Thoeun is 75 years old and a loving grandmother from Cambodia. She plants rice and sells traditional Khmer desserts in her free time. She is married and has two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys attending ceremonies and visiting the pagoda. Five years ago, Thoeun 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 Thoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 15th, Thoeun will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $273 more to fund her procedure and care. Thoeun shared, "I hope that after the surgery, the irritation and tearing in my eyes will stop and my vision will improve. I would like to go back and sell Khmer desserts."

Rin is 58 years old and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have three sons and a daughter. During his free time, he likes to watch boxing. About one year ago, Rin developed a cataract in his left 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Rin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled three hours to seek treatment. On September 7th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Rin said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can go back to growing rice and corn. I don’t worry about my eye anymore."

Gay is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, two sisters, two nephews, and her younger brother in a refugee camp in Thailand. She is a homemaker, while her mother, husband, and her brother-in-law work outside of the camp as day laborers. During her free time, she loves to weave Karen traditional clothes for an income, but she had to stop doing it due to her pregnancy. Gay is expecting her first baby, and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of the premature rupture of membranes and a failed induction of labour. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Gay undergo a C-Section on October 27th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Gay needs your support. Gay said, "Thank you very much to this organization and all the donors for your kind heart and support. If I have to pay it by myself, I would be in high debt, as the income our family makes is just enough to buy food and basic needs."