Ethan is a three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest of four children. Ethan's parents are separated and he lives with his mother, who supports the family through casual work, mainly as a cleaner. Sometimes, his father will contribute some money for school fees. When Ethan was two years old, he was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Ethan has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Ethan will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 29th. AMHF is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I look forward to overcoming this setback. Ethan has been adapting well since joining school, and I look forward to seeing him do well in school,” Ethan's mother said.

Ly is a 21-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and three siblings in Kampong Chhnang province. His parents are rice farmers, and Ly and his older sister farm to help support the family, including their younger siblings that are still in school. In his free time, Ly likes playing soccer and checking his social media. When he was one year old, Ly suffered burns on his left fingers from an open cooking fire at home. He was treated by a traditional healer in his village. Ly has developed burn scar contractures on all four fingers, tightening the skin around the burns. This experience makes him unable to use his hand easily and impacts his daily life and ability to work. When Ly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 24th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve the function and appearance of his hand. Ly and his family contributed $150 to his care and are requesting assistance to raise $345 to fund his surgery. Ly said, "After surgery, I hope I can use my hand more easily and get a better job."

Tha is a 72-year-old military retiree from Cambodia who lives alone in rural Kampong Chhang province. His wife passed away twenty years ago, and he has been living alone. He helps care for his eight grandchildren who live nearby. All five of Tha's children help support him financially through their work in farming and construction. In his free time, Tha enjoys going to the pagoda to pray and watching the evening news. About two years ago, Tha developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Tha learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 19th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Tha and his family are able to contribute $25 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $228 more to fully fund the operation. Tha shared, "For two years, I am feeling scared to drive my motorbike because I cannot see clearly. I would like to be able to drive to see my grandchildren or to the far away pagoda on my own."