Bekelu is 40 years old and a farmer from Ethiopia. Her husband is also a farmer, and they work hard to support their six children. One year ago, Bekelu started to experience bleeding and severe abdominal bloating. Her illness has affected every part of her life. She once worked side by side with her husband on their farm, but she can no longer do the heavy work. She also finds it challenging to cook, clean, and look after her six children the way she used to. She was a strong, independent mother, and now she depends on others for help. Her whole family lives with stress and worry about her health and their future. Bekelu was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, painful growths in her uterus. She needs to undergo a myomectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove the fibroids. She is scheduled to undergo surgery on October 5th, and our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $1,050 to fund her surgery. Bekelu shared, "I want to be strong again, work on our farm with my husband, and take care of my children. I don't want my family to worry about me anymore."

Mao is a 56-year-old truck driver from Cambodia. He and his wife have three children. His wife works in a factory, and all of his children are in school. In his spare time, Mao enjoys watching the news and boxing matches on his phone. In late September 2026, Mao slipped and fell in the bathroom, fracturing the neck of his left femur and the upper part of his thigh bone that connects to the hip joint. Since the accident, Mao has had persistent hip pain and difficulty walking, using a crutch to help him get around. His injury has made everyday activities more challenging and prevents him from comfortably carrying out his work as a truck driver. Mao needs to undergo a hip hemiarthroplasty to address his fracture and heal. A hip hemiarthroplasty is a partial hip replacement that involves replacing half of the hip joint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's hospital can perform this procedure on October 22nd to relieve Mao of his pain and allow him to walk more easily. Mao contributed $100 to his care and needs help raising $612 to fund his treatment. Mao said, “I hope the surgery will help reduce my hip pain and allow me to walk more comfortably and independently again. As a driver, I want to regain my mobility so I can return to my daily activities and get back to work when I have recovered enough."

Srey is a 65-year-old woman and a retired farmer from Prey Veng, Cambodia. Her husband passed away 20 years ago due to hypertension. She has one daughter, three sons, and five grandchildren. She lives alone, but her daughter, who works as a factory laborer, lives nearby. Srey's favorite hobby is listening to the radio, especially programs about Buddhist teachings and spiritual education. Five years ago, Srey developed a cataract in her right 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 she is not able to go places on her own. When Srey learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 3rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Srey can contribute $35, but needs help raising an additional $228 to fund her procedure and care. Srey said, "As I am getting older, I have developed cataracts, which have affected my vision. I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can go out more easily, recognize my relatives clearly, and travel to distant places to attend ceremonies and social events without difficulty."