Su is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her older brother and parents in Karen State, Burma. Su is a student who aspires to become a doctor in the future. Su’s father is a store night security guard and her mother sells watermelons. Four years ago, Su's skin started looking pale and yellowish. She also began experiencing abdominal swelling. Su was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder that affects the oxygen carried by red blood cells. Physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital determined that Su should undergo a splenectomy, a procedure that helps manage thalassemia. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Mae Sot General Hospital on April 15th. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Su's quality of life. Su's mother said, "We are under stress that we are in debt as we have to travel and pay for Su's consultations. I hope that Su will get treatment and recover. I want her to become a doctor one day."

Naomi Tembo is a 45-year-old married woman from Malawi. She has 4 children who are all in primary school. To support the family, Naomi works as a cook at Nkhoma College of Nursing. She also practices subsistence farming where she grows maize and groundnuts. Naomi has been experiencing lower abdominal pain followed by a swelling in her abdomen. She came to Nkhoma Hospital to seek medical help and she was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. Naomi is scheduled for hernia repair surgery on March 12th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $500 to support the surgery. Treatment will relieve her of the pain and reduce the risks of future health complications. Naomi says, “I hope to be free from this condition that is affecting my life.”

Chorng is a 60-year-old soup cart owner from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, two sons, and eight other family members on the outskirts of the capital city of Phnom Penh. His younger son is at University and the older son helps run their soup cart. When not working, Chorng helps around the house and listens to traditional Cambodian music playlists from YouTube. Just over one year ago, Chorng had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Chorng experiences hearing loss, pain, and ear discharge. He is unable to hear his customers and relies on others to help him. He also has trouble communicating with his family and neighbors. Chorng traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 28th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chorng says, "I hope my hearing will improve. I want to be able to work more and talk with my customers."