Chantha is a 37-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Kampong Chhnang Province with his wife, who works in a garment factory. Together, they are raising two children; their eldest is in Grade 6, and their youngest is 4 years old. In his free time, Chantha enjoys drinking coffee and chatting with his friends in the village. About three years ago, Chantha developed tuberculosis of his right ankle, which caused swelling, redness, and severe pain. Although he completed a full course of tuberculosis treatment and the infection was cured, it left his right ankle joint permanently damaged. Since then, he has continued to suffer from pain, stiffness, and difficulty walking. He now relies on crutches to get around, making it difficult to work, care for his family, and carry out everyday activities. When Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 14th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his right ankle joint and to relieve his pain, improve the stability of his ankle, and help him stand and walk more comfortably so he can return to his daily life with greater independence. Chantha can contribute $50, but needs help raising $561 more to fund his procedure and care. Chantha said, “My greatest wish is to wake up one day without this ankle pain. I hope this surgery will help me move freely again and return to the activities I have missed.”

Ben is a 77-year-old retired rice farmer from Kampong Cham province in Cambodia. He has four sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren. Presently, he lives with his aging wife, and the couple gets support from their children. Ben likes to join ceremonies at the pagoda. About one year ago, Ben 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 is not able to go places on his own. When Ben learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Ben and his family are contributing towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $213 more to fund the surgery. He says, "I hope that after surgery my eye will see better, and I won't have to worry when I wish to join the ceremonies at the pagoda."

Binyam is a seven-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia. He loves watching animations and listening to songs. He lives with his parents in a small, rented home. Although his family’s income is limited, their love and determination are strong. His father works as a daily laborer and provides for the household. His mother, however, does not have a permanent job. During the holidays, she sells candles around the church to support the family. Before Binyam was born, his mother had a difficult motherhood journey. She suffered two miscarriages, and a third pregnancy that ended tragically when the baby died after one week. At some point, she lost hope that she would ever have a child. When she discovered that she was pregnant again and gave birth to Binyam, the entire family felt immense joy and relief. Since birth, Binyam has had an umbilical hernia, which is a tissue bulge in the belly button area, that occurs due to a weak spot in the abdominal wall. The condition has been causing him discomfort especially when he cries, or plays actively. His mother first noticed the swelling when Binyam’s umbilical cord fell off. At first, she hoped it would resolve naturally, but the swelling continued to grow and increase in size. Worried, she shared with a nurse during a routine vaccine clinic and was referred to a higher-level hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Binyam receive treatment. On July 20th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery to relieve his symptoms, allowing him a healthier life as he grows older. Now, Binyam's family needs help to fund this $512 procedure. Binyam’s mother says, “Thank you very much for the service and support. Finally, my prayers have been answered. I truly wish and pray that my child will be safe and recover well after the surgery.”