Chhoum Malay is a widow and loving mom to four sons, one daughter, and seven grandchildren. She lives with her daughter, who is a seller at a local coffee shop in Phnom Penh. Chhom Malay lost her husband about ten years ago when he passed away from a brain tumor, so she now helps her daughter with the housework and cooking. In the evening, she likes to watch dramas on their TV. Seven months ago, Chhoum Malay developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, tearing and trouble seeing to eat or drink in low light. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. When Chhoum Malay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping for treatment. On January 2nd, doctors will perform small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Chhoum Malay's daughter said: "After surgery, we hope my mother can see well again, go outside by herself, and help me with housework."

Su is a 44-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, a gardener, and her son, a shop worker while Su is a homemaker. Their combined income is enough to cover basic expenses, and if they have any money extra, they send it to Su’s parents in Burma. Su noticed back pain in the beginning in August 2023 which affected her moving and sleeping but thought it nothing serious. As the pain gradually worsened, she came down with a fever in September and sought treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). At MTC she underwent an ultrasound, finding a mass on her right ovary, she was subsequently referred to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH). Su visited MSH a total of four times over the following months and in December at her visit to MSH she was told by doctors that she would have to go for a Computed Tomography (CT) scan to confirm her diagnosis. Doctors want Su 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 scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Su's CT scan and care, scheduled for February 1st. Su said, "When I recover from my treatments, I hope to begin working with my husband in the flower garden.”

Mengse is a 15-year-old tailor, originally from Ratanakiri province in Cambodia. He and his family relocated to Phnom Penh in an effort to find better job opportunities. Mengse's father works as a cook for a company that caters weddings, while his mother sells vegetables in a local market. Mengse works as a tailor, but he is hopeful that he will be able to return to school. Mengse was born with a preauricular pit - a congenital condition where there is a sinus tract under the skin that shouldn't be there. It is manifested by a small hole located on his right ear. As often happens in these cases, this small hole has become infected, and a cyst has formed. As a result, Mengse experiences redness, swelling, pain, and discharge. Mengse traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 15th, surgeons from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Now, Mengse needs your help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. Mengse shared: "I hope I can have surgery so I can't feel pain, and so I can do my work and feel better again."