Samon is a retired grandmother. She is 67 years old and has two daughters, three sons, and seven grandchildren. She lives with her husband and her youngest daughter, with both of them caring for Samon's aging husband. Now retired, Samon used to make and sell bottles of fish sauce in the local market. In her free time, she likes watching movies and going to the pagoda to pray. Around three years ago, Samon 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, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Samon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On March 7th, 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 $253 procedure. Samon shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better, and I can drive my motorbike to bring my grandchildren to school."

Damaris is a 48-year-old mother from Kenya. She resides in Ngarariga, in Kiambu County, with her husband and three children. Damaris is a homemaker, and her husband sells assorted items in Limuru. Their income is sufficient to pay for food and their children's education. For two years, Damaris has been experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding and cramping, this worsened in December 2023. It has worsened to the point of making caring for her children difficult and she is unable to socialize with her community. Damari went to the district hospital where she was diagnosed with fibroids of the uterus. The physicians recommend a hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus. If this condition is not treated, she could develop severe anemia and the fibroids may eventually become cancerous. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $718 to fund Damaris's surgery. On February 27th, she will undergo a hysterectomy at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Damaris will be able to resume her previous activities and care for her children. “I have no words to explain how I am suffering with this bleeding. I humbly request help so that I can get back to my normal life and be able to take care of my family,” said Damaris.

Roem is a 25-year-old construction worker from Prey Veng province. Roem shares a home with his mother, his elderly grandmother, and his three siblings - one brother, and two sisters. Most of the family farms rice or works in local clothing factories. Last August, Roem was riding his motorbike, when he collided with a trailer that was being towed by another motorbike. The collision resulted in significant injuries, particularly to Roem's right forearm, which was fractured, along with his wrist. The local clinic where his parents took him asked for $800 to do surgery, a price beyond their means, so the family traveled three hours to seek help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Roem underwent an open reduction internal fixation of his right radial fracture, and several metacarpal bones. However, subsequent complications, including persistent infections, necessitate the removal of the hardware that was placed during the initial surgery. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $304 to defray the cost of the hardware removal procedure, which is scheduled for January 8th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. This procedure should eliminate infections at the surgical site, and facilitate the ongoing healing process of Roem's bones. Roem said: "I hope the infection goes away and my hand is better, so I can go back to construction work to help my family."