me peace of mind. I have worried about it for many years, and I am grateful for the chance to finally receive treatment.”

Reaksa is 14 years old and a 10th grader from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family and lives with her parents. Her father works as a chef in a restaurant, while her mother works as a cleaner. She enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes drawing and listening to music. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried vegetables. Around the age of 10, Reaksa's mother first noticed that her daughter’s back was becoming curved. Over the years, the curvature gradually worsened. She now has severe scoliosis, with her spine bending significantly toward the right side and associated kyphosis. Her condition has begun to affect her daily life. She has difficulty walking and sitting for long periods, and the discomfort she experiences while sitting makes it difficult for her to concentrate in class. Despite these challenges, she continues to attend school and work toward her dream of becoming a teacher. Until now, her family has not been able to afford the treatment she needs. Her family learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. On August 18th, she will undergo posterior spinal fusion (PSF) from T3 to L3, a surgical procedure that uses instrumentation to correct and stabilize the curved portion of her spine. She needs help of $1,500 to help cover the costs of her surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. The surgery aims to improve the alignment of her spine and prevent the severe curvature from progressing further. Reaksa's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help manage my daughter’s severe spinal deformity, improve her comfort and posture, and allow her to stay active and continue her studies and daily activities. I want her to feel more confident and comfortable as she grows.”

Sam On is a 65-year-old former soldier from Kampong Thom, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, a grocery seller, and their two children. His eldest child helps with household responsibilities, while his youngest child is studying in Grade 7. Since retiring from military service, he has relied on a small government pension to support his family. In his free time, he enjoys watching the news on his phone. In 1997, Sam On stepped on a landmine, resulting in a traumatic injury that required a below-knee amputation of his right leg. Following rehabilitation, he was able to use a prosthetic limb and regain mobility for many years. However, over the past several months, he developed a chronic infected wound at the amputation stump. The wound has produced persistent discharge and caused pain and discomfort, making it difficult for him to wear his prosthetic leg and move around independently. His wife has been caring for the wound at home, but despite her efforts, the infection did not improve. As the condition worsened and began interfering with his daily activities, Sam On sought medical attention and was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for specialized care. Doctors diagnosed him with an infected right below-knee amputation stump. On June 3rd, Sam On will undergo stump revision surgery, costing $478. The procedure will remove infected tissue, promote healing, relieve pain, and help him use his prosthetic leg comfortably again. Sam On said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to receive treatment. I hope my stump will heal well, the pain and discharge will stop, and I can use my prosthetic leg comfortably again.”