Hem is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Pailin Province in Cambodia. She is married and lives with her 64-year-old husband. They have four children. Her first and second children are rice farmers, her third child works for an organization, and her youngest child is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks praying and keeping up with the news. Hem has a herniated disc at the L4-L5 level of her lower spine, a condition in which a spinal disc presses on nearby nerves. She has experienced intermittent lower back pain for approximately three years, but about one month ago, the pain began radiating down the back of her left leg. She also experiences intermittent numbness in her left leg and weakness when extending her left toe. These symptoms have made walking and carrying out her daily activities as a farmer more difficult. Hem was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), by a relative. She traveled approximately seven hours from Pailin to seek specialized care. After evaluation, doctors recommended surgery to relieve the pressure on the affected nerves. Hem is scheduled to undergo laminectomy and decompression of the L4-L5 spine on August 17th. She has contributed $100 towards her treatment but needs an additional $1,400 in support to cover the cost of surgery and related care. The surgery aims to relieve pressure on the nerves and help reduce her back and leg symptoms, allowing her to walk more comfortably and return to farming and her normal daily activities. Hem said, “I hope that this surgery will relieve my back and leg pain, improve the numbness and weakness in my left leg, and help me walk more comfortably again. I wish to return to farming, and continue my normal daily activities.”

Paw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, her husband, and seven siblings in the village in Hpapun District, Karen State, Burma. Her parents and husband are small-scale farmers with two of her siblings, while the other siblings are students. She is also a farmer and helps her family on the farm, until she became ill in October 2025. At the family farm, they grow rice, raise chickens and pigs, and forage for vegetables in the forest. Paw has a heart condition that requires replacement of the aortic and mitral heart valves, as well as the repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Paw continues to experience fatigue, and she suffers from breathing difficulties when she is tired. She can no longer walk long distances. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund the complex surgery that Paw needs. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 1st. Once completed, Paw should be able to live more comfortably and to have a more active and healthy life. Paw said, “I cannot work with my parents and siblings as I get tired easily, and I feel sad for them. Once I recover, I hope to help my family, and in the future, I want to be a teacher and teach grade one and two students in my village.”

Sopheara is a nine-year-old student from Cambodia. He is the only child in his family and lives with his parents, who are rice farmers. He enjoys reading and writing Khmer and likes making toy cars in his free time. His favorite foods are fried pork and chicken. He wishes to be an architect when he grows up. Sopheara was born with unilateral incomplete cleft lip and cleft palate. He underwent surgery for the condition, but there is still a gap in his gums that affects his eating, speaking, and symmetry of his face. Sopheara needs surgery to close the gap. Fortunately, Sopheara visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further treatment. There, surgeons will perform an alveolar bone graft procedure on September 8th. CSC is requesting $665 to fund Sopheara's treatment and care. After treatment, the alveolar bone graft (ABG) will help fill the gap in his gum and support the development and stability of his upper jaw. It may also make eating and speaking more comfortable and improve the appearance and symmetry of his smile as he continues to grow. Sopheara's mother said, “I am happy that my son can receive this surgery. I hope the bone graft will help repair his gum and support his teeth as he grows. I want him to have a healthy smile and feel confident when he goes to school and meets other people.”