Sor is an 81-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She has three children, ten grandchildren, and enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to the monks pray on the radio in her spare time. One year ago, Sor developed a cataract in each eye, causing her vision loss. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sor learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 11th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to see more clearly so I can go outside again and recognize things and return to the pagoda," Sor shared.

Kylian is a baby from Haiti. He lives with his mother and father in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; his mother is a nurse and his father manages a small store. Kylian has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Kylian will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 11th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in his heart, and will remove the blockage from his valve. Another organization, Akron Children's Hospital, is contributing $20,000 to help pay for surgery. Kylian's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and transport. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Kylian's family overseas. Kylian's mother shared: "I am so happy that my son has the chance to be healthy and safe."

Thavin is a fifth-grader from Cambodia. He has two younger siblings, a sister and brother, and he enjoys playing games and watching cartoons. One year ago, Thavin developed nasal polyps, noncancerous growths in the lining of the nasal passage. For this reason he experiences nasal congestion, a runny nose, post nasal drip, and headaches. He has a difficult time breathing and sleeping normally. Thavin's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and on December 24th, doctors will perform a nasal polypectomy to remove the polyps. After recovery, he will be able to breathe more easily. Now, he needs help to fund this $267 procedure. "I hope that surgery goes well and removes the obstruction from my son's nose so I will no longer have to worry about it causing him any problems," shared Thavin's mother.

Mary Wambui, a widow, is a 79-year-old retired primary school teacher who depends on her pension to earn a living. She is suffering from hearing loss and requires bilateral hearing aids to improve her hearing. Her hearing challenges began two years ago when her hearing ability dwindled and she could no longer attend church or gatherings as she could barely hear. Mary lives on her own since her husband passed on six years ago. She has no children, thus has no one to depend on. Mary can barely afford the hearing aids with just her pension as she needs funding for the fitting to be completed as well. Mary gets an average of Kes. 5,000 per month but that can barely cater for her basic needs leave alone pay for the hearing aids she so badly needs. She appeals for financial assistance.

Zipporah is a young girl aged eight and a half years from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. She is the last born in a family of four children. Her mother is a single mother who does casual work as a waitress in a small hotel near their home. Zipporah has been a very jolly and active child, until about one month ago when she reported to her mother that she was having abdominal pains and her abdomen was swelling. The condition was making it difficult for Zipporah to play with other children. She was even brought to our office in a wheelchair as she feels pain when standing. She came to our partner, Nazareth Hospital, and an ultrasound scan was done which showed a well-defined liver mass. The family was sent for a CT scan and it also showed a cystic liver mass. The surgeon recommends a laparotomy, but her mother was not in a position to meet the bill for this surgery. If not treated Zipporah will continue to experience pain.

Chheun is a 66-year-old tailor from Cambodia. She has three sons and three daughters, and she relaxes by watching Indian dramas on television. One year ago, Chheun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision, tearing, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chheun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 27th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $425 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to help look after my grandchildren again and can continue my job as a tailor," Chheun shared.

Peter is a student from Kenya and an aspiring judge. He is quiet and composed and arrived in the company of his school social worker. The teenage boy in class seven. Peter lives with his aged mother and six siblings in Miango village Central-Kenya. He is the fifth born and they all depend on the little their mother makes. A few years back, due to domestic wrangles, Peter’s aged father moved out of their home and now lives alone. Since two years ago, Peter has had a right hydrocele. This causes him pain and discomfort and is affecting his studies. Fortunately, on March 3rd, he will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Peter's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “I want to be a judge when I grow up,” says Peter.

Nimol is a 24-year-old carpenter from Cambodia. He has two older brothers and an older sister and enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and going for walks with his friends. In December 2018, Nimol was in a motorcycle accident and fractured in lower left leg. He sought initial treatment for his injuries at a provincial hospital where doctors fitted Nimol with internal hardware to help his fracture heal. Now, his bones have healed properly and Nimol needs the hardware to be removed so he can feel comfortable again. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 21st, Nimol will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. Treatment will remove the internal hardware and allow him to walk with comfort. Nimol shared, "I hope that the plate and screws will be removed and my bones will be healed without anymore pain."

Mai is a 23-year-old woman from Burma. Lway lives with her parents and two sisters in Northern Shan State. Since she was three years old, Mai has suffered from an enlarged thyroid but her parents were able afford to take her to a clinic only when Mai was in grade seven. By then, the lump on Mai's throat has become noticeable. At the clinic, the doctor examined her neck and prescribed her medication. After a month, although Mai felt like her neck was still in the same size as before, the doctor told her that her goiter had been cured. Three years later, Mai's neck started to grow bigger. Having no money in hand, her parents did not take her any clinics although there was a tightness in her throat and it was uncomfortable for Mai to move her neck to the side. In 2018, Mai was selected to attend a training in Mae Sot. After her training, she was put in for an internship at Mae Tao Clinc (MTC). Through an advice from one of her trainers, Mai went to Mae Sot Hospital, where the doctor examined her and prescribe her medications. After three months of taking the medications, the doctor finally told her that she needed a surgery. Mai looks forward to receiving surgery soon. She plans to go back to her native town and work as an assistant health worker, after she has completed her treatment. Mai said, “When I told my parents that BCMF would provide support for my surgery, they’re very happy. They have been worried for me for a long time already. I would like to say a big thank you to BCMF for supporting my surgery. I’m very excited to be freed from this condition. I have suffered from this goiter for a long time!”

Lucito is a boy from Haiti. He was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle, in which the aorta connects to the wrong chamber of the heart, causing the heart to pump oxygen-depleted blood to his body. He will require an open-heart surgery to correct this condition. Lucito lives in a small city in western Haiti with his parents and four siblings. He has not yet started school because of his cardiac problems, but is studying at home with his mother. Lucito will fly to India to receive treatment. On August 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery. Another organization, Rotary International, is contributing $8,000 to pay for surgery. His family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany his family overseas.

Zaw is a 14-year-old student from Burma. He lives with his parents, grandmother, two aunts, brother, and cousin. Both his parents are middle school teachers. Zaw was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Zaw. The treatment is scheduled to take place on May 22 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “Before he was able to study and memorize his homework well. But now he has difficulty studying and memorizing,” says his father.

Srey Cheng is a fourth-grade student from Cambodia. Her favorite subjects to study in school are math and science, and she hopes to become a doctor when she grows up. When she was four years old, Srey Cheng 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, Srey Cheng experiences discharge, itchiness, headaches, and hearing loss. She experiences pain and difficulty hearing at school, which distracts her from her studies. Srey Cheng traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 24, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, I will be able to hear clearly and not worry about my ears anymore."