Kosal is a 35-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Phnom Penh with his wife, who stays at home to care for their two children. Their eldest child is in Grade 3 and the youngest is in kindergarten. He works as a lathe operator to support his family and enjoys going fishing in his free time. For the past two years, Kosal has had a lump on his left ankle. It began as a small swelling and gradually increased in size over time. The mass has slowly enlarged and continues to cause discomfort and intermittent pain in the ankle. It makes daily activities such as sitting, dressing, and walking more difficult, and affects his comfort during work and movement. Kosal traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 21st, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Kosal needs help to raise $334 to fund this procedure. He said: “I hope that this surgery will remove the mass and relieve my pain, so I can move freely again, return to my work comfortably, and take care of my family without difficulty.”

Sisay is a healthcare worker from Ethiopia. At just 26 years old, this young man is a vital heartbeat for the healthcare center where he works. As a key member of the staff, he serves as the bridge between the clinic and the community. At home, he is the pillar for his two siblings, balancing the roles of breadwinner and protector. However, a grueling battle with chronic tonsillitis is slowly silencing the very voice he needs to build his career, and has made it challenging to do his work. Sisay shares how heartbreaking it is when the illness breaks his focus, keeping him from the job he loves. About one and a half years ago, Sisay began experiencing a difficulty in breathing, fever, pain, and exhaustion. Every day is a grueling battle against a searing sore throat, transforming his essential duties, from warmly greeting patients to managing a relentless stream of phone calls, into a profound and painful struggle. Sisay was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Despite the constant pain, he continued to serve at his local health station. He knew a tonsillectomy was necessary, but a lack of specialized doctors and medical equipment in his area kept that relief out of reach. The moment he heard about a new opportunity for care at our medical partner's care center, he was filled with hope. He arrived at Saglan Waje General Hospital, clutching his referral papers, ready for a second chance. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Sisay, which is scheduled to take place on March 7th. During the procedure, surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Sisay of his symptoms, and allowing him to go back to work with ease. Sisay says: "I am so excited for the opportunity to interact freely with my siblings again, instead of just collapsing into bed exhausted every night. I feel ready to truly show up for my patients as well as my siblings, and build the stable, happy future we all deserve together."

Pon is a 61-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He is married with one son, one daughter and five grandchildren. He lives with his wife who is also a rice farmer. His daughter is a garment worker and his son is a construction worker. He likes to listen to the news and the monks praying on the radio. About two years ago, Pon developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Pon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 18th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Pon said: "I hope that after surgery my eye can see better, so I can easily go back to growing rice, and venture outside well."