Sarom is a 52-year-old widow from Cambodia, who works as a rice and vegetable farm laborer in Kandal province. Her husband passed away six years ago, and she now lives alone. She has two sons and one daughter with no grandchildren; her oldest son works as a company laborer, while her other two children are still students. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks chanting through her phone. Five years ago, Sarom developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Sarom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. Sarom needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $298. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for August 4th. Sarom says: "After a successful surgery, I look forward to my vision greatly improving, so I can easily return to work and no longer worry about my eyes."

Nuwamanya is a 51-year-old widow and mother of eight children from Uganda. She is the firstborn of fifteen children. She never had the opportunity to attend school and has relied on small-scale farming to support her family. For the past two months ago, Nuwamanya began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent lower abdominal pain. She was given painkillers, but the pain persisted and has significantly affected her daily life. She is unable to work on her farm or eat comfortably, as eating tends to worsen the pain. She also experiences difficulty sleeping, particularly when lying on one side, and has been having persistent episodes of fever. Concerned about her worsening condition, her daughter advised her to seek further medical attention at our medical partner's care center, Rwibaale Hospital. She was diagnosed with a splenic cyst and a splenic echogenic mass. Physicians recommend surgery to open up the abdominal cavity to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Nuwamanya's surgery. On November 3rd, she will undergo surgery, and once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve her quality of life. Nuwamanya says, "The pain is too much, but I trust that the treatment will help me, and I will be able to work again. Thank you for the support."

Chea is a grandfather of nine from Kandal province in Cambodia. He is 76 years old and a retired farmer who used to grow vegetables and crops to support his family. He has three sons, two daughters, and nine grandchildren. Since he stopped farming, his children have been supporting Chea and his wife. In his free time, Chea enjoys visiting the pagoda and participating in religious ceremonies. About two weeks ago, Chea developed a chalazion in his left eye, causing him eyelid swelling, pain, and itching. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. It is difficult for him to see clearly, which causes him discomfort. Chea traveled for two hours to seek treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 27th, surgeons will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Chea's symptoms should improve. Chea can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund his procedure and care. Chea said, " I hope that the swelling in my eye will completely stop so that I no longer have to worry about it. I will be very happy if I can return to growing vegetables around my house and continue living a peaceful and active life."