Kuon is a 68-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She lives in Battambang with her elderly husband and grandchildren. She has three children: her oldest child works as a car repairer, her second child works for a private company, and her youngest child is a taxi driver. She spends much of her time caring for her grandchildren. She also enjoys visiting the pagoda. Kuon developed a non-healing ulcer on her right cheek after suffering a burn while cooking. The wound remained open for about one year and was later diagnosed as invasive basal cell carcinoma. The ulcer has not healed and has a small area of dead tissue along its edge. Although it is not painful when touched, having a persistent lesion on her cheek affects her comfort and confidence in daily life. When Kuon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On September 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a removal of the basal cell carcinoma from her right cheek, followed by reconstruction with a rhomboid flap to remove the cancerous lesion and reconstruct the affected area, helping the wound heal and restoring the appearance and function of her cheek. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $616 more to fund her procedure and care. Kuon said, “I hope the surgery will remove the ulcer on my cheek and help the area heal properly. I am looking forward to recovering and returning to my usual daily activities with more confidence.”

Phally is 42 years old and a father of two from Cambodia. His wife is a garment factory worker, and their two children are currently in Grades 10 and 5. In his free time, he enjoys making toy cars for his children. He previously worked as a truck driver, but his health condition has forced him to stop working. Phally first began experiencing pain in both hips about six years ago and was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) in 2022. This condition occurs when the blood supply to the bone is reduced, causing the bone tissue to become damaged. Over the past two years, his pain has become much worse. The condition has progressed particularly in his left hip, where the bone has collapsed. His left leg is now shorter than his right, making walking and moving around increasingly difficult. As the pain has worsened, Phally has become dependent on a walking frame for support and struggles with everyday activities. Phally was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On November 3rd, he will undergo a left total hip replacement (THR) to relieve his pain and improve his mobility. Phally and his family can contribute $100 and need support to cover the remaining $1,400. Phally said, “I hope the surgery will reduce my hip pain and help me walk normally again. I miss being able to work and take care of my daily activities without depending on others. My biggest wish is to regain my independence and return to driving a truck when I am able.”

Beyene is a 65-year-old farmer from Ethiopia. He works the land alongside his wife. Together they are raising six children, four boys and two girls, all of whom are still in school. Three years ago, Beyene started to experience troubling symptoms, which worsened over time. The symptoms affected his ability to relieve himself, disrupted his daily life, and his sleep. He was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland. Physicians at our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, determined that Beyene should undergo surgery. He is scheduled for surgery on October 20th and needs help raising $900 to fund his procedure and care. Once completed, the treatment will improve Beyene's quality of life. Beyene shared, "I want to sleep through the night, drink water without fear, and visit my friends and family again without worrying about the night."