Kolab is a 52-year-old rice farmer from Ratanakkiri province in rural Cambodia. She is married with two sons, four daughters, and six grandchildren. Her children have left home, and Kolab and her husband earn a small income through working in the rice fields and raising cattle. When not working, she enjoys listening to traditional Cambodian music, watching the news on her phone, and cooking for her grandchildren. About six months ago, Kolab developed a cataract in her left 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 is not able to go places on her own. When Kolab learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for eight hours seeking treatment. On May 15th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Kolab can contribute $50 but needs help raising $203 more to fund the procedure. Kolab shared, "I hope after surgery I can see more clearly. I would like to find more jobs after the rice is harvested to help my family."

Yigermal is a nine-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is the only child of his father. His parents are separated and his mother lives elsewhere. Yigermal lives with his father and grandmother in Merto Lemariam, Ethiopia. Yigermal's father had to sell his land to cover medical expenses when he became ill. Due to health complications, he is not currently working. The father underwent kidney surgery two years ago. Yigermal was born with a congenital anomaly called bladder exstrophy, where the bladder is abnormally open from the front abdomen. His bladder is exposed to air, causing him to leak urine directly onto his abdomen. As a result, he suffers from pain, discomfort, infections, and other troubling symptoms. He cannot even go to school as other children would tease him. Yigermal couldn't get surgery for a long time because his father did not have the money to take him to referral hospitals in the city. Yigermal needs a Mainz Pouch procedure, which involves diverting his urine to the anal opening and creating a pouch bladder from the bowel. He is scheduled for this bladder surgery on June 25th. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,500 to cover his medical costs. Yigermal's family needs your help. Yigermal's dad said, “I hope that he will get the surgery and heal. I will teach him if he heals. I will do labor work and raise him.”

Soeum is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have seven children: three sons and four daughters - all of whom live and work in another province. Currently, he lives with his wife, who works in the rice fields with him. He likes to eat rice with lemongrass soup made by his wife at home. When not working outside to grow rice, they enjoy going to the local pagoda. Three months ago, Soeum developed a lump inside his left nostril. The lump feels hard and bleeds easily when touched, making breathing through the left nostril increasingly difficult. He has difficulty sleeping at night and is concerned that it could be cancer. Soeum traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 18th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Soeum is able to contribute $100 towards his medical costs, but needs help raising $173 more for the procedure. Soeum says: "I look forward to the lump's removal so I can feel more comfortable, and not have to worry about it growing bigger again."