Both is a 23-month-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and is their only child. His father is an electrician and his mother works as a chef in a restaurant. He enjoys playing with toy cars and balls, and likes eating soup and mangoes. Both was born with polydactyly of both hands. This means that he has an extra thumb on both hands (bilateral thumb polydactyly). The condition affects his ability to grasp and hold objects properly. His parents are concerned that it may also affect his hand function and self-confidence as he grows older. Fortunately, on May 19th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra digit. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. After surgery, the extra thumbs will be removed, improving hand function and allowing more normal grasping, development, and daily hand activities. His father said, “I hope my son can use his hands normally and grow up with confidence, without feeling shy about his appearance.”

N is a 54-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, and they both work as day laborers. Nwet also grows vegetables in her home backyard for household consumption. Nwet has two sons and one daughter who live in nearby villages with their own families. In her free time, Nwet likes doing chores and watching movies. Last April, N began to experience troubling symptoms. Doctors suspect the presence of stones in her urethra and recommend a ureteroscopy to be able to treat her symptoms. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 10th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. N expressed her gratitude and said, “I am very thankful to BCMF and the donors who are providing financial support for my surgery. I want to recover as soon as possible after surgery, so that I can return to work as a daily laborer, save money, and repay my debt. Thank you once again, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness and empathy.”

Neang is an 83-year-old retired rice farmer from Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She is a widow as her husband died 5 years ago due to kidney failure. She has two sons and five grandchildren. She lives alone near her oldest son, who is a farmer. Neang likes to go to the pagoda and join the ceremony. About two years ago, Neang developed a cataract in her left 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 Neang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 11th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. She can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund her procedure and care. Neang said, "I hope after surgery, my eye can see better, so I can easily recognize my relatives and go out."