Gay is a 37-year-old man from Burma. He lives with extended family in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Gay used to work at a shop loading and unloading supplies, but now he is unemployed. On June 12th, 2026, while he was standing suddenly, he heard a crack from his lower back close to his hip. The next day, he woke up with pain, stiffness, and leg weakness. He could only walk two or three steps before he could no longer stand. He is unable to walk or stand, and experiences persistent lower back pain, affecting his sleep. Gay was diagnosed with spinal cord compression with cauda equina syndrome, a neurosurgical emergency that occurs when the nerve roots at the very base of your lower spine are crushed or heavily squeezed. If left untreated, this compression can cause permanent neurological damage. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Gay will undergo surgery on June 25th. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund his treatment and care. This procedure will help Gay to be able to walk and be free from pain so that he can return to his work and earn an income. Gay said, “I could not sleep at night due to the pain, and I worried and thought about where to borrow money from, which made me very stressed. The amount of money that is required is such a burden for me, and I can never borrow that much money from anyone."

Kun is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and lives with his wife, who is also a rice farmer. They have five children, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. Their children visit often and provide support. In his free time, he enjoys listening to monks chanting and praying. Kun suffered a fracture dislocation of his right hip on May 5th, 2026, after falling off a motorcycle while going downhill. The injury has caused severe pain that worsens with movement. He is unable to walk and is currently confined to a wheelchair, making it difficult for him to care for himself and carry out daily activities. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 11th, Kun will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will help restore proper alignment of his hip, relieve pain, and improve his mobility. This treatment will allow him to walk again, regain independence, and return to spending time with his family and daily life activities. He can contribute $100, but needs help raising $500 for his procedure and care. Kun said, “After the surgery, I hope that I will regain my strength and mobility so I can care for myself and spend time with my family again.”

Sim is a 76-year-old widow from Kampong Cham, Cambodia. She previously worked as a rice farmer and is now retired. She has four sons, four daughters, and twenty-two grandchildren. She lives alone in a house near her youngest daughter, who works in a garment factory. Her children provide support when needed. In her free time, Sim enjoys listening to the radio and listening to monks' prayers. Three years ago, Sim developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Sim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 8th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Sim shared, "I hope that after cataract surgery, my vision will improve so that I can recognize her relatives easily, go outside and travel to more distant places independently, and no longer worry about my eyesight."