Lim is a three-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is an only child from Svay Rieng Province and lives with his grandmother, who is a rice farmer. Due to financial difficulties, his parents work away from home; his mother in a garment factory and his father as an air conditioning repairer. He enjoys playing with toy cars with his cousin and friends in the village, and loves eating fried eggs and caramelized pork. When he was one year old, shortly after he began walking, Lim slipped and fell, causing a fracture of his left shinbone. His grandmother initially took him to a traditional healer, but his condition did not improve. She later took him to a hospital in Phnom Penh, where an X-ray confirmed the fracture. However, the surgery kept being postponed until October. As his condition worsened, his grandmother brought him to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), after hearing about the hospital from a neighbor. The condition has made it difficult for Lim to stand and walk normally, preventing him from playing with other children and reaching normal developmental milestones for his age. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 1st, Lim will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $600. The surgery will stabilize and straighten his left leg, allowing the bone to heal properly. It is expected to improve his ability to walk, support normal growth of his leg, and give him the opportunity to start school and play with other children. His grandmother said, “After the surgery, I hope that my grandson will be able to walk normally, go to school, and play with his friends like other children. Thank you to everyone who will help him.”

Ty is a 24-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. His wife works as a footwear factory worker. His father is a rice farmer, and his mother works in a garment factory. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with friends in his village. When he was 13 years old, Ty had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in his right ear to perforate. For this reason, Ty experiences chronic ear discharge, hearing loss, itchiness, and tinnitus or ringing in the ear. The condition has significantly affected his daily life. He has difficulty hearing and communicating with others, which often leads to frustration and emotional distress. It also affects his sleep and social interactions. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Ty receive treatment. On June 9th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. He can contribute $75, but needs help raising $288 more needed for his procedure and care. Ty said, “I have lived with hearing problems since I was young. I hope this surgery will improve my hearing so I can communicate more easily and enjoy a better quality of life.”

50-year-old Snollah is a small-scale businesswoman who sells tomatoes in her neighborhood in Malawi. Together, she and her husband have three children, the youngest of whom is still in school. Snollah's husband is a quantity surveyor who is currently unable to work, due to a diagnosis of prostate cancer, for which he is receiving treatment. For about three years now, Snollah has been experiencing backaches, lower abdominal pains and a lack of appetite. At first, she was treated for epigastric pain, but when that didn't work, she returned to the hospital, where scans revealed several large, uterine fibroids. Because of the size of these tumors, they are considered to be potentially dangerous, as they can cause pressure on other organs. She was informed that she would need to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,363 to fund Snollah's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on June 8th, at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Snollah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain, and to continue to support her husband. She says, "I experience fullness in my belly which is very uncomfortable. Your support will provide comfort and help me be a supportive mother."