Phoeun is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has four children, six grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio in her free time. Five year ago, Phoeun developed a pterygium in left, causing her irritation, itchiness, and tearing. 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 and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Phoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. Phoeun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 09. Phoeun said, "I hope that I will be able to see clearly, go outside on my own, and will be able to plant rice again."

Chamrong is a 19-year-old motorcycle mechanic from Cambodia. He has three siblings and enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with his friends. Ten years ago, Chamrong had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Chamrong experiences discharge, tinnitus, hearing loss, and headaches. He is often unable to hear or communicate with others effectively. Chamrong traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 21st, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chamrong said, "I hope that after my surgery, my ear infection will heal and my hearing will improve."

Mark is a young boy from Kenya. Mark, second born in a family of two boys, is an ambitious second grader who aspires to be a doctor upon school completion. Mark’s father passed on in October 2017 after a short illness. His mother sells groceries in order to support the family. Mark was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Mark has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Mark will be receiving medical assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 13th. AMHF is requesting $535 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor,” says Mark.