Srey Lin is a cheerful nine-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger brother in Takeo Province. Her father works as a chef at a private school, and her mother is a garment factory worker. She is currently in Grade 4 and enjoys studying mathematics. When she grows up, she hopes to become a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys playing Khmer traditional games with her friends and eating spicy fried chicken. On June 1st, Srey Lin sustained a third-degree electrical burn to the fourth finger on her right hand after picking up a live electrical wire from the floor of her home. The injury caused a painful wound on her right ring finger. Despite receiving regular wound dressings at a local hospital, the wound failed to heal and developed tissue necrosis. She continues to experience pain and discomfort, which affects her ability to use her hand normally. When Srey Lin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove damaged and dead tissue from the wound, promote healing, reduce pain, and help prevent further complications. Now, Srey Lin needs help to fund this $417 procedure. Srey Lin's mother said, “As a mother, it is very difficult to see my daughter in pain every day. I hope this treatment will heal her wound, relieve her suffering, and allow her to use her hand normally again.”

Christine is a 44-year-old mother from Uganda. She has two children, both of whom are enrolled in school. Early on in her marriage, her husband passed away. As a widow, Christine relies on subsistence farming to provide food and financial support for her family. To earn extra income, she occasionally works as a casual laborer on other farms. These additional earnings help her afford essential household necessities such as soap, salt, and other daily requirements. Christine finds joy in seeing her children pursue their education, hoping it will open doors to future professional opportunities. Five years ago, Christine began to experience troubling symptoms, notably a swelling at the front of her neck. Although initially painless, the swelling began to cause her discomfort. Over time, Christine began to experience difficulty with swallowing and breathing, shortness of breath, and palpitations after engaging in laborious tasks. Her condition limited her ability to work on her farm and carry out daily responsibilities, significantly affecting her quality of life. Due to financial constraints, Christine initially resorted to local herbs and traditional remedies to manage her condition. However, the interventions provided no relief, and she underwent screening at Nyakibale Hospital. There, Christine was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in front of your neck and produces hormones that are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Christine requires surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Christine receive treatment. On November 1st, Christine will undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons may remove all or a portion of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Christine says, “Having my surgery with your support will be a blessing. Once I am back on my feet, I am sure I will be able to keep up with farming and will continue working at my best to keep my children in school. I can’t do this on my own and kindly appeal to you for support.”

Krorn is a 60-year-old woman and a retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She lives with her youngest sister, who is also a farmer. Her favorite hobbies are going to the pagoda and walking around for exercise. About two years ago, Krorn developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Krorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 10th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Krom said, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can easily get around, help my sister plant rice, and visit the pagoda."