Samuel is a 10-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He is the first born child of his parents. Samuel has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Samuel has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Samuel will experience severe physical and developmental delays. On February 1st, Samuel will undergo surgery at Hospital Bernard Mevs to treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available. Surgeons will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Samuel's brain, reducing intracranial pressure and greatly improving his quality of life. With proper treatment, Samuel will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of this surgery. His parents are looking forward to their child being healthy after surgery, hopeful that he can live a good life ahead.

Savan is a 69-year-old retired rice farmer. He lives in Prey Veang near the border of Cambodia and Vietnam with his family. He and his wife have three sons, four daughters, and twelve grandchildren. His youngest daughter still lives at home and helps support the family by working at a local construction company. At home, Savan and his wife like taking walks, spending time with family, caring for his chickens, and watching the news. About three months ago, Savan developed a cataract in his right 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 been having difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about potential falls while walking, which has made him reluctant to venture out independently. When Savan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, Savan needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Savan shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can easily go out in the village on my own and help take my grandkids to school."

Tor lives in Prey Veng province with his wife, one of his daughters and her family, and four grandchildren. They all work in the nearby rice fields. Tor enjoys watching Cambodian boxing and spending time with his family. Tor's right leg was injured by a bomb during the time of the Khmer Rouge and the injury did not heal properly. Tor has since been diagnosed with Majorlin Ulcer, a type of cancer that can grow from burns, poorly healing wounds, or scars. It grows slowly, but over time it can spread to other parts of the body. As a result of the pain and discomfort, Tor is unable to go up and down stairs and needs assistance for everyday activities. Tor was accompanied by his relatives to travel four hours to reach Children's Surgical Centre. On February 21st, Tor will have an above-the-knee amputation at this facility. The amputation will eliminate pain and help prevent the cancer from spreading. The family needs help to fund this procedure and our medical partner is requesting $479 to cover medications, surgical materials, and four nights of hospital stay. His grandson said, "I hope my grandfather can have surgery so he is no longer in pain and can enjoy time with his family."