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."

Thiago is a three-year-old intelligent, cheerful, polite, and outgoing three-year-old boy from Colombia who dreams of becoming a soccer player when he grows up. Thiago has severe tooth decay that affects multiple teeth and, due to the extent of the lesions and his young age, it is recommended that he undergo comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia as the safest and most effective management of the condition. The procedure will allow for complete oral rehabilitation, including the removal of carious lesions, restorations, and comprehensive management of the affected teeth. Fortunately, our medical partner Clinica Noel can help. They have scheduled the procedure for February 24th. Thiago and his family need help raising $868 to fully fund the surgery and his care. After the surgery, Thiago will enjoy a pain-free, better quality life. His family shared, "What a blessing to have your support for this treatment, which represents such great hope for us. This procedure will help in his recovery and improve his quality of life. Beyond the financial support, your solidarity and empathy mean so much to our family. Thank you for believing, for helping, and for accompanying us at this important time."

Sreyka is eight years old and a second-grader from Cambodia. She lives in a rural area in Koh Kong province with her parents and her brother. Her father works as a boat driver, and her mother works in a garment factory. Despite their modest income, her parents work very hard to provide for their children’s education and daily needs. Sreyka enjoys studying math, playing hide and seek with her friends, and watching cartoons. Her favorite meal is lemongrass sour soup. She hopes to become a nurse in the future so she can help other people. Sreyka was born with a cleft lip and palate, which was repaired when she was a baby. However, there is still a gap in her upper gum where teeth should grow. Without further treatment, her permanent teeth may not grow properly, and she may continue to face challenges with chewing, speaking clearly, and smiling confidently. Sometimes, she feels shy because of the gap in her teeth. The family traveled for six hours to reach our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On March 4th, she will undergo an alveolar bone graft surgery to repair the gap in her upper gum. With proper treatment and recovery, her permanent teeth will be able to grow normally. This will help her chew food more easily, improve her speech, and give her the confidence to smile freely. Her journey to CSC brings hope that she will grow up healthy, confident, and able to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Sreyka and her family need help raising $665 to fund her procedure and care. Sreyka said, “I feel shy sometimes because of the gap in my teeth, but I hope this treatment will help me smile confidently and speak clearly. I want to feel happy and confident like other children.”