Ngi is a 52-year-old man from Cambodia. He and his wife work selling Khmer cakes, which are traditional sticky rice cakes. He has one daughter, two sons, and two grandchildren. He lives with his wife and their youngest son. At home, he enjoys watching Khmer boxing and the news on TV. Ten years ago, Ngi developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him to experience eye tearing, itchiness, 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 and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. Ngi has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Ngi learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On August 10th, he will undergo 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 his procedure is $225. This covers supplies, treatment, and inpatient care for two days. Ngi shares, "I hope after surgery I can see better, go outside, and help my wife make Khmer cakes to sell."

Derrick is a 25-year-old student from Uganda who is pursuing his priesthood studies at a local Ugandan university. He is currently on holiday awaiting pastoral duties in September. Derrick is the youngest in a family of seven siblings. During his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball. Derrick has dealt with a burning sensation around his pelvic area for a long time. He was diagnosed with varicocele, an enlargement of the veins within the scrotum. This condition causes him discomfort when he carries out many of his daily tasks and duties. Fortunately, Derrick traveled to our medical partner's care center, African Mission Healthcare, to receive treatment. On August 16th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, he needs help to raise $188 to fund this procedure. Derrick says, “I hope to get good health after my surgery because am really worried about my health.”

Sarai is a sweet and friendly three-year-old girl from Bolivia who has Down syndrome. She lives in a small indigenous community in the mountains of central Bolivia with her parents, who are both farmers, and her five siblings. She is a friendly little girl who loves making new friends and blowing kisses to everyone she meets! Sarai was born with an atrial septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Blood leaks through this hole instead of flowing properly through her body, leaving her feeling weak and short of breath. Fortunately, Sarai is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 28th with the support of our long-standing medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance, which is now growing and expanding into Bolivia. Surgeons will close the hole with a patch, allowing blood to properly flow through her body and improving her quality of life. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $2,500 to pay for a portion of Sarai's procedure costs. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to cover the remaining costs, which cover surgical expenses, cardiac exams, medications, and travel fees so Sarai and her family can travel to receive her life-changing cardiac procedure in La Paz. Sarai's mother shares, "Our family is all praying that our daughter will become healthy and strong after this surgery!"