Chanthorn is a 41-year-old chef from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal Province with his brother, who works as a chef for weddings. They support each other, earning money to care for their elderly mother, who is 76 years old. His father passed away 30 years ago. In his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home. In February 2015, Chanthorn sustained an electric shock injury to his left shoulder, causing severe damage to the shoulder joint. He underwent surgery to stabilize the injury with screws, but later developed an infection that required removal of the hardware. He has experienced chronic pain and stiffness in his left shoulder for many years. The condition limits his shoulder movement and makes it difficult for him to use his arm comfortably during daily activities and while working as a chef. When Chanthorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On July 20th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left shoulder joint and to help him to use his arm more comfortably and continue his daily activities and work more easily. Chanthorn is contributing towards the cost of his treatment, but needs help raising $561 more to fund the surgery. He says, “I have lived with shoulder pain for many years. I hope this surgery will reduce my pain, help me use my arm more comfortably, and allow me to return to my daily activities without constant discomfort.”

Ester is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her parents, her younger brother, and two younger sisters in a village in Karen State, Burma. Ester and her three younger siblings go to school while their parents are small-scale farmers. They also raise chickens and pigs, and they forage for vegetables in the forest for their own consumption. They also have a small garden where they grow betel nut trees, and they sell some of the betel nuts to earn a small income. Sometimes, Ester’s father also finds work as an agricultural day laborer. In her free time, Ester loves to help her mother with household chores and also play with her friends at school. She wants to become a teacher when she grows up. Ester was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Ester is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 7th to correct her condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Ester's procedure and care. Ester's mother shared, "I would like to thank BCMF and your donors for your kindness and willingness to support my daughter. Without you, my daughter would not receive treatment as the cost is too high for us, and we cannot borrow such a large amount of money from our neighbours. On behalf of our family and our daughter, thank you to your donors and everyone willing to help my daughter.”

Hy is a 62-year-old woman from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Cham Province with her husband. They have three adult children, all of whom are farmers and live nearby in the same village. She enjoys listening to monks' prayers in her free time. Five years ago, Hy was involved in a motorcycle accident that caused fractures of her right femur and right tibia. She underwent surgery with metal fixation at a government hospital. About one year ago, her grandchild accidentally stepped on her leg while she was sleeping, causing knee pain. She visited a hospital in Siem Reap Province, where an X-ray showed that the metal nail had broken. The broken hardware causes pain in her right leg and makes it difficult for her to walk comfortably and perform daily activities. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 7th, Hy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will remove the broken hardware, perform bone grafting, and stabilize the right femur with new internal fixation. This treatment will promote bone healing, reduce pain, improve the strength of her leg, and help her walk and carry out daily activities more comfortably. Her family can contribute $37, but needs help raising $563 more to fund her procedure and care. Hy said, “My biggest wish is to be able to walk without pain again and enjoy spending time with my family without worrying about my leg.”