Srey Nich is an 18-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives with her grandmother, a retired rice farmer, and her younger sister, who is in Grade 2. Her parents divorced five years ago, and her mother works as a factory worker to support the family. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music. She is currently studying in Grade 12 and hopes to continue her education. Srey Nich was born with distal arthrogryposis, a congenital condition that causes stiffness and deformities in the joints of her hands and feet. She previously underwent surgery on her left hand at our medical partner's care center, the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), to improve its function. Although the surgery helped, the remaining hardware now causes occasional pain and needs to be removed. On August 6th, Srey Nich will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will help improve the stability and comfort as she uses her hand. It will allow her to use her hands more easily for studying and everyday activities. Her family can contribute $10, but needs help raising $368 more to fund her procedure and care. Srey Nich said, “I hope it will feel more comfortable after the hardware is removed so I can use my hand more easily for writing, studying, and all that I do everyday.”

Oul is a 65-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He is married, and his wife is also a rice farmer. They have two daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren. Their children work in construction and garment factories. Oul's favorite hobbies are watching boxing on television and participating in ceremonies. About one year ago, Oul developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him to experience 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 he cannot go places on his own. When Oul learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 10th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Oul contributed a $25 co-pay toward his care and needs assistance raising $238 more to fund his surgery. Oul shared his hopes that, after surgery, his vision will improve so he can easily return to growing rice, travel to distant places, and no longer worry about his eyes.

Choeun is a 46-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. She lives in Takeo Province with her husband, who also works in construction. They have two children; a son who works as a taxi driver, and a daughter who is employed in a garment factory. She enjoys cooking for her family, and especially preparing meals for her elderly parents and husband. About a month ago, Choeun was in a road traffic accident and sustained severe soft tissue injury to her right leg. Although there was no fracture, the injured area got infected, leading to a serious wound condition diagnosed as gas gangrene. Choeun has been experiencing significant pain, swelling, and a foul-smelling discharge from the infected wound on her right leg. The condition has affected her mobility and prevented her from continuing her physically demanding construction work. When Choeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and half hours seeking treatment. On May 13th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to help remove infected and necrotic tissue, control the spread of infection, and promote wound healing to prevent further complications. Choeun and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but need help raising $392 more to fund the procedure. Choeun says: “I hope that this treatment will heal my leg completely, so I can live without pain, and return to my normal daily activities. I wish to regain my strength and be able to care for my family without discomfort or worry.”