Sovan is a 73-year-old widow. She has two sons, four daughters, and 13 grandchildren. She lives in Phnom Penh province with her oldest daughter and her family. When she was younger, she wove and sold Khmer-designed cloth, but now she has retired and spends her days inside, helping with cooking or visiting her local pagoda to pray. A year ago, Sovan developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her tearing, blurry vision, and difficulty recognizing the faces of her family. She is most afraid that she will fall when crossing the dirt road near the house or taking the steps up to the pagoda. 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, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Sovan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, doctors will perform small incision 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 $253 procedure. Sovan shared, "I hope after surgery I can see and go outside to join ceremonies at the pagoda, do housework, and take care of myself."

Sok, who was widowed many years ago, is a 77-year-old grandmother of 18 grandchildren. She lives in rural Mondulkiri province in Cambodia, with the youngest of her five daughters. Sok also has three sons. The family grows potatoes to earn a living. About a year ago, Sok developed entropion of the eyelids, where her eyelashes rub against her right eye's cornea. Entropion may be caused by weakening muscles under the eyes, infection, inflammation, or genetics. Without surgery, entropion can cause permanent damage to the cornea, eye infections, and vision loss. Sok sought help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On March 8th, surgeons will perform a corrective procedure to repair Sok's eyelid. Sok needs your help to raise $249 to fund this operation. Sok shared: "I hope after surgery my eye stops being irritated, tearing, and itching, so I won’t worry about it anymore."

Blandina is a mother of five children. She and her husband farm together. Blandina likes singing and enjoys eating maize porridge with fish and rice with milk. Blandina noticed some swelling on her neck, causing her bouts of pain. During her visit at Partners in Hope Medical Center, she was diagnosed with Euthyroid Multinodular Goiter and was told she needed a thyroidectomy, a procedure where surgeons will remove part or all of her thyroid to help address pain and difficulty breathing. Blandina is scheduled for surgery on February 27th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,015 for the procedure. Blandina said, "The surgical operation will help me go back home and rejoin my family and community and continue enjoying life."