Oun is a 58-year-old grandmother. She and her husband are farmers in a rural area about two and a half hours from the capital Phnom Penh. They are parents to two sons and one daughter and proud grandparents of three grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to watch Khmer dramas on TV. Oun has spent the majority of her life outside, which has exposed her to sunny, dusty, sandy, and windy conditions which has contributed to her condition. Seven years ago, Oun developed a pterygium in her right eye, which is a non-cancerous growth of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. This causes her irritation and burning. The condition has significantly impacted her vision. It is difficult for her to engage in social activities, read, watch television, or even recognize faces. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Oun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for March 8th. Oun said, "I hope after surgery my eye will not be red or irritated. I hope to have no worry and go back to planting rice."

Sros is a thirty-two-year-old mother of two. Residing in tranquil Kampot province, Sros shares her life with her husband - a rice farmer - and their two children. Their 17-year-old son is working to become a monk, while their 13-year-old daughter studies in fifth grade. Sros is employed at a nearby garment factory, and when she returns home, she devotes much of her time to cooking meals for her family and maintaining a tidy home. Sros has an additional challenge of being hearing impaired and mute. In October 2023, during a rainstorm, she slipped in the mud and twisted her left leg enough to fracture her tibia and fibula - the bones in her lower leg. Financial limitations prevented the family from seeking help at the local clinic, so she sought help from a Khmer traditional healer, who applied a splint to her leg. Her pain still persists, rendering her unable to walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 4th, Sros will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will align her fractured bone into place for optimal healing so that she can walk again. Sros's husband said: "I hope the doctors can fix her leg so she can come home and not be in pain."

Brian is a teenager from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of seven children. He stopped going to school last year in March after he fell ill and currently stays at home mostly in pain. His mother is a subsistence farmer and his father works on construction sites to provide for the family. The family does not have a medical insurance coverage and cannot raise the required amount of money to pay for Brian's treatment. Brian has a painful swelling in a sensitive area which impacts his movement and his ability to engage in any physical activities. He has been to different hospitals without any improvement. Earlier this year, Brian was brought to BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital where he underwent tests and has been scheduled for an urgent surgery. Brian was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Brian has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and future fertility problems. Brian will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 22nd. AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Brian says, “I want the pain to go away so that I can go back to school.”