Lourdez is a mother of three from the Philippines. Currently, her family depends on the income of their second child, who works as a call center agent. Lourdez shared that this income is not enough for the family's expenses and hopes that, after her treatment, she will be able to work and help earn money to support her family. Seven months ago, Lourdez began to experience troubling symptoms, including unbearable stomach pain that lasted for hours. She immediately consulted with a doctor. However, she knows her family cannot afford the cost of surgery, so she had to look for other treatment options. Fortunately, a friend brought her to one of our care centers, where the doctors advised Lourdez to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Lourdez is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on December 13th. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of the procedure. WSFP is requesting $1,128 to cover the remaining cost of her surgery and care. Lourdez said, "This treatment will be a great help, not just for me but for my family. We have no other means of funding my surgery. As a basic earner, my daughter's income is often not enough for our family's needs and expenses. The free surgery would be a blessing and an opportunity for me to help my daughter earn for the family."

Sunnary is a 32-year-old father from Phnom Penh province, Cambodia. He and his wife work in a shoe factory and they have a lively 6-year-old daughter who has just started the first grade. He and his wife enjoy taking walks with their daughter, and sometimes he plays soccer after work with friends. When Sunnary was 12 years old, he fell from a tree, fracturing the bones in his left forearm. His family could not afford healthcare, and he was treated by a Khmer traditional healer. Over the past 20 years, he has developed a left wrist deformity, called distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability. He has weakness and pain in his left wrist, and increasing difficulty using his hand. After so many years of pain, a friend told him about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) where patients who cannot afford care elsewhere can receive free or low-cost care. Doctors have determined that surgery is necessary for his joint instability when nonsurgical treatment fails to restore forearm stability. Sunnary is now scheduled for an osteotomy on December 11th and needs your help raising $469, which will cover the surgery, hospitalization, and post-op physiotherapy. Sunnary shared, "I hope after surgery, I can lift heavy objects again and work hard to support my wife and daughter."

Luz is a three-year-old girl from a mining town in central Bolivia. Her mother is a farmer and her father sadly passed away from a heart attack soon after she was born. Luz has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and dependent on an external oxygen tank. Fortunately, our medical partner, The International Cardiac Alliance can help. Luz is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on March 21st. Our medical partners are requesting $1,500 to fund her procedure. Luz's mother says, "I am looking forward to my daughter being able to play normally and start preschool after her surgery!"