Rithy is a 73-year-old married man and a farmer from Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. He grows potatoes and mangoes for a living. He has one son, three daughters, and two grandchildren. Rithy lives with his wife, who is also a farmer growing potatoes and mangoes, and his daughter, who works as a farmer as well. His favorite hobby is visiting the pagoda. About four years ago, Rithy 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 Rithy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 2nd, 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. He can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund his procedure and care. Rithy said, "I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can move around more easily, return to farming, and continue growing mangoes and potatoes successfully."

Denis is a young boy from Malawi. He is in second grade at a local primary school in Ntcheu District. He lives with his family alongside his five siblings. His mother works as a patient attendant, and his father runs a small business to support the household. For most of his life, Denis has had an inguinal hernia. Over the years, it has caused him discomfort, especially when walking long distances, sitting for long periods, or riding a bicycle. Despite this, his condition went untreated. Recently, his pain became much worse. After returning from the market on his father’s bicycle, Denis experienced severe discomfort that left him in agony. This moment pushed his parents to seek medical attention. They brought him to Nkhoma Hospital, where doctors assessed him and confirmed the condition. He was advised that surgery is needed to correct the problem and prevent further complications. He was referred to the SAFE program for financial assistance because they expressed that their financial situation did not allow them to afford surgery for Denis. Denis now waits for the chance to receive treatment so he can move freely, return to school comfortably, and enjoy life without pain. Fortunately, on April 29th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $421 to fund Denis's hernia repair surgery. Once completed, it will hopefully allow Denis to live more comfortably. Denis' mother said, “I want my child to be free from this pain and live like other children. Seeing him suffer made us realize we needed help. We are hoping he can receive this treatment and be well again.”

Sovannary is a 7-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in a small community in Kandal province with her parents and two siblings. She is the middle child in the family. Her older sister is studying in Grade 7, and her younger brother is 4 years old. Her father works as a truck driver, often spending long hours away from home to earn income for the family, while her mother stays at home to care for the children and manage household chores. Sovannary is currently studying in Grade 2, enjoys learning mathematics, and dreams of becoming a police officer when she grows up. In her free time, she enjoys playing with toys with her brother. Her favorite foods are Tom Yum soup and grilled pork. For the past two years, Sovannary has been experiencing a sore throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and loud snoring at night. These symptoms make it hard for her to eat comfortably and sleep peacefully. Because she does not rest well at night, she often feels tired during the day and has difficulty concentrating at school. Sovannary was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Sovannary, which is scheduled to take place on March 2nd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sovannary of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Her mother said, “When I hear her struggling to breathe and snoring loudly at night, I cannot sleep because I worry about her. I truly hope this treatment will help her breathe easily, sleep well, and live happily like other children her age.”