Kyaw Myat is a five-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his family in Ma Gyi Pin Village, Tigyaing Township, Sagaing Division. Kyaw Myat was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which has caused fluid to build up in his brain. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, he is at risk of developing severe, potentially fatal medical complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for Kyaw Myat, which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 19, and, once completed, will greatly improve Kyaw Myat's quality of life. His father says, "After my son underwent MRI, the result shows that he is suffering from hydrocephalus and need surgery. I hope he will feel better after this surgery."

Aung San Mon is a boy from Burma. He lives with his grandmother, mother and brother in a village in Mon State, Burma. When he was four year old, San Mon’s skin turned pale and yellowish. He also had frequent fevers. Currently, San Mon suffers from fatigue and has difficulty breathing. Aung San Mon has been diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder. He needs to undergo spleen surgery, scheduled for April 2, to treat the condition. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to help fund this procedure. His mother says, "Now I am very happy that he will receive surgery through BCMF and BCMF’s donors soon.”

Siek is a 24-year-old blacksmith from Cambodia. He has eight other siblings and likes to listen to pop music and go for walks with friends during his free time. Last year, Siek suffered from a motorcycle accident that injured his left leg. He is now unable to walk and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 18, Siek will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. This surgery will help him to walk again and relieve the pain. He says, "After surgery, I hope that I can walk again without any pain and go back to work."

Rene is a young student from Kenya. She is in the second grade. She is also the only child to her single mother. Renee likes reading books. Rene has clubfoot of her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Rene traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 23. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Rene's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. “I am kindly requesting for support so that she can be able to walk completely well without any support. God bless you," Renee’s mother says.

Pya is a 57-year-old man who lives in Karen State, Burma with his wife, daughter, and grandson. Pya’s family owns land on which they grow rice. In March 2017, Pya started feeling pain in his lower abdomen, but he did not seek any medical care. Shortly after this pain developed, it forced him to stop working. Pya used to take herbal medicines for his symptoms. However, they were not very effective, and his condition deteriorated. He could not manage the pain, so he traveled to a clinic, where a medic examined him and performed an ultrasound. He was then referred to Mae Sot Hospital, our medical partner's care center, for further testing. Over three visits, he received an x-ray and blood and urine tests and was diagnosed with bladder stones. Pya was then scheduled for surgery on October 24. In addition to his pain, Pya’s condition has affected numerous other aspects of his life. Because he has had to stop working, his family has been struggling financially. Fortunately, we can help by raising $1,500 to pay for his surgery. Pya says, “I want to be able to work on my own farm again. I want my family to be able to eat well and have meat again.”

Medjine is a toddler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and grandparents in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. She likes dancing and listening to music. Medjine has a cardiac condition called partial anomalous pulmonary vein return. One of the veins leading to her heart connects in an abnormal location, making it difficult for blood to circulate properly through her heart and body. To determine if Medjine's condition is operable, she must undergo a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, a procedure that is not available in Haiti. During the procedure, a catheter probe will be inserted into her heart to perform the necessary measurements and tests. On December 14, she will travel to the Dominican Republic to receive the scan at our medical partner's care center, Clinica Corominas. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to cover the costs of Medjine's travel expenses, catheterization procedure, and lab work. Her mother says, "We are very glad that our daughter can have this opportunity!"

Paul is a young boy and the fifth in a family of six children. He is playful and very social. His parents are planning to enroll him in school next year. Paul was born with a malformation of his left leg, which was caused by the amniotic band wrapping around it and preventing blood flow during development. His parents were advised to let him grow for a few years before undergoing surgery. Now, on October 11, Paul is scheduled to undergo an amputation, which is going to enable him to use a prosthetic leg. His family needs help raising $1,035 to fund this procedure. His father says, “We wish to get the needed surgery for our son so that he can be able to use a prosthetic leg and be able to walk to school like other children, but we are unable to afford the cost of the surgery. Please help us.”

Beatrice is a farmer from Kenya. She plants maize and beans for her family's consumption. She has three children. Earlier this month, Beatrice sustained serious injuries on her right leg. She is currently walking with crutches because she is unable to walk or stand using her right leg. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 11, Beatrice will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. After surgery, Beatrice should be able to walk again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $968 to fund this procedure. She says, "I want to receive treatment so that I can continue taking care of my children."

Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. He was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Emmanuel is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 24. This procedure will hopefully spare Emmanuel from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I am truly happy that we may get help for Emmanuel’s treatment,” says Emmanuel’s guardian.

Nadia is a baby from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of two children. Nadia’s parents live in a rented house with their two children. Her father works as a construction worker, and her mother is a stay-at-home mother. Nadia was diagnosed with genu varus. Her legs bow outward so that her knees do not touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she feels a lot of pain and cannot walk comfortably. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Nadia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 12. Treatment will hopefully restore Nadia's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Nadia’s mother says, “I will be so happy to see my daughter walking and able to run, play, and go to school. Please help us get her this treatment she needs.”

Than is a 25-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his wife, five-year-old daughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and two brother-in-laws. In May 2018, Than participated in a soccer tournament. During one game, another player kicked his right leg. He immediately felt a lot of pain in his leg, the leg went limp, and he was unable to walk. A friend took him to a traditional healer in the village. The healer rubbed oil on his leg and bandaged his leg up. Currently, Than feels a lot of pain in his leg and uses crutches to get around. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Than will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for June 28 and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Than hopes that he will be free from pain and he will be able to walk properly again. He says, “I want to get better soon so that I can help my family and get back to working.”

Kar is an eight-month-old boy. He lives with his family in Hpa-an, Karen State, Burma. When Kar was three months old, his parents noticed for the first time that his head size was increasing. Kar was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which has caused fluid to build up in his brain. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, he is at risk of developing severe, potentially fatal medical complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for Kar, which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 23, and, once completed, will greatly improve Kar's quality of life. His mother says, "I really want my son to look like other normal kids. So I believe that this surgery will make him look better."