Kyaw is a three-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and uncle in a village in Karen State, Burma. Kyaw’s mother looks after him and his grandmother while his uncle is a cow farmer. The family also raises chickens and pigs and sells them when they need money. In September 2023, Kyaw accidentally fell on a tree stump while he was playing with his friends. Kyaw was in pain and was brought to a nearby hospital where they found that he sustained an injury to his right kidney. However, due to insufficient equipment at the hospital, Kyaw could not be treated there. Kyaw is not comfortable sitting, so mostly he lies down. He has difficulty passing urine, his stomach is painful, and he cries a lot. Doctors want Kyaw 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 his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $693 to cover the cost of Kyaw's CT scan and care, scheduled for April 4th. Kyaw’s mother said, “I felt hopeless when I learned that Kyaw needed further treatment in Chiang Mai because I have no money to afford his treatment. However, when I heard that there are donors and an organisation who will support my son’s treatment, I was very happy. Thank you so much for your support even though you have never seen us.”

Samuel is a 15-year-old from Kenya and the second born in his family of four children. He recently sat for his class eight exam and hopes to be an engineer in the future. He was supposed to undergo circumcision a few weeks ago, which was organized and sponsored by their local church, but he missed it due to his birth condition. Samuel is being raised by a single mother, who washes clothes for a living. She is requesting financial assistance to be able to pay for Samuel's proposed surgery. Samuel was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Samuel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 30th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $847 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Samuel jokingly said, “I want to transit and become a man like the rest of my peers. I also want to become an engineer in the future. This condition is making me feel out of place and need to be treated.”

Ly is an 18-year-old student who lives with his extended family in a bustling wooden house, including his father, mother, grandparents, three brothers, and one sister. His father and older brother work in construction, his mother works in a clothing factory, and his other siblings attend school. Ly would like to enter the military someday, but right now is concentrating on his schoolwork. When not studying, Ly likes to play football with his friends and brothers. In December 2023, Ly was involved in a motorbike accident and attempted to break his fall with his right arm. Unfortunately, he broke his right wrist in the process. His parents took him to a military hospital, but they could not afford the care, so Ly received a bamboo splint from a Khmer Traditional Healer for his wrist. He suffers from pain, cannot sleep, and his hand is very swollen. A local non-profit clinic suggested he seek treatment at Children's Surgical Centre. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 2nd, Ly will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This surgery will use metal hardware to compress the fragments of his wrist and support optimal healing. Ly said: "Hopefully I'll be able to use my hand again soon, so I can finish school and help my family."