Oun is a 58-year-old grandmother. She and her husband are farmers in a rural area about two and a half hours from the capital Phnom Penh. They are parents to two sons and one daughter and proud grandparents of three grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to watch Khmer dramas on TV. Oun has spent the majority of her life outside, which has exposed her to sunny, dusty, sandy, and windy conditions which has contributed to her condition. Seven years ago, Oun developed a pterygium in her right eye, which is a non-cancerous growth of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. This causes her irritation and burning. The condition has significantly impacted her vision. It is difficult for her to engage in social activities, read, watch television, or even recognize faces. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Oun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for March 8th. Oun said, "I hope after surgery my eye will not be red or irritated. I hope to have no worry and go back to planting rice."

Manfa is the only child in his family. His parents are rice and potato farmers in rural Mondolkiri Province in Cambodia. He loves to eat fried potatoes using the potatoes they grow on the farm and enjoys watching cartoons on his mom's phone. Manfa was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, a congenital condition in which bones are brittle and prone to breaking. He has experienced multiple fractures in his lower limbs since he was six years old. On March 4th, Manfa will undergo osteotomy, a procedure where his tibia bone will be reshaped to facilitate improved walking balance and prevent pain for him in the future. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, needs your support to fund the $469 procedure, post-op medications, and physiotherapy costs. Manfa's father shared: "In the future, I'm worried my son will not be able to attend school. I hope he can walk better than before and continue his dream to work as a teacher."

Edina, a 41-year-old mother of seven, works as a vegetable seller, earning about $2.97 per day for her family's upkeep. She finds joy interacting with her customers and has a fondness for chicken and nsima, a Malawian staple porridge made from maize flour. Four years ago, Edina discovered a small, painless swelling on the right side of her neck. After seeking medical advice at a nearby hospital, she was diagnosed with goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She was instructed to wait for an opportunity for surgery, but her condition has worsened, causing breathlessness, neck pain, and difficulty lifting heavy objects. This has affected her work capacity and resulted in a decrease in income. Inspired by a fellow community member's journey to seek help, Edina visited our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre, where a surgeon reconfirmed the need for a thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Faced with financial hardships, Edina is seeking support for her surgery treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edina receive treatment. On March 20th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to relieve her symptoms and help her resume her vegetable business at full capacity. Now, Edina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Edina says, “I feel so fortunate to get the opportunity for support. Thank you so much, I believe surgery will help me get back to normal life."