Ay is a 65-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has one daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren. He lives with his wife, who is also a farmer. In his free time, Ay likes to listen to the news and the monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Ay developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him sensitivity to light, tearing, and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Ay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 16th, 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 raising $253 to fund his procedure and care. Ay shared, "I would be very happy to go outside by myself and see all the faces of my grandchildren again."

Leap is a chatty, two-year-old with a big smile. He lives with his parents and two older sisters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Leap does not yet attend school, and likes playing with toys and falling asleep in his mother's lap. His father repairs cars for a living, while his mother is a homemaker. Leap's delivery was a difficult one, during which he suffered from an injury known as shoulder dystocia, which occurs when one or both of a baby's shoulders gets caught inside the mother's pelvis during childbirth. This often results in a brachial plexus palsy, when the neck of the infant is stretched during the birth process. The nerves responsible for providing feeling and movement in Leap's shoulder, arm, and hand have been affected, leaving Leap unable to move his right hand. Fortunately, on December 15th, specialty surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will perform a tendon transfer, to improve Leap's shoulder function and the use of his hand. After surgery and rehabilitation at Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Centre, surgeons hope that Leap will have movement in his shoulder, and be able to use his hand. Leap's family needs your help to fund the $572 cost of the procedure, the hospitalization, and Leap's rehabilitation. Leap's mother said: "I hope Leap will be able to move his hand after surgery and use it well."

Ashin Mala is a 30-year-old monk from Burma. He became a monk a year ago and currently lives in a monastery in Karen State. He receives two meals a day and cash donations from worshippers. In October 2022, he visited the house of a member of the ethnic armed group in the village. At the home, a child was playing with a pistol and accidentally shot the gun, hitting a wall. Unfortunately, a part of the bullet ricocheted off the wall and hit Mala in his left eye. Immediately, Ashin Mala was brought to a hospital, where an X-ray showed that bullet shards were lodged under his left eye. The doctor removed most of the bullet shards and closed the gunshot wound. Though time has since passed, he still feels pain in his left eye and has lost vision in that eye. He has also developed itchiness and a burning sensation in that eye. Eventually, he was brought to Mae Sot Hospital in Thailand, where, with the help of Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) and Watsi donors, he underwent a CT scan. The results showed multiple foreign bodies in his left eye, most likely shards left from the bullet, and indicated that his left eyeball was most likely ruptured. He was then referred to Chiang Mai Hospital (CMH), where an ophthalmologist told him they would have to remove his left eyeball. He was then admitted for surgery at CMH on February 22nd. Mala needs help raising $1500 to fund this procedure that will relieve him of his pain. Ashin Mala said, "I believe my pain will disappear after the operation. I want to get rid of the pain. Afterward, I will work hard to attend Dhamma University. I want to become a preacher. I will preach about Dharma [the teachings of Buddha] around my country.”