Phy is an 83-year-old retired soldier from Siem Reap province in Cambodia. He has one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren. Phy helps care for his wife, who has been experiencing multiple health problems for the last several years. They moved in with their oldest daughter and their son-in-law, who works as a motorbike taxi driver to help support the family. In his free time, Phy likes going to the pagoda and visiting his grandchildren. Around two months ago, Phy had cataract surgery at a provincial hospital and experienced post-operative complications. The retina of Phy's left eye detached, causing him partial blindness and watery eyes. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Phy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On April 3rd, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Phy and his family are able to contribute $300 but need help to raise an additional $649 to fund the procedure. Phy shared, "I hope I can see clearly so I can feel better going places on my own and I would like to be able to watch the news."

Su is a 12-year-old boy from Burma who lives in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp with his family. Su had to discontinue his studies while in fourth-grade, and his family was forced to leave their home because of the conflict in Burma. Su’s grandparents are his primary caregivers as his parents divorced, got remarried and moved away. His half-brother, uncle, aunt, and infant cousin also live with the family. Su’s grandmother and aunt take care of their home, while his grandfather, uncle and half-brother work as day laborers. Su initially noticed signs of his condition in January, when he felt pain on the left side of his mouth, and had a slight swelling on the left side of his face. One month later, he was taken to the clinic by his aunt, where it was discovered that he had three cavities on the left side of his mouth. The doctors removed the decayed tooth on the top jaw but left the lower two as the swelling was significant. Su stayed in hospital for one week to recover, while receiving antibiotics. He was released from the clinic once the pain and swelling had decreased, but shortly after, the symptoms resurfaced, more intense than before. Presently, the left side of Su’s face is significantly swollen, and he feels acute pain. He has difficulty eating and can only chew from the right side of his mouth. He cannot lay down on the left side due to the swelling and pain, which gets worse at night. Su also feels pain in his neck when he drinks or swallows food. Su needs to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which X-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This will help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Su's family is however unable to raise the required funds needed for the imaging procedure. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Su's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 25th. Su is keen to return to school when his condition is treated. He loves to paint and draw in his free time and would like to be an artist someday. Su's grandfather is worried about his condition, but hopeful about his future. He says, “Whatever he wants to do in his future, I will support him fully, as his parents are gone.”

Korb lives in a rural village around two hours from Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Korb and his wife earn a living by catching river fish in the Mekong and selling them in the local market. At home, they care for his 82 year-old mother-in-law, and their seven children ranging in age from one to 17. Before his injury, Korb was an avid volleyball player and always playing with his kids around the village. In December 2023, Korb was rear-ended while driving his motorbike and dislocated his left elbow. Since then, he has been receiving treatment from a local healer in the village. Unfortunately, his injury has not healed, and now his elbow is locked and he is in chronic pain. He is unable to effectively carry out his everyday activities at work and with his family. On February 19th, Korb will undergo a procedure to realign the bones, and restore function to his arm. He shared, "I hope I can do everything I used to do before the accident so I can care for my family and play volleyball again."