Chanthy is a 34-year-old garment factory worker from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Phnom Penh with his wife, who also works in a garment factory, and their three children. Their children are in Grade 5, Grade 2, and preschool, and are cared for by their grandmother while both parents are at work. Despite his disability, he continues working hard to support his family. In his free time, he enjoys designing and tailoring new styles of clothing. Chanthy developed polio during childhood, which caused permanent damage to his left leg. Over the years, his left knee became permanently bent, and his left foot developed a severe deformity. The leg is now nonfunctional, so he has chosen amputation to prepare for a prosthetic leg that will give him a better chance of walking independently again. The condition has greatly limited his mobility and independence. He relies on crutches to move around because his left leg is no longer functional, making it difficult to stand, walk long distances, continue working comfortably, and care for his family. Every day tasks require extra effort, and his quality of life has been significantly affected. Chanthy has been experiencing severe muscle wasting, weakness, a fixed deformity of the left foot, difficulty walking, and limited mobility. His doctors recommend an amputation of his left leg (through-knee amputation) to prevent symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $588 to fund Chanthy's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Chanthy said, “I hope this surgery will allow me to receive a prosthetic leg so I can walk more easily without relying on crutches. I want to become more independent, continue working, and improve my quality of life.”

Rin is 58 years old and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have three sons and a daughter. During his free time, he likes to watch boxing. About one year ago, Rin 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Rin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled three hours to seek treatment. On September 7th, 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. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Rin said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can go back to growing rice and corn. I don’t worry about my eye anymore."

Vun is a 38-year-old construction worker from Kampong Cham, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who grows cassava, and their two school-aged children. As the family's primary income earner, he works long hours performing physically demanding construction work while also helping his wife on the farm whenever possible. About two months ago, Vun began experiencing severe lower back pain that radiated down his left leg. The pain gradually worsened and became especially severe during the past week, making it difficult for him to walk, stand for long periods, and continue working. A CT scan revealed a large herniated disc between the L5 and S1 vertebrae, compressing the nerve. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled two hours to reach the hospital and seek specialized care. On July 17th, he will undergo an L5–S1 discectomy (spinal surgery) at CSC to remove the damaged disc and relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The surgery is expected to reduce his pain, restore his mobility, and help him return to work and support his family. However, the cost of treatment is beyond what his family can afford, and he needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. They can contribute $100, but need help raising $1,500 more to help fund his procedure and care. Vun said, “I hope this surgery will take away the pain that has made even simple movements difficult. I look forward to walking normally again, returning to work, and providing for my family without being limited by my back.”