Mao is a 73-year-old retired rice farmer from Kampong Thom, Cambodia. She is a widow, as her husband died six years ago due to a heart attack. Now, she has two sons, seven daughters, and 26 grandchildren. She lives with her youngest daughter and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. About two years ago, Mao developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, similar to 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 she is not able to go places on her own. When Mao learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 25th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Mao said, "I hope after surgery, I can see better, easily go out to join ceremonies, and recognize my relatives well."

Rebira is a young boy from Ethiopia. This five-year-old boy lives with his mother and his older sister. His father is a soldier, serving away from home, so his mother raises the children on her own. She earns a small income selling vegetables at the local market. Rebira arrived at the hospital wearing his traditional dress, as last month was a season of holidays in Ethiopia. He came full of hope that he would finally be free from the trouble he has lived with for so long. His problems began more than three years ago with repeated throat infections. A year ago, surgeons removed his tonsils, but the adenoids behind his nose were left in place. They are still swollen, and they continue to block his airway. Because of this, he snores loudly, breathes through his mouth day and night, and wakes often. He never sleeps properly, and he wakes up tired. Poor sleep leaves him exhausted every day. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund surgery for Rebira, which is scheduled to take place on October 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Rebira of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Rebira's mother shared, "We hope this is the last time he has to go into an operating room. We just want him to be completely healthy."

Kenawaka is a playful and cheerful 15-month-old boy from Ethiopia, who enjoys spending time with his older sister. He lives with his parents and sister in a rented home. His father works as an accountant to support the family, while his mother is a homemaker. Kenawaka's mother first noticed that something was different when she took Kenawaka to the hospital for circumcision. After examining him, the doctor told them that he would need specialized assessment and treatment, and referred them to a public referral hospital in the capital city. Following the referral, Kenawaka's parents waited another year due to a long surgical wait list. Though they were increasingly anxious, they could not afford care in a private facility so they continued hoping that they would be attended to soon. Recently, the referral hospital informed Kenawaka's parents to bring him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Kenawaka was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Kenawaka is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Kenawaka's father said, “Thank you so much to everyone at BethanyKids. We are truly grateful to all the staff for their kindness and care. Everyone has treated us with so much respect and made us feel comfortable throughout this journey. We are very happy and thankful for the support Kenawaka has received. We love our son so much, and our greatest wish is to see him healthy and happy after his surgery.”