Sambath is a 46-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married with two teenage daughters who left school to help him on the farm. Sambath enjoys his few hours of free time listening to monks pray on the radio. In 2007, Sambath experienced a traumatic acid burn on his face. Now, he suffers from ectropion in both eyes, with the condition more severe in his left eye. Ectropion is a condition in which the eyelid turns outward. This leaves the inner eyelid surface exposed and prone to irritation and infection. Burn scar contractures have developed from the scarring around his eyelids. It is difficult for him to see, and he is worried it will cause further damage to his eyes and vision. When Sambath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 3rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help improve his eyesight and see more clearly again. HIs family is able to contribute $37.50 but he needs your help to raise $458 more to fund the procedure. Sambath said, "I hope my eyesight will be better, with no more worries, so I can continue growing rice to support my family."

Theare is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. He has two older brothers and they live with their grandmother and cousins in Battambang province. His parents are divorced and his mother works in a clothing factory in another province to support her children. In school, he is in grade five and enjoys classes about Khmer history. He would like to be a teacher when he is older. At home, he enjoys soccer, but cannot play due to his condition. Two years ago, he was riding with his brother on a motorbike and fell, suffering a severe injury to his left tibia or shin. His leg became red, swollen, and painful. His grandmother took him to a local hospital, where he had several different surgeries. Unfortunately, none of the surgeries repaired his leg and has since been diagnosed with a delayed union fracture or a fracture that will not heal without intervention. The local surgeons told his grandmother they could not do any more surgery to fix his leg as Theare needed a more complicated procedure that would entail internal fixation and bone grafting. His current condition hinders his mobility, forcing him to rely on crutches and endure constant pain, impeding his ability to keep up with school and indulge in his love for soccer. When Theare learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left tibia and to correct the non-union. This will help him walk unaided and help relieve the pain. Now, Theare needs help to fund this $600 procedure. Theare said, "I hope to walk with no pain and continue my schooling."

Mariam is a newborn baby in a family of two. Mariam's parents are farmers who work diligently on their farm to provide food and sell surplus harvests for additional income. Miriam was born with clubfoot on both feet. Her feet are twisted inward and downward. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Mariam's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on April 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Mariam's clubfoot repair. After treatment, her mobility will improve, and she will be able to wear shoes properly. Mariam’s mother says, “Please help my daughter. I hope she gets treatment and grows up to enjoy a life free from disability.”