Segundo is a 59-year old man from the Philippines who works as a driver. His wife is unemployed, and they occasionally receive help with household expenses from their child, who runs a small business. Segundo has been living with thyroid concerns for the last year. Still, he pushes through to enjoy singing during special occasions and family gatherings. Segundo remains hopeful about his recovery and shared that undergoing free surgery would ease his family's financial stress and keep them from having to borrow money to pay for his treatment. A year ago, Segundo began to experience troubling symptoms, including periodic palpitations and a throbbing sensation in his eyes. He was diagnosed with multinodular non-toxic goiter and needs surgery to heal. A recent ultrasound showed that the number and size of his thyroid nodules had increased, prompting concern from his family and a desire to have surgery before his condition worsens. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Segundo receive treatment. On August 29th, he will undergo a thyroidectomy at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. Part of his treatment cost is covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is raising the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Segundo's procedure and care. Segundo said, "I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to receive free surgery. I look forward to getting better and continuing to enjoy singing and spending time with my family without worrying about my health."

Kiya is a five-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His parents both work as shop staff members. He is in kindergarten and has two older brothers. Kiya has dealt with chronic tonsillitis since he was one year old. Tonsillitis is a condition where the inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by viral or bacterial infections, causes a sore throat and painful swallowing. Recently, Kiya's tonsils have been enlarged, which will result in these symptoms persisting and potentially worsening over time if not treated. Kiya will undergo a tonsillectomy on April 25th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Kiya of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund this procedure. Kiya's parents shared, "We hope he will finally be able to attend school and play with his brothers without pain. We know this surgery will give him the strong physical foundation he needs to grow."

Srey is a 65-year-old woman and a retired farmer from Prey Veng, Cambodia. Her husband passed away 20 years ago due to hypertension. She has one daughter, three sons, and five grandchildren. She lives alone, but her daughter, who works as a factory laborer, lives nearby. Srey's favorite hobby is listening to the radio, especially programs about Buddhist teachings and spiritual education. Five years ago, Srey 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. When Srey learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 3rd, 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. Srey can contribute $35, but needs help raising an additional $228 to fund her procedure and care. Srey said, "As I am getting older, I have developed cataracts, which have affected my vision. I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can go out more easily, recognize my relatives clearly, and travel to distant places to attend ceremonies and social events without difficulty."