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."

Ange Signoline is a 42-year-old woman from Burundi. She is currently at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, where she is seeking medical treatment for an internal ear infection affecting both ears. Ange Signoline's first visit to AIC Kijabe Hospital was in September 2023, when the hospital was recommended by a friend who lives in Nairobi, Kenya. She received treatment at the time, but the infection has recurred and she has recently been straining to pick voices. She came back to hospital where an otoscopy was done, and she was diagnosed with chronic sclerosing otitis externa - her ears are infected, there is a narrowing of the canal on the distal end, and there is also some pooling of fluid on the constricted segments. A surgical procedure has been scheduled for Ange Signoline, that will widen the ear canal and reconstruct the ear with a skin graft. The goal is a safe, ear infection-free state. However, Ange Signoline is unable to afford the surgery, having exhausted all the support she has received from friends. Her husband does not hold a stable job. She is worried about traveling back home to Burundi without receiving the care that she needs, and is requesting for treatment support. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ange Signoline receive treatment. On April 19th, surgeons at AIC Kijabe will perform an otologic surgery to treat her condition. Now, Ange Sogline needs help to fund this $621 procedure. Ange Signoline says, "I came all the way from Burundi to seek care for my blocked ear canal. Please help me receive treatment so I can prevent hearing loss.”

Myint is a 27-year-old woman from Karen State, Burma. She moved to Thailand to be with her sister. Myint's sister works in sales and her brother-in-law works in construction. In her free time, Myint likes to listen to Burmese songs and studies Thai language online to learn to speak and read. Myint 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 as the person grows, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Because of this condition, Myint has difficulty breathing and tires easily. She feels pain in her chest and other parts of her body and has difficulty sleeping. Myint is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on April 12th at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital to correct her atrial septal defect. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Myint's procedure and care. Myint said, “I am so happy and thankful for all the donors and BCMF for helping with my heart surgery because I would not be able to afford it. I hope I will recover soon and when I am better, I want to work and save some money to go back to stay with my father.”