Naw Blu is a one-month-old baby girl who lives in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her parents moved to the camp from Burma to escape civil war and raise a family. In addition to her parents, Naw Blu also has three older sisters. One week after Naw Blu was born, her mother noticed that her left leg wasn't moving. X-ray results did not show any bone abnormalities. On December 16, Naw Blu will undergo a CT scan, which will help her doctors diagnose the problem. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, is requesting $414 to fund the scan. Over the past year, life in the refugee camp has grown more difficult, due to reduced food rations and fewer community workers. Jobs within the camp have become scarce. Despite these challenges, Naw Blu's mother is optimistic about the future. She will do whatever it takes to ensure the wellbeing of her children. She says, “I want my daughter to finish school, and after that she can do whatever she wants.”

Srey Noch is an eight-year-old third grader from Cambodia. She enjoys cooking and reading. She aspires to be a physician someday. One day, Srey Noch was hit in the nose, which resulted in a nosebleed. One week later, she developed a hematoma, an abnormal collection of blood in both nasal cavities. This condition obstructed her nose, causing her pain and difficulty breathing. Srey Noch took medication, but it did not alleviate her symptoms. Srey Noch and her mother traveled two hours to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On December 21, surgeons at CSC will create a small incision to drain the pooled blood. This procedure will help her breathe easily again. CSC is requesting $224 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I can go back to school with good breathing," says Srey Noch. "I want to become a doctor."

Shakir is a cute and charming boy who loves people. He enjoys discovering new things and eating sweets and rice. Shakir has been diagnosed with Hirschprung's disease, a condition that affects the large intestine and causes uncomfortable symptoms. He underwent a previous treatment, which only solved the problem temporarily. On December 27, he underwent a corrective surgery at our medical partner's care center. During this surgery, doctors removed the diseased part of Shakir's intestine. Shakir’s mother is a single mother who is unemployed. Her brother supports the family, but he cannot afford healthcare. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 in funding.