Van is a 72-year-old Tuk-Tuk tricycle driver from Cambodia. He is married and has a son, five daughters, and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife and his first daughter, who works in a grocery store. Van likes to listen to the latest news on his phone. About one year ago, Van 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Van learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 19th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Van said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better and I can go back to driving. I want to go to far places without worrying about my eyes. I feel happy when I can support my family."

Yadesa is an 80-year-old man from Ethiopia. He is a retired merchant who spent his life working hard and building an independent life. Since the deeply sad loss of his beloved wife, he has found comfort and support by moving in with one of his two brothers. One year ago, Yadesa developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and burning sensation. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. For a man who spent his whole life actively connecting with the world through buying and selling, this slow darkening of his sight is truly heartbreaking. It has made it incredibly hard for him to talk and spend time with his loved ones, enjoy the world around him, and hold onto the dignity and independence that have always defined who he is. Fortunately, Yadesa 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. Yadesa shared, "I hope to regain the independence I so deeply miss, allowing me to navigate my home and enjoy the company of my brother with newfound ease and confidence."

Kyaw Soe is a 27-year-old man from Burma. Driven by conflict and the need for job opportunities, he moved to Thailand in November 2025. He now lives with his wife and brother-in-law in an employer-provided dormitory in a refugee village in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. All three of them work at the same factory. In June 2025, Kyaw Soe began to experience troubling symptoms, including snoring, difficulty breathing, and difficulty smelling. His nose appears to be blocked, causing discomfort on the right side of his face. Doctors want to perform a sinus endoscopic surgery to remove any blockages in the sinuses and improve airflow through the nose. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on August 19th at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate his symptoms. Kyaw Soe was grateful to learn about BCMF. He said, "I really want to receive the surgery and get rid of this condition as soon as possible. But if there is no support from you, I didn’t want to seek treatment anymore. It is too much for us. I don’t want to put such a burden on my wife. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support."