Thein is a seven-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her mother and grandfather and is currently a first-grade student. Her father works as a driver at a toy factory in Bangkok and Thein’s mother stays home to care for her. The family relies on her father’s income, which is enough to cover their daily expenses. They are able to pay for basic healthcare, but they cannot afford expensive treatment costs. During her free time, Thein enjoys helping her mother with household chores. Currently, Thein faces difficulty seeing objects clearly, requiring the use of thick eyeglasses. Additionally, she must sit in the front row of the classroom, near the blackboard, to follow her teachers’ lesson. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Thein. On February 16th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Thein's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she and her family need help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Thein’s mother said, “Thank you [BCMF and donors] for helping my daughter to get a good and clear vision. I pray for the donors to have wealthy lives and continue helping others.” Thein also said, “I want to be a teacher when I grow up and thanks for your help.”

Srey Ma is a 3-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with eight extended family members in Takeo province. Her father is a taxi driver and her grandparents, mother, and aunts sell coffee from home. She has a nine-year-old brother in grade four at the local school. She is excited about attending the same school as her brother in a few years. For now, Srey Ma stays home with her mother and enjoys playing with toys or eating soup made by her grandmother. Srey Ma was born with polydactyly of her right foot. This means that she has an extra toe. If the extra toe is not removed, it may be hard for her to walk in shoes when she is older, and her mother worries she will feel awkward around other people. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 3rd, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra toe. Srey Ma and her family are able to contribute $100 but need your help to raise $199 more to fund this procedure. Srey Ma's mother said, "I hope my daughter will have a normal life and feel more comfortable around others after her operation."

Nob is a 53-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. She and her husband work in the rice paddies near their home. Together they have one daughter in 8th grade. When not working, Nob is busy looking after her daughter and helping elderly relatives nearby. In her free time, she enjoys watching the news or Cambodian dramas on TV. About two years ago, Nob developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Nob learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On February 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She shared, "I hope after surgery I can see more clearly and return to work because I haven't been able to work and support my daughter's school fees."