Hean is 67 years old and a rice farmer from Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She is married and has five sons and four grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is also a farmer, and her youngest son. Three of her sons are farmers, while the other two work as steelworkers. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks’ sermons and joining religious ceremonies. About one year ago, Hean 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 Hean learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 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. She can contribute $10, but needs help raising $253 more to fund her procedure and care. Hean said, "I hope that after my eye surgery, my vision will improve so I can see more clearly, recognize my relatives easily, travel to distant places, and return to my rice farming without difficulty."

Yong is a 72-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is retired and previously worked as a midwife. Her husband died during the Khmer Rouge period, leaving her with one son. She now has five grandchildren. Yong lives with her nephew, who works in construction, while her son is a farmer. Her favorite hobby is listening to monks’ prayers on her phone. About three years ago, Yong developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Yong has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places independently. When Yong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 23rd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Her family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $263 more to fund her procedure and care. Yong shares, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can recognize others easily, travel farther, and no longer worry about my eyes.”

Yohana is a five-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is in kindergarten and is an active member of her household, supported by her mother and her father, an electrician and electronics maintenance staff member. Having dealt with chronic tonsillitis since she was a toddler, Yohana has spent over half of her life navigating the difficult challenges of this condition. For three years now, Yohana has been experiencing snoring, fevers, and a painful throat. These recurring infections, filled with frequent fevers and intense pain, have often pulled her away from her first years of school. They have also disrupted the energetic play she should be enjoying with her brother. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Yohana, which is scheduled to take place on April 25th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Yohana of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Yohana's parents shared, "We hope the surgery will allow her to grow up to be active and energetic."