Ren is a 59-year-old loving grandmother from Kandal province in Cambodia. She is a retired rice farmer with two daughters, five sons, and 12 grandchildren. She and her husband live with their youngest daughter, a garment factory worker in the province. At home, she likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio and watch movies on TV. Six years ago, Ren developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her redness, itchiness, and tearing. She says that she feels like there is a foreign object in her eye that is constantly burning and is embarrassed about how her eye looks. 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. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 2nd, doctors will perform a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Ren and her family are able to contribute $50 but need help to raise $175 more to fund the procedure. Ren shared, "I hope after surgery my eye will be better and I won’t worry about it anymore. I want to see well and take care of my grandchildren."

Angelica is a loving and open-minded tailor from Uganda. She grew up with her father and five siblings. After completing primary school, she joined a tailoring school and attained a certificate in tailoring. She currently lives with her husband and three school-age children. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Angelica is currently expecting a new baby to arrive soon. Since her previous deliveries were done via C-sections, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a cesarean section to protect the health of both the mother and the child. During her prenatal visits in Ibanda Hospital, she was told about the services of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Angelica undergo a C-section on February 22nd. This procedure will cost $207, and Angelica needs your support. Angelica says, "I'm very happy for I know I will have a safe surgery, and I will hold a live baby. May God bless you. After surgery, I can continue tailoring, and one day, we shall have our own house and land."

Myint is a 27-year-old woman from Karen State, Burma. She moved to Thailand to be with her sister. Myint's sister works in sales and her brother-in-law works in construction. In her free time, Myint likes to listen to Burmese songs and studies Thai language online to learn to speak and read. Myint was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own as the person grows, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Because of this condition, Myint has difficulty breathing and tires easily. She feels pain in her chest and other parts of her body and has difficulty sleeping. Myint is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on April 12th at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital to correct her atrial septal defect. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Myint's procedure and care. Myint said, “I am so happy and thankful for all the donors and BCMF for helping with my heart surgery because I would not be able to afford it. I hope I will recover soon and when I am better, I want to work and save some money to go back to stay with my father.”