Andrew is a two-year-old boy from Uganda. He is the lastborn in a family of three children, with an older brother and sister who are both attending school. His mother is a small-scale farmer and his father earns a living through boda-boda transport. Andrew can speak a few words in his local language and is a playful and cheerful child who is just beginning to take his first steps. Since shortly after birth, Andrew has had an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. His mother was initially advised to wait and give him time to grow before further intervention. Over time, however, the swelling began to appear more frequently and worsened, affecting his ability to walk and causing him to fear movement due to pain. Recently, he has become increasingly irritable, crying frequently and vomiting after eating. Fortunately, on May 5th, Andrew will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. His family is seeking support to raise $230 to fund the surgery, which will allow him to live more comfortably and pain-free. Andrew’s mother expressed, “My greatest wish is to see my son get better. If I were financially able, I would do everything possible to ensure that he undergoes the surgery. Unfortunately, at the moment, I am unable to afford the cost, yet surgery is the only option for his complete recovery. I therefore humbly seek your support.”

Yeng is a 61-year-old rice farmer from Kampong Cham province. She is married and has three daughters, one son and six grandchildren. She lives with her husband who is a rice farmer and with her youngest daughter who is a student. She likes to watch funny movies on the TV. About one year ago, Yeng 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 is not able to go places on her own. When Yeng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 11th, 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. Yeng and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but need help raising $228 to fund the surgery. Yeng said, "I hope that after surgery my eye can see clearly, so I can go back to growing rice, and visit places without worry."

Sophon is a 60-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is a weaver from Kandal province. She is a widow with no children; her husband passed away about 15 years ago in a car accident. She currently lives with her youngest sister, who is also a weaver. In her free time, Sophon enjoys listening to the radio and hearing monks pray. About two years ago, Sophon developed a cataract in her right 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. Sophon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought treatment. On April 30th, 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. Sophon can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 to fund her procedure and care. Sophon said, "I hope that after my eye surgery, my vision will improve so that I can see clearly, recognize things more easily, and continue my weaving work well. I also hope to travel farther without difficulty and no longer worry about my eyesight."