Yong is a 72-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is retired and previously worked as a midwife. Her husband died during the Khmer Rouge period, leaving her with one son. She now has five grandchildren. Yong lives with her nephew, who works in construction, while her son is a farmer. Her favorite hobby is listening to monks’ prayers on her phone. About three years ago, Yong developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Yong has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places independently. When Yong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 23rd, 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. Her family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $263 more to fund her procedure and care. Yong shares, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can recognize others easily, travel farther, and no longer worry about my eyes.”

Rathanak is a two-year-old toddler who lives in Cambodia with his parents and twin brother. His mother works long hours at a garment factory, and his father is a hairdresser who earns a small daily income. When his parents are at work, he and his twin are looked after by their grandmother. Rathanak enjoys eating fried egg and caramelized pork, and he loves playing with toys alongside his brother. Rathanak was born with polydactyly of his right hand, meaning that he has an extra thumb. This makes it difficult for him to grasp objects and interferes with his play. As he grows older, he has also started to feel shy and self-conscious because his hand looks different from those of other children. Fortunately, on February 25th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra digit. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. After surgery, Rathanak is expected to have improved hand function and better coordination. The procedure will help him use his right hand more comfortably and confidently, allowing him to play, learn, and perform daily activities more easily. Rathanak's mother shares, “I hope that after the surgery my son can use his hand normally, and feel confident like other children. I don’t want him to feel shy or different anymore. I just want him to grow up happy and proud of himself.”

Franklin is a 13-year-old student from Haiti. He lives in a rural agricultural area with his parents, who are both farmers, and six older siblings. He enjoys going to school and playing soccer. Franklin has a heart condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart was severely damaged by an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and now cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Franklin will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On March 23rd, he will undergo surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair his damaged valve; if they are unable to do so, they will remove it instead and implant an artificial replacement. While another charity, Mitral Foundation, is funding Franklin's surgery, his family will also need help with the costs associated with his surgical preparations. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It will also support securing travel documents for the family and paying travel costs for the social workers who will accompany Franklin's family overseas. Franklin's mother shared, "We are so thankful to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our son!"