Ly Chheng is a 77-year-old man from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his wife and their third child, who works as a tailor. He has six children in total, all of whom are married and have their own jobs. He is no longer working, and in his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home. Ly Chheng has severe cervical spinal stenosis, a condition in which narrowing of the spinal canal puts pressure on the spinal cord. He has experienced intermittent numbness and weakness in his hands and extremities for approximately four to five years, with his symptoms becoming progressively worse since early 2026. He now experiences numbness and weakness in both hands, hand clumsiness, difficulty walking steadily, and frequent urges to urinate. He also has neck stiffness and pain that can extend toward his shoulders. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for him to move around safely and manage his daily activities independently. Ly Chheng's family was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), to seek specialized care. On August 17th, surgeons at CSC plan to perform cervical spine decompression to relieve pressure on his spinal cord and help prevent further deterioration. The surgery costs $1,500, and his family can contribute $50, but they need help covering the remaining $1,450. After surgery, he hopes to have less numbness and weakness, walk more steadily, and become more independent in his daily activities. Ly Chheng said, “I hope the treatment will relieve the pressure on my spinal cord, improve the numbness and weakness in my hands, and help me walk more steadily. I want to be more independent and able to manage my daily activities more comfortably.”

Kuntha is a 61-year-old corn farmer from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Cham Province with her elderly mother and her fourth sister, who works at a bank. She is the eldest of five siblings. While all of her younger siblings are married, she remains single. She enjoys listening to monks prayers and growing vegetables around her home in her free time. About 10 years ago, Kuntha noticed a small lump on the left side of the front of her neck. The lump gradually became larger over time. After evaluation at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter affecting the left thyroid lobe. Although the lump is not painful, it has become more noticeable over the years, making her worried about her health and self-conscious about the appearance of her neck. She also fears that it may continue to grow if left untreated. Kuntha traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 13th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Kuntha is contributing to her treatment, but needs help to raise an additional $294 to fund the procedure. She said, “I hope this surgery will remove the lump and give me peace of mind. I have worried about it for many years, and I am grateful for the chance to finally receive treatment.”

Jonathan is a 46-year-old farmer from the Philippines. He has been unable to work due to his current condition. One year ago, Jonathan began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, which caused him extreme difficulty moving. Jonathan was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Jonathan is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on July 17th. A portion of the procedure's cost is being covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Jonathan's surgery and care. Jonathan shared, "I am grateful for the chance to receive surgery because it gives me hope of getting back on my feet. I look forward to returning to work and providing for my family again."