Heak is 60 years old and a hardworking rice farmer from Cambodia. She lives with her niece, who is a Grade 12 student. She is the seventh of ten siblings, all of whom are married. Her parents passed away during the Khmer Rouge era. Despite many hardships in life, she continues to support herself through rice farming. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and helping with household chores. In 2024, Heak was involved in an overturned car accident while traveling in Thailand, resulting in a severe fracture of her left femur near the knee. Although she underwent surgery to stabilize the fracture, the bone failed to heal properly and developed into a nonunion, causing ongoing pain in her left knee and leg. Heak experiences persistent pain and stiffness in her left knee, making it difficult to walk without support. The condition limits her independence, affects her ability to work in the rice fields, and makes everyday activities challenging. Fortunately, Heak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and sought treatment. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Heak of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for June 1st. Heak can contribute $100, but needs help raising $1,213 more for her procedure and care. Heak said, “I hope this treatment will help me walk without support again and live without pain. Being able to move independently would mean so much to me and allow me to return to my normal life.”

Veha is a 24-year-old internet technician from Cambodia. He lives in Prey Veng Province with his parents and his younger brother, who is in Grade 9. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother is a rice farmer. In his free time, he enjoys helping his parents in the rice fields. In May 2025, Veha sustained a high-voltage electrical burn while repairing internet cables. An electrical flash from a power line caused severe injuries, leaving him with a wound on the left side of his scalp (left temporal region). Despite previous treatment, the scalp wound has not healed properly and has left the skull bone exposed. He also experiences poor balance when standing and walking, making it difficult to work and carry out everyday activities. When Veha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On July 2nd, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to to remove damaged and unhealthy tissue from the scalp wound. This procedure helps clean the wound, reduce the risk of infection, promote healing, and prepare the area for future reconstructive surgery. Veha and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $355 more to fund the procedure. His father said, “As his father, I hope this surgery will help his wound heal completely, so he can regain his strength and return to a normal life. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity.”

Pon is a 61-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He is married with one son, one daughter and five grandchildren. He lives with his wife who is also a rice farmer. His daughter is a garment worker and his son is a construction worker. He likes to listen to the news and the monks praying on the radio. About two years ago, Pon 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 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 Pon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 18th, 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, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Pon said: "I hope that after surgery my eye can see better, so I can easily go back to growing rice, and venture outside well."