Lu is a 63-year-old man who lives with his wife and niece in a refugee camp in Thailand. He is unemployed, while his wife is a homemaker, and his niece is a student. Lu enjoys going to the forest to fish in the steams and to forage for vegetables. He shared he also likes to read the Bible and to sing hymns. Lu developed cataracts in both of his eyes. As a result, his vision is blurry and impaired, which makes it difficult for Lu to lead an independent life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Lu. On January 19th, doctors at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital will perform a lens replacement procedure, during which they will remove Lu's natural lenses, and replace them with intraocular lens implants. After recovery, Lu will be able to see clearly again and get back to his day-to-day life. Now, he needs your help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Lu said: “I feel so annoyed and uncomfortable when I try to look around me, so I will often just close my eyes,” he said. “I want to receive surgery so that my vision can be restored.”

Boaz is a farmer who is married with three school-aged kids. His wife joins him in the farm for subsistence farming, where most of his income goes towards meeting the family's daily needs. There is little surplus for funds needed for medical care. Boaz has been experiencing painful swelling on his upper back for the last six months. He is not able to work without pain, especially on strenuous activities which are his day-to-day duties. Boaz traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 24th, surgeons will remove the mass on his back to treat the painful swelling. Boaz needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Boaz says “I will be much better when my health is restored, and I resume to my usual activities, living a better life.”

Vanna is a 66-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She has three sons, three daughters, and 10 grandchildren. Vanna lives with her husband and their oldest daughter, who is a rice and vegetable farmer. Vanna and her husband enjoy listening to the monks pray on the radio and at the pagoda. Four years ago, Vanna developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. 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 Vanna learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for seven and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 17th, 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. Now, she needs help raising $253 to fund her procedure and care. Vanna shared, "I hope my vision improves after surgery so I can feel happy, walk places on my own, and take care of my grandchildren."