Sah is a 76-year-old rice farmer from Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia. She is a widow. She lives with her son and her two grandchildren. When she can, she likes to go to the mosque. About two years ago, Sah 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 clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling while walking, so she is unable to go places on her own. When Sah learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On March 3rd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. She can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund her procedure and care. Sah said, "I hope that after the surgery, my vision will improve so I can see clearly, recognize people, and travel to distant places more easily."

Sreyka is eight years old and a second-grader from Cambodia. She lives in a rural area in Koh Kong province with her parents and her brother. Her father works as a boat driver, and her mother works in a garment factory. Despite their modest income, her parents work very hard to provide for their children’s education and daily needs. Sreyka enjoys studying math, playing hide and seek with her friends, and watching cartoons. Her favorite meal is lemongrass sour soup. She hopes to become a nurse in the future so she can help other people. Sreyka was born with a cleft lip and palate, which was repaired when she was a baby. However, there is still a gap in her upper gum where teeth should grow. Without further treatment, her permanent teeth may not grow properly, and she may continue to face challenges with chewing, speaking clearly, and smiling confidently. Sometimes, she feels shy because of the gap in her teeth. The family traveled for six hours to reach our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On March 4th, she will undergo an alveolar bone graft surgery to repair the gap in her upper gum. With proper treatment and recovery, her permanent teeth will be able to grow normally. This will help her chew food more easily, improve her speech, and give her the confidence to smile freely. Her journey to CSC brings hope that she will grow up healthy, confident, and able to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Sreyka and her family need help raising $665 to fund her procedure and care. Sreyka said, “I feel shy sometimes because of the gap in my teeth, but I hope this treatment will help me smile confidently and speak clearly. I want to feel happy and confident like other children.”

Joshua is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania, the youngest of three children in his family. His parents rely on farming and livestock keeping for their livelihood, working hard each day to provide for their children. Joshua has clubfoot on left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. The condition has affected Joshua's mobility and could limit his future independence if left untreated. Despite the challenges, his parents never lost hope. They believed that their son could be treated and patiently waited until he was old enough to begin care. When Joshua turned one year old, they started seeking treatment and traveled to a hospital where a corrective cast was placed. Fortunately, they met one of the former patients of our medical partner's care center, Kafika Hospital, who referred them for treatment support. Joshua requires multiple castings, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) for five years to ensure lasting correction and prevent recurrence of the condition. Joshua is scheduled to begin clubfoot treatment on June 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Joshua's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his mobility will significantly improve. Joshua’s father said, “We have always believed that Joshua can be treated. Our dream is to see him walk, run, and grow up without limitations.”