Aung is a 13-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, two older siblings in Myawaddy, Karen State, Burma. Aung’s mother works as a laundry worker while his older sister works as a homemaker. Both Aung and his brother are students. Their family’s total income is not enough to cover their daily expenses and basic health care services. They can barely afford food and have to borrow money from a neighbor to meet their needs. In April 2025, Aung started experiencing trouble breathing due to a blockage in his left nostril, so he and his mother visited a clinic in Myawaddy on 27 April 2025. The doctor from the clinic diagnosed him with sinusitis and prescribed nasal drops and oral medications. Unfortunately, his symptoms did not improve. During their follow-up visit, the doctor explained that the growth in Aung's nostril requires surgery. Aung was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, where the doctors recommend surgery to remove the polyp to remove any blockages in the sinuses and improve airflow through the nose. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 5th, and once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate his symptoms. Aung's mother said, "I cannot express how thankful I am. Because of you, my son’s health conditions will improve. I would be happy to help in any way I can, to show my appreciation.”

Mary is a 45-year-old mother of two from Malawi. She is a widow, having lost her husband in 2019. Her first child dropped out of school to help Mary with her small-scale business of selling plastic items such as pails, basins and buckets. Her second child is in Primary 5. Mary has been self-reliant, but occasionally her brother who is a soldier helps her out here and there. For nine months, Mary has been experiencing abdominal pain. She went to a local hospital where painkillers were prescribed, but when the pain got worse she went back to the hospital. She then underwent a scan that revealed uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will have to remove her uterus. Presently, Mary is experiencing weakness, tiredness, abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. Mary's illness has affected her ability to run her business and drained all her income due to frequent hospital visits. She now spends most of her time in bed due to the pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Mary receive treatment. On May 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery, enabling her to resume her daily activities free from pain. Mary is able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help raising $1,363 more to fund the procedure. She says: "Due to persistent abdominal pain, I am unable to work. I need assistance in obtaining treatment, as my children rely on me."

Damtew is a cheerful six-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is the only child in his family. His father is a tailor, and his mother is a farmer. Damtew was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Due to the ongoing war in their area, Damtew has not been able to seek medical treatment. Fortunately, Damtew was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. The family traveled for two days, but was grateful Damtew was able to see a doctor. Damtew is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 4th, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Damtew's father said, “I hope he will heal and grow up to be happy and healthy after the surgery. I will be so happy to see that day.”

Nae is a 38-year-old woman who lives with her family in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. They receive support from development agencies for food and household expenses. They also have access to basic healthcare and education in the camp. In her free time, Nae loves to embroider traditional clothes for extra income. Since June 2024, Nae has been experiencing pain in her lower abdomen. She cannot sit for long periods and feels tired easily. She diagnosed her with a leiomyoma or a benign tumor in the cervix. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Nae's surgery. On March 5th, she will undergo gynecological surgery that will help address her symptoms and allow her to resume her daily activities free of pain. Nae said, "I would like to have the surgery to finally be healthy again. The monthly follow-ups and not feeling better make it difficult for me to manage my daily life."

Saw O is a 30-year-old man who lives by himself in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. He is originally from Karen State, Burma but moved to Bangkok three months ago to look for better job opportunities. In November 2024, Saw O went out with his friend to buy food after work. Their motorcycle hit a lamp post causing them to fall. Saw O sustained a fracture on his hand, forearm, and collarbone. He is in pain and unable to move his hand. This prevents him from performing his daily activities and finding a job. Since the accident, he has been staying in a clinic where they provide him with a place to stay and meals. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw O will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for February 6th and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help Saw O be free from pain and able to work again. Saw O said, “I feel very stressed about my condition as I cannot work or earn an income and it’s hard to live without any family to support me. I hope I will receive surgery and recover soon so that I can find a job in Mae Sot or maybe find a way to return to Bangkok to work again. Thank you to all the donors for willing to help me”.

Ramon is a 68-year-old man from the Philippines. He worked as a fire aid at the city's fire station before his retirement three years ago. He and his wife have four children. Ramon gets a monthly social pension which they use for utilities. His wife also has a small store at home to help with their daily expenses. Five months ago, Ramon began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain that affected his daily and physical activities. Ramon was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Ramon is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on December 21st. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Ramon's surgery and care. Ramon says, "I am grateful for this opportunity to get free surgery. Because of you, my wife, children, and siblings can all stop worrying about the expenses of my operation. This is the most beautiful Christmas gift I have ever received so thank you very much."

Mu is a 62-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her family in the village in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand. She moved to Thailand for better job opportunities. She used to work as a day laborer, but sometimes she works as a domestic worker for her neighbor. She also collects rubbish around her area, selling recyclable materials for extra cash. However, since her accident, she is not able to work. Early in September 2023, Mu went to her neighbor’s house to assist them with some housework. By the time she finished her work, she could not see clearly because it was dark. As a result, when Mu was walking down the stairs of her friend’s house to return home, she accidentally slipped and fell down the stairs. Mu was diagnosed with femoral neck fractures on her hip joint. Doctors at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, also found that she had tuberculosis, which required urgent treatment. When she recovered, she came back to the hospital to have her hip checked again. Mu underwent surgery for her right hip in March 2024. Since then, her right leg is no longer in pain. She can cook, do laundry, look after herself, and has started walking with crutches. However, she still experiences some discomfort while walking and feels some pain in her left hip while walking. She cannot walk properly and still needs to use crutches while walking. Mu is scheduled for surgery on her left hip on December 6th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure and Mu's care. Once recovered, Mu should no longer be in pain and should be able to walk more and move more easily. Mu's daughter said, "I feel sorry for my mother that I cannot help her. I cannot afford to pay for the surgery as I am still studying and am only able to work part-time. I would like to say thank you very much to all the donors who will help pay for my mother's second surgery on her left hip. Thank you very much."

