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.”

Kosal is a 35-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Phnom Penh with his wife, who stays at home to care for their two children. Their eldest child is in Grade 3 and the youngest is in kindergarten. He works as a lathe operator to support his family and enjoys going fishing in his free time. For the past two years, Kosal has had a lump on his left ankle. It began as a small swelling and gradually increased in size over time. The mass has slowly enlarged and continues to cause discomfort and intermittent pain in the ankle. It makes daily activities such as sitting, dressing, and walking more difficult, and affects his comfort during work and movement. Kosal traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 21st, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Kosal needs help to raise $334 to fund this procedure. He said: “I hope that this surgery will remove the mass and relieve my pain, so I can move freely again, return to my work comfortably, and take care of my family without difficulty.”

Zewditu is a 42-year-old mother of six from Ethiopia, who is a devoted wife and home maker. Her husband works as a day laborer, earning just enough money to provide food and shelter for the family. About four years ago, Zewditu developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her reduced eye sight and cloudy vision. The condition has made daily tasks like cooking and caring for her children much more difficult. Zewditu needs to undergo surgery to restore her sight, and be able to perform her daily activities with ease. Fortunately, our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is helping Zewditu receive treatment. On July 12th, she will undergo cataract surgery where surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Zewditu needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. She says: "I hope to be able to handle my household tasks with ease again, and embrace my role as a mother with newfound energy."