Saray is a 16-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. His parents are rice farmers, and he has an older brother and an older sister. When he is not working, he enjoys playing football, volleyball and games on his phone. He also likes to sing with his friends. Four months ago, while playing football, Saray fell on his shoulder and a mass appeared and grew quickly. A biopsy revealed that he has osteosarcoma of the shoulder, a rare type of bone cancer in which cancerous cells produce irregular bone. Although osteosarcoma is rare, it is the most common childhood bone cancer. He cannot move his shoulder and experiences persistent bone pain. Fortunately, a CT scan revealed that cancer has not yet spread. This diagnosis is very difficult for a young man with his whole life ahead of him. When Saray's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled there to see a specialist. On December 8th, surgeons at CSC will perform a shoulder disarticulation procedure, during which they will separate his entire arm from the shoulder joint. This procedure will remove the mass, avoid metastasis, and allow Saray to seek further treatment. Now, he and his family need help raising $446 to fund his procedure and care. Saray shared that he hopes that cancer will not reappear after the mass is gone, and he can be without pain.

Vicheka is the eldest of two children in her family and loves her younger sister who is three years old. Their family lives in Preah Vihear near the Thai border of Cambodia. Her father is a soldier and her mother is a potato farmer. At school, she is fond of math and Khmer literature and would like to be a teacher when she is older. She likes reading books, painting, playing with her little sister, and taking walks with her parents. When Vicheka was five, she was diagnosed with scoliosis of the spine—a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. She has uneven shoulders, a bump in her lower back, difficulty standing up straight, and shortness of breath. It has become difficult for her to breathe, she tires easily, and she is having difficulty walking. This can be very difficult for young girls, they are often hidden at home because other children make fun of the way they look. A neighbor told her parents about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre, so they traveled over 10 hours for a diagnosis and surgery. Surgeons plan to put in expanding rods along her spine. The expanding rods will allow her to grow and keep her spine from curving further, which could cause her more health problems if left untreated. Their family needs $1,500 for the surgery, which will cover medications, implants, and post-operative care. Vicheka said, "I hope the doctors can fix my spine so I can play with my friends and my back will be straight. I want to continue in school but it is hard for me to keep up, and I miss school."

Lek is a 68-year-old who is married with three sons, three daughters, and many grandchildren. She lives with her husband and one of their sons, and they are vegetable farmers in Kampot Province in rural Cambodia. When she is not cooking, cleaning, or selling vegetables at the local market, Lek finds it calming to listen to the local monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, the retina of Lek's left eye detached, causing her deteriorating vision. She noticed a change in her eye, but could not afford to see anyone to help fix it. When Lek learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and half hours seeking treatment. On January 12th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $648 procedure. "I hope after surgery my eye will get better. I can look after my grandchildren, cook for them, and walk them to school," shared Lek.