Met is a 66-year-old retired rice farmer from Kampong Thom, Cambodia. She is married and has one son, three daughters, and six grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is also a retired rice farmer. Her children are rice farmers, too. During her free time, she likes to visit her children's houses and go to the pagoda. About ten years ago, Met developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Met learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Met needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The procedure will take place on June 9th, and she needs help raising $286 to fund her procedure and care. Met said, "I hope after surgery, my eye will no longer be tearing, irritated, or red, so I don't have to worry about it anymore. I can go back to growing some vegetables around my house, and I can go to the pagoda and join the ceremonies and visit my relatives, too!"

Khan is a 37-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two sons in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. She and her husband both work as agricultural day laborers. However, due to a recent accident, Khan is currently unable to work. As a result of the financial constraints caused by the loss of Khan's income, neither child can attend school, and the older child stays home to take care of his brother and the household chores. On July 1st, while walking in heavy rain to ask an employer for work, Khan slipped and fell. She used her left arm to push herself off the ground, and immediately felt severe pain. Because her arm wasn't swollen, and she desperately needed to keep working to support her family, Khan did not go to the hospital. Instead, she applied sesame oil as a traditional remedy. When her condition did not improve, Khan realized that she could no longer continue with things as they were. On July 21st, Khan borrowed money and went to a clinic, where an X-ray revealed a closed fracture in the left shaft of her radius. Khan’s arm is currently held in a bandage and remains slightly swollen. Her pain is managed by medication, but she experiences sharp pain if she tries to stretch or move it. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Khan will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones, which should ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for August 10th at Mae Sot Hospital, and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help Khan to be able to use her left arm and to return to work. Khan is seeking your help to fund her procedure. Khan said, “Thank you for your support. If not for your organization and the donor, I would stay like this forever.”

Yadesa is an 80-year-old man from Ethiopia. He is a retired merchant who spent his life working hard and building an independent life. Since the deeply sad loss of his beloved wife, he has found comfort and support by moving in with one of his two brothers. One year ago, Yadesa developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and burning sensation. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. For a man who spent his whole life actively connecting with the world through buying and selling, this slow darkening of his sight is truly heartbreaking. It has made it incredibly hard for him to talk and spend time with his loved ones, enjoy the world around him, and hold onto the dignity and independence that have always defined who he is. Fortunately, Yadesa is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Yadesa shared, "I hope to regain the independence I so deeply miss, allowing me to navigate my home and enjoy the company of my brother with newfound ease and confidence."