John is a hawker (the local name for a street vendor) from Kenya. He has six children all under the age of 18 years. His wife helps at home and John is the family's sole breadwinner. Lately, due to his condition, John has been unable to work. He has no alternate source of income, and shared that he is struggling to raise his family. John first started experiencing a loss of appetite and stomach pain in April 2022. He visited a local health center and was treated for stomach aches, but his condition did not improve. He later started having episodes of diarrhea and has lost a significant amount of weight. He also has been experiencing bleeding that has caused him anemia. As a result, he has had several blood transfusions and hospital admissions. Recently, a biopsy at Kijabe Hospital revealed that John has colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon grow out of control. At the current stage, his doctors feel the cancer can be stopped surgically from spreading. However, the procedure has to be done as soon as possible because it is urgent. He is now scheduled to undergo surgery and needs support. Unfortunately, John does not have medical coverage and cannot afford the surgery. He is requesting financial assistance to support the $1,074 needed for his medical care. John says, “I cannot eat, and I have lost a lot of weight. I have had several blood transfusions because of bleeding. I need this surgery to help fight the cancer.”

Huot is a 40-year-old father from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He has one daughter and they live together in a rural area near the Vietnamese border. He earns a small living by collecting cans and bottles and selling them to the recycling center. In his free time, he likes to listen to the radio and watch the news. About two years ago, Huot developed a cataract in his right eye. The cataract has caused some tearing and prevents him from seeing out of his right eye. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces. Due to his poor eyesight, he is unable to go places without assistance as he is at risk of falling. When Huot learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), in Cambodia, he traveled for over three hours to seek treatment. Fortunately, doctors at CSC were able to quickly diagnose Huot's cataracts and on April 26th, surgeons will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in Huot's right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to help fund this procedure. Huot shared, "I hope that I can see after surgery and do more work."

Kuong is a 76-year-old retired rice farmer. She is a mother to four sons and four daughters, and the grandmother to 13. She and her husband live in Battambang province, but no longer work in the rice fields due to their age. They live with their youngest son who is a rice farmer. At home, Kuong cooks for the family and likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Three years ago, Kuong developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her light sensitivity, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus she is unable to travel on her own. When Kuong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and implant a new lens in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Kuong said: "I hope after surgery, I can see again. I can see my grandchildren's faces and take care of myself better."