Sot is a retired rice farmer from Kompong Thom province in Cambodia. She is 79 years old with four children and twenty grandchildren. She is widowed and never remarried following the death of her husband during the Khmer Rouge. She lives with one of her daughters, who works for a local construction company. Sot spends most of her time looking after the house and her grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to visit the village pagoda but has been scared to cross the road since her vision has deteriorated. About six months ago, Sot developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her photophobia, tearing, and blurry vision. She feels a loss of independence and experiences difficulty going up and down the stairs in her traditional raised home. 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 clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Sot learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 18th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. Sot is able to contribute $100 but needs help to raise $153 to fund this procedure. Sot shared, "I would like to be able to see clearly and do things on my own. I also want to look after my grandchildren."

Spencer is the last born in a family of four children. His father is a fisherman, and mother stays home to care for Spencer. Shortly after birth, Spencer's stomach became swollen. He was diagnosed with Anorectal Malformation - a birth condition in which the rectum is malformed. He was scheduled for a colostomy opening surgery, but Spencer's parents did not have any money for the surgery. They went back home with some medication to help pass stool as they were looking for money. After one month, they gathered some money and underwent the surgery. Spencer is now scheduled for an anorectoplasty surgery, where the surgeon will further correct the malformation. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, will perform the surgery on February 27th and is requesting for $743 to fund the surgery. Spencer’s mother says, “As a parent, it's very painful to see your child suffering yet there’s nothing you can do to help. I hope that my child will be able to recover and live a normal life.”

Sa Ki is a 43-year-old woman who lives with her parents and son in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. Her parents are retired and her son is a mullah in the refugee camp. Sa Ki works as a case worker for a community organisation. In June 2022, Sa Ki began experiencing worrying symptoms including lower abdominal pain and back pain. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy which involves the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Sa Ki's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications. Sa Ki is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on February 22nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain and she will be able to return to work without any discomfort. Sa Ki said: "When I heard that I need surgery, I started to feel worried and scared. I also worried that if I could not get proper treatment, I would not be able to look after and support my parents."