Abdeta is a farmer from Ethiopia. He is an 80-year-old father of five sons and two daughters and has farmed with just one eye for most of his life after losing his right eye as a child. For decades, he managed remarkably well on his own. Despite losing his right eye in a sudden accident, he never let anything stop him from working day and night to provide for his wife and kids. Now, a growing cataract in his left eye—his only working eye—is rapidly taking away his remaining sight. Without a clear vision, he can no longer farm or care for himself, making urgent medical treatment essential for him to get his life back. Losing the vision in his only good eye has completely changed his life, taking away his physical independence and daily peace of mind. Everyday activities that used to keep him self-reliant—like farming, walking safely around his home, and taking care of himself—are now dangerous or impossible. Fortunately, on August 1st, Abdeta is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Abdeta is confident that after his surgery, he will return to work fully focused, ready to give it his total attention, and pick up right where he left off. He shared, "My goal is to stop relying on others for help, feel safe walking without fear of falling, and get my life and self-reliance back."

Pheareak is a 39-year-old grocery seller from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal Province with his elderly parents and four siblings. He is the third of five children. His older brother is a chef, his older sister sells vegetables, his younger brother works for a company, and his youngest sister stays at home. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and watching the news on his phone In 2015, Pheareak was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture of his left femur. He underwent several procedures to repair the fracture, including fixation and later revision surgery. Unfortunately, the fracture became complicated by an infection, requiring further treatment with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). After recovering, he was able to walk well and continued with his daily life for several years. Two months ago, Pheareak began experiencing increasing pain in his left thigh and knee after trying to bend his knee. His left leg gradually became weaker, and he eventually lost the ability to walk. He now relies on a wheelchair and has limited movement in his left knee. A recent X-ray revealed another fracture of his left femur. Fortunately, CSC can help Pheareak. On September 1st, Pheareak will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will stabilize and realign his left femur and give the bone a better chance to heal, helping him regain strength and mobility so he can walk and return to his normal daily activities. His family can contribute $1000, but needs help raising $500 more to fund his procedure and care. Pheareak said, “I hope this surgery will help my leg heal properly and allow me to walk again without pain. I want to regain my strength and return to my normal daily activities.”

Yin is a loving 74-year-old grandfather from Kampong Speu province in Cambodia. He is married and has five sons, two daughters, and 20 grandchildren. He previously worked as a housekeeper, but now lives with his wife, who helps take care of their grandchildren, and his youngest daughter, who works in the garment industry. His favorite hobbies are attending ceremonies, listening to the radio, listening to monks pray, and visiting the pagoda. About a year ago, Yin 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 Yin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 17th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Yin is able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but needs help raising an additonal $238 to fund the procedure. He said, "I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can see more clearly, attend ceremonies, visit the pagoda, and continue doing housework independently."