Toma is a 54-year-old elderly man, who lives with his wife, son and grandchildren in rural Takeo Province in Cambodia. His wife stays at home caring for the grandchildren, while his son works as a rice farmer. The family has a simple rural lifestyle with low income and relies mainly on farming and family support. In his free time, Takeo takes care of his hens, grows vegetables around the house, and lives a quiet village life. In 2024, Takeo was shot in the right hand during an attempted robbery. This resulted in a fracture of his right arm. He went to a government hospital where doctors fixed surgical hardware to help with the healing his fracture. Since the injury and surgery, he has continued to experience pain and discomfort in his right hand. The condition makes it difficult for him to use his hand properly, affecting his ability to perform daily activities and reducing his independence. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 21st, Toma will undergo a surgical hardware removal procedure to help reduce his pain and improve hand function, so he can return to his daily activities. Toma and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $353 more to fund the procedure. Toma says, “I hope my hand will heal well so I can use it without pain, and return to my normal daily life.”

Jailosi is a husband and father of five children from Malawi. For most of his life, 61-year-old Jailosi relied on farming to support his family. His routine, however, came to an abrupt halt when he suddenly began experiencing urinary problems that quickly became severe. The most troubling was urinary retention, leaving him unable to pass urine normally. To relieve the immediate problem, he was catheterised, a measure that has helped manage his symptoms, but has also brought discomfort and disrupted his daily life. Presently, farming work that once sustained his family has been put on hold as he focuses on seeking treatment and managing his health. This has affected his income and also weighed heavily on him emotionally. Hoping for a lasting solution, Jailosi went to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where he was assessed and diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Doctors advised that surgery is needed to correct the problem. While the news brought hope, it also brought concern. Unable to work for months, Jailosi does not have the financial means to pay for the surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the procedure for Jailosi. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on June 3rd and, once completed, it will hopefully improve Jailosi's quality of life and allow him to get back to work. Jailosi said, “This illness has taken away my ability to work and live normally. I believe that if I receive this surgery, I will finally have peace of mind again. My greatest wish is to recover, return to my farm, and continue caring for my family.”

Chhem is a 61-year-old woman from Cambodia. She lives in Prey Veng Province with her elderly husband and her second child, who is a rice farmer. She has six children, three of whom are married and live in a nearby village. She helps care for her grandchildren and spends her free time listening to monks' sermons. One year ago, Chhem started to experience pain in her nose and ears, headaches, and blurred vision, which have significantly affected her daily life. These symptoms make it difficult for her to sleep and leave her feeling constantly tired, limiting her ability to care for her family. She previously sought treatment at another hospital, where she received medication for two weeks, but her condition did not improve. Chhem has now traveled to our medical partner’s care center to seek further treatment. On April 2nd, surgeons at Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) will perform endoscopic sinus surgery to help relieve her symptoms and improve her quality of life. Her family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $299 more to fund her procedure and care. Chhem said, “After the surgery, I hope that the pain in my nostril, headache, ear pain, and blurred vision will go away, so I can sleep better and feel healthy again."