Sok Chea is a 50-year-old construction worker from Prey Veng province. He is married and has two daughters and one son. His wife is also a construction worker, and his children are students. After a day of working, Sok Chea likes to tend to his vegetables around his house. About five months ago, Sok Chea developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Sok Chea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 9th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. He can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund his procedure and care. Sok Chea said, "I hope after surgery, my eye can see well again. I can go back to work well, and I can support my children's studies."

Sopheaktra is a seven-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who both work in a glasses factory, and his two siblings. He is currently in second grade and enjoys reading and writing. In his free time, he likes playing with his friends and eating his favorite food, fried pork. For the past four months, Sopheaktra has been experiencing difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, and loud snoring at night. He also experiences frequent throat infections, occurring about twice per month over the past year. This has affected his sleep and overall well-being, and has made it difficult for him to attend school regularly and participate in activities with his friends. Sopheaktra was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly worsen over time. Fortunately, on April 22nd, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will help Sopheaktra undergo a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy — a procedure to remove the tonsils and adenoids. This procedure will cost $345, and Sopheaktra needs your support to fund the surgery. Sopheaktra's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope my son will be able to breathe easily, swallow without difficulty, and sleep peacefully at night. I also hope he will no longer have frequent throat infections and can return to his normal, healthy life.”

Mekdes is a young mother from Ethiopia. At just 22, this single mother is the heart and soul of her small family, working hard to build a life for herself and her four-year-old child. She runs a small street-side stall selling fried chips, and this humble business is their only source of income. Mekdes has been fighting chronic tonsillitis for four years. Because her business is outdoors and requires her to be on her feet all day, these frequent, painful throat infections make it incredibly difficult for her to work. When she is too sick to stand at her stall, she loses the income they desperately need, creating a constant and exhausting cycle of physical pain and financial worry. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Mekdes, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Mekdes of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Mekdes said, "My deepest hope is to finally achieve lasting health and financial security, so I can work consistently without the constant fear that a sudden, painful illness will take away my ability to provide for my child."