Theara is a playful 5-year-old from Cambodia. She comes from Kampong Speu province where she lives with her parents and two older siblings. Theara's parents work as rice farmers, and her siblings are students in elementary school. She loves ice cream and playing with her friends in the village. In 2020, when Theara was three years old, she arrived at Children's Surgical Centre with cataracts in both eyes, speech delay, and lower limb irregularities. After receiving surgery, she is able to see from both eyes and her speech difficulties have since been resolved. The surgeons did not want to perform an operation on her legs at that time, but now that Theara is older, her parents returned to Children's Surgical Centre for further consultation to help her walk more easily. She has difficulty walking, cannot run, and has not yet started school. On April 6th, surgeons at CSC will place eight plates in her lateral proximal tibia to gradually straighten her legs and improve her mobility. Now, Theara and her family need help to fund this $600 procedure. Her mom shared, "I hope her leg can straighten so she can walk and start school."

Sim is a 57-year-old rice and potato farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has two daughters, three sons, and five grandchildren. Sim currently lives with her husband and her oldest daughter, who are also farmers. After a long day outside, she enjoys visiting the village pagoda with her family. Five years ago, Sim started experiencing itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision in her right eye. Her condition was caused by a pterygium, a type of non-cancerous growth in the eye that occurs when the mucous layer of the eye, the conjunctiva, is exposed to excessive sun damage. Now, Sim has difficulty seeing clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. Thankfully, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. When Sim learned about CSC, she traveled for five and a half hours seeking treatment. To treat her pterygium, Sim needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurring symptoms. Sim is scheduled for surgery on June 6th at CSC's care center. The total cost of her procedure is $225, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Now, Sim needs your help to raise the funds for her surgery. Sim said, "I hope after surgery I can see better to plant rice well, and I can help to feed my family."

Veun is a 78-year-old retired rice farmer with eight children and 23 grandchildren. Sadly, her husband passed away ten years ago and Veun now lives alone. Her oldest daughter has been supporting her with income she earns working at a nearby garment factory. Veun enjoys spending time with her family and cooking. Two years ago, Veun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her sensitive to light, itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Veun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On June 22nd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She shared, "I hope that after the surgery, my eye will improve and I will be able to see better. I want to be able to go out more easily and see all of my loved ones. I also want to do some housework and grow some bananas and mint around my house. I dream of being able to join ceremonies in faraway places and seeing the beauty of the world."