Lester is a 62-year-old woman from Malawi, living in Ntcheu. A widow since 2006, she has dedicated her life to caring for her five children, four of whom are married with their own children, while one child continues to live with her. Lester finds joy in chatting with her grandchildren and savoring nsima served with beans. For the past ten years, Lester has been struggling with troubling symptoms, which began with a swelling in her neck, that led her to seek traditional medicine. Unfortunately, she saw no improvement and chose to stay at home. As the swelling continued to grow, she endured neck heaviness, difficulty walking long distances, frequent coughing, and increasing weakness. These challenges have greatly impacted her daily life and farming, reducing her income. Early October, Lester visited the hospital for the first time. There, she learned that she has a goiter, a condition affecting her thyroid gland, which is crucial for many bodily functions. Now, she urgently needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening and to regain her strength Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lester receive treatment. On October 16th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising the treatment funds. Lester says, "Please help me regain my normal appearance after surgery. I hope for a healthier life free from these symptoms and the questions from my children. I long to recover and return to my life as a caring mother and grandmother to my 13 grandchildren."

Dirya is a five-year-old girl from Cambodia, and the middle child in her family. Her father works as a construction worker and her mother is a homemaker. She has an older brother, who is 12, and a younger brother, who is two. Dirya's mother shared that she dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up. In her free time, Dirya enjoys drinking milk and eating rice with soup. She also loves playing with toys and riding her bicycle around the house. Dirya was born with scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of her spine, along with left radial dysplasia, where the radius bone in her left forearm is underdeveloped. Over the past four years, Dirya's scoliosis has progressed, leading to abnormal posture. Her parents are concerned that she may face difficulties at school including back pain or difficulty breathing caused by the curvature. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Dirya receive treatment. On September 3rd, specialty surgeons at CSC will perform a spinal procedure during which growing rods will be implanted vertically along her spine to correct Dirya’s severe scoliosis. The procedure will help straighten her spine and improve her posture, and she will be able to stand and improve her health as she continues to grow. Dirya's parents can afford to contribute $25 of the cost of the procedure. Now, her family needs help raising the additional $1,475 for the surgery, hospitalization, implants, medications and physiotherapy. Dirya's parents shared, "we want Dirya to live a healthy life as she grows up and we are hopeful that this operation will straighten her back."

Vath is a 14-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is an only child who lives with his mother and grandparents, while his father works long hours at a public hospital in Phnom Penh, two hours from where they live. To support the family, his mother sells groceries from their home. Vath is currently in 7th grade and enjoys studying the Khmer language. He loves playing soccer with his friends at school. Vath was born with double "S" scoliosis, an abnormal double curvature of the spine, and macrodactyly, a rare congenital condition that causes toes to be abnormally large. Due to the condition of his spine, his rib cage presses against his lungs, making breathing difficult. Vath was first seen by our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), where he underwent surgery on his right foot, including a toe amputation in January 2024. His family is now seeking further treatment for his scoliosis, which has inhibited his growth. It is difficult for him to walk or keep up with friends, and he often experiences shortness of breath, especially while at school and around other boys his age. On September 3rd, Vath will undergo a fusion procedure of his spine. The damaged vertebra will be removed and the spine will be fused to correct the curvature and stabilize his spine. Timely treatment in adolescence can prevent progression and reduce the need for more invasive measures later in life. Vath and his family are able to contribute $50 but need help to raise $1,450 more to fund the cost of the surgery, spinal implants, medications, and post-op care. Vath said, "I want to run and play soccer with my friends again soon and return to school to study."

Lina is a stay-at-home mother from the Philippines. She lives with her husband who works as a security guard, her only child who is in college, and her brother who works at a nearby salon. Her husband earns minimum wage which is barely enough for the their bills and expenses especially since their son is in college. Most of their monthly budget goes to basic needs and their son's school expenses. Four years ago, Lina began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain which affected her back. Due to the pandemic four years ago, she could only visit a private clinic to consult. She was diagnosed with gallstones and was given painkillers to manage the pain. Four years later, she is still suffering from pain attacks. Lina has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, which is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Lina is scheduled to undergo surgery on July 13th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Lina's surgery and care. Lina said, "Thank you to everyone who will help me for my treatment and operation. For the past years, I wanted to work and help my husband financially but cannot do so because of my condition. This surgery will allow me to be economically productive so your help will go a long way not just for my but also for my family. Thank you very much."

Amor is a widower and mother of two from the Philippines. She works as a laundrywoman, earning barely enough for her family's needs. During her free time, Amor loves singing and spending time with her neighbors. One year ago, Amor began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain which affected her back. Last March 2024, the pain became intolerable and Amor decided to consult with a doctor in her barangay where she was diagnosed with cholecystitis or stones in her gall bladder. Amor has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Amor is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on July 5th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Amor's surgery and care. Amor shared: "Thank you very much that you are able to help people like us who have no means to get treatment. God bless you all!"