Sopheak is a 14-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is a 10th-grade-student who enjoys math and has dreams of becoming a teacher one day. His parents earn a living selling lunch, while his older brother works as a motorcycle mechanic. In Sopheak's free time, he likes listening to music and watching movies. His favorite foods are fried eggs and caramelized pork. Sopheak was born with a cleft lip and underwent cleft lip repair surgery in 2012. However, he still has a notch along the border of his upper lip. As he has grown older, he has become increasingly concerned about the appearance of his nose and experiences difficulty breathing. These concerns have affected how he feels about his appearance, and he hopes further treatment will help him feel more comfortable and confident as he grows up. After his initial surgery, he was advised to return when he was older for further correction. He followed this advice, travelling two hours back to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for another assessment. On October 26th, 2026, he is scheduled to undergo rhinoplasty using rib cartilage, alar reduction, and lip scar revision to improve the shape of his nose and address the remaining concerns with his lip. His family needs $360 in support to help him receive the treatment he needs. Sopheak's mother said, “I’m happy that my son has the chance to receive further treatment. He has been unhappy with the shape of his nose for a long time, and sometimes he also has difficulty breathing. I hope this surgery will help him breathe more comfortably and feel more confident about himself as he grows up.”

Kelemua is a hardworking widow from Ethiopia who, at 80 years old, still supports her five sons by farming the land. However, she is losing her independence because of severe cataracts. Her vision is severely clouded, causing light sensitivity and making it difficult for her to move around safely. Her daily farm work and household chores now pose a risk of injury with her limited eyesight. And she is no longer able to contribute to the family’s income or do the work she loves. Two years ago, Kelemua developed a cataract in both eyes, causing her pain, blurry vision, and tearing. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. Fortunately, Kelemua is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery on June 10th, when surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens in both eyes. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly and resume her daily activities. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $300 to fund her procedure. "My greatest hope is to regain my sight so I can move around safely again. I miss working on the farm and helping out at home, and I want to get back to contributing to my family’s life," said Kelemua.

Savoeun is a 51-year-old widow from Kandal province, Cambodia. She has three sons, one daughter, and 11 grandchildren. She lives with her youngest son, who is a construction worker. She likes to watch the news on TV and listen to monks pray on the radio. About one year ago, Savoeun 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 Savoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On July 2nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Savoeun said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better easily and take care of my grandchildren and I can go far places by myself."