Tola is a bright eleven-year-old student in grade five. He lives in Kampong Chhnang province with his family. He has a younger sister in grade one and a younger brother who is not yet in school. His parents are rice farmers. At home, he enjoys playing with his siblings and likes to eat any food his mother makes that has chicken! In school, Khmer is his favorite subject, and he would like to be a policeman when he grows up. When Tola was one year old, he had an infection and was given several intra-muscular injections in his right thigh. He subsequently developed muscle contractures that inhibit his ability to flex or straighten his right leg. If not properly managed, this can progress over time and further compromise his walking ability. When Tola and his family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On January 20th, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure on his right thigh. This will release the quadriceps muscle and improve the range of knee flexion. After he recovers, Tola will be able to walk and run alongside his friends. Tola and his family need help raising $482 to fund his procedure and care. His mother said: "After surgery, we hope that Tola can bend and straighten his knee like other children, and won't feel ashamed that he looks different."

Michael is a beautiful baby who likes playing with blocks and waving his arms in time to music. Michael has a cardiac condition called tricuspid atresia: he was born without one of the four valves that is normally present in the heart. As a result, blood cannot flow through his lungs and body normally, leaving him sick and short of breath. On March 1st, Michael will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will perform a technique called a Glenn procedure to create a conduit to allow blood to bypass the missing valve and more easily circulate through Michael's body. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery, but Michael's family is still in need of $1,500 and have turned to the Watsi community for support. Michael's mother says: "It has been very frightening to see my son have such difficulty breathing, and I am so glad we can finally find a way to help him."

Oeun is a 68-year-old rice farmer from Kompong Speu province. He is married and has two sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. After finishing the rice harvest, he and his wife work on a palm sugar farm. In his free time, Oeun enjoys watching Cambodian boxing and reading the news. One year ago, Oeun developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him tearing and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus he is unable to travel on his own. When Oeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On February 13th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Oeun needs help to fund this $253 procedure. He said, "After this operation, I hope I will be able to work again to support my family."