Rithy is a 73-year-old married man and a farmer from Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. He grows potatoes and mangoes for a living. He has one son, three daughters, and two grandchildren. Rithy lives with his wife, who is also a farmer growing potatoes and mangoes, and his daughter, who works as a farmer as well. His favorite hobby is visiting the pagoda. About four years ago, Rithy developed a cataract in his left 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Rithy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 2nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. He can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund his procedure and care. Rithy said, "I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can move around more easily, return to farming, and continue growing mangoes and potatoes successfully."

Amos, who is 32 years old and single, lives in Narok County in Kenya. He works as a small scale farmer. Amos had just finished watching a football match on February 4th, when an argument broke out among his friends. Trying to be the peacemaker, he stepped in to calm the situation, but was struck with a forceful blow to his face. Despite the pain, Amos hoped that it was something minor, and took pain relievers. Two days later, however, his jaw had become severely swollen, and the pain was unbearable. He sought help at a nearby hospital, where scans revealed that his jaw had been fractured in three places. He was immediately referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for specialized care. Amos requires a mandible Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery to repair his jaw, and to prevent long-term complications. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 12th, Amos will undergo the fracture repair procedure at AIC Kijabe Hospital. This procedure will help relieve his pain and enable him to eat, speak, and get back to good health. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Amos said: “I’ve been on a yoghurt and mashed food diet for a week now. It feels like my teeth are falling out. The pain is unbearable.”

Nim is a 58-year-old retired rice farmer from Kampong Thom province in Cambodia. She divorced and has one daughter and three grandchildren. Nim lives with her daughter who is a rice farmer. She likes to listen to the monks pray at the pagoda. About three years ago,, Nim developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Nim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Nim needs a surgical procedure to remove the affected conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Nim is contributing towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help raising $286 more to fund the surgery, that is scheduled for June 9th. Nim says: "I hope that after surgery my eye will stop tearing and the irritation will disappear. I look forward to going back to helping my daughter in taking care my grandchildren, and also visit places."