Hoeung is a 64-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife, and has retired from rice farming due to poor vision. At home, he enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Seven years ago, Hoeung developed a pterygium in his right eye. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. He experiences itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. He also has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Hoeung learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 15th, surgeons at CSC will remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Now, he needs help raising $225 to fund his procedure, medications, supplies and inpatient care for two days. Hoeung shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can feel comfortable, and I can go outside again."

Sorim is a 12-year-old student in grade five. He has two younger siblings - a one-month-old brother, and an eight-year-old sister. His parents are rice farmers in Kampong Chhnang province. In school, he enjoys Khmer literature and would like to be a doctor when he grows up. Sorim's favorite meal is fried eggs and chicken soup. At home, he enjoys playing with toys with friends, reading books, and swimming in the lake near his house. When he was six months old, the middle and ring fingers of his right hand were burned in a cooking fire. He did not receive any care, as his parents had no money for treatment. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his burn. Now he cannot extend his fingers and it is difficult for him to carry things or hold a pencil to write in school. When Sorim's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 21st, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to help him to use his hand again. Now, their family needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Sorim said: "My friends make fun of my hand, and it makes me feel bad. I hope I can use my fingers after surgery and I won't have any pain."

Douby is a 17 year old student, living with his Godmother and her family in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Douby enjoys going to school, and aspires to attain a PhD in agronomy, and to become a professor. As a result of rheumatic fever that he suffered as a child, Douby has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Two of his four heart valves were severely damaged by the rheumatic fever, and his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body, leaving him sick and short of breath. The care Douby needs is not available in Haiti so he urgently will fly to the United States to receive treatment on February 28th at Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital. He will undergo emergency cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair both damaged valves; if the valves cannot be repaired, they will be removed, and artificial valves will be implanted in their place. While another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $20,000.00 to help pay for Douby's surgery, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs for the surgery prep and transport support, including lab tests; medicines, and follow up appointments. The money will alsosupport the passport and travel expenses for the social workers that will accompany Douby and his family to the U.S. Douby was able to share: "I am looking forward to being stronger and healthier once my heart can be repaired!"