53-year-old Aye lives with her husband, son and two daughters in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her husband is a teacher, and Aye is a homemaker. All of the children go to school. In her free time, Aye loves to plant different types of flowers around her home. One day in the middle of 2018, Aye's friend told her that her neck looked a bit swollen. Aye did not seek medical attention, as she wasn't experiencing any symptoms. Gradually, however, she began developing mood swings, anxiety, and fatigue. Although she was put on medications by the doctor, her symptoms worsened, and she was referred to Mae Sot General Hospital. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with a left thyroid mass and for the next three years, she returned to the hospital for multiple follow-up appointments. During her appointment on September 28th, the doctor told her that she will need surgery to remove her thyroid and cure her worsening condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is seeking $1,500 to fund Aye's thyroidectomy, which is scheduled for October 11th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. Aye is looking forward to her surgery, as she feels as if the mass is increasing in size, and is causing her to have fatigue and chest pain. Aye said: “Because of my condition, I feel sad and angry without reason. Afterwards, I feel bad for my family. I believe that after my surgery, I will have normal emotions again, and I will be able to help my family more.”

Baraka is a 15-year-old boy who is in fifth grade, and resides with his uncle in Arusha. Seven of Baraka's ten siblings have passed away, as has his mother, after a prolonged bout of ill health. Baraka's father lives in a different region of the country, and has entrusted his care to the uncle, who has six children of his own. When Baraka was a young child, he fell onto a lighted stack of firewood while playing. He sustained severe burns - which were successfully treated - but which have left him with residual scar contractures around his mouth, and on and under his arm. Baraka lived with these contractures for a long time, until he met a neighbor, who told Baraka and his uncle about Plaster House. Baraka's uncle was unable to bring Baraka to Plaster House, so their neighbor, Charles, undertook to do so. Baraka is looking forward to treatment, as the contractures have negatively affected his confidence when he is interacting with other people. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Baraka receive the care that he needs. On August 16th, surgeons will perform burn contracture release surgery, which will enable Baraka to have improved mobility, functionality and appearance. Now, he needs your help to fund this $874 procedure. Baraka says: “I desire an improvement in my facial appearance. Right now, I lack confidence in how I look. I hold the hope that this treatment will bring about a substantial transformation in my appearance.”

Khin is a 28-year-old man from Burma who lives with his wife, two children, parents-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law in a village in Karen State. Khin, his parents, and his sister-in-law are subsistence farmers, while his daughter and brother-in-law are students. His son is too young to enroll in school. They also raise chickens and pigs for their family to eat, forage for vegetables, and go fishing. To pay school fees, Khin sometimes is able to work as a day labourer. On July 10th, Khin was picking dog fruit when suddenly the branch he was standing on broke. He fell out of the tree onto a wooden dwelling and broke his spine. Doctors want Khin to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will help doctors to formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical (BCM) is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Khin's CT scan and care, scheduled for July 17th. Khin said, "I don't know what to do as I am one of the sole income earners for my family. Now I cannot work to earn extra money so I am very worried that my children will not have enough food and that we won't be able to afford to buy formula milk for my son. I hope I can receive treatment and recover so that I can support my family."

Sephora, a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome from Haiti, loves listening to music and drawing with crayons. She lives with her parents and three older siblings in a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. Sephora has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. Because of this condition, a hole exists between two blood vessels near her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Sephora needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive cardiac treatment on May 29th. First, the doctors will perform tests to determine if the hole near her heart can be safely closed or whether it is better to manage the condition with medication. If the tests show a good result, the surgeons will close the hole using a device attached to the end of a catheter. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is contributing $6,000 to pay for Sephora's surgery. Sephora's family also needs help with her $1,500 surgery prep costs. This cost covers all her labs, medicines, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. It also covers the cost of passports and social workers accompanying Sephora's family overseas. Sephora's mother said, "I am very happy to know that my daughter finally has the chance to have her heart fixed!"

Samnang is a 23-year-old army trainee from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal province with his parents and younger sister. Before his injury, Samnang was in boot camp for the Cambodian army. On March 5th, Samnang was in a motor vehicle accident, resulting in the paralysis of his left hand. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can cause the loss of function and sensation. Currently, Samnang is unable to lift his arm and has had to pause his boot camp training as a result. Samnang traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which is the only facility in the country where brachial plexus injury surgery is available. On April 27th, Samnang will undergo surgery. After he has recovered, he should regain the use of his arm and hand. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Samnang shared: "I hope I can go back to normal life like before the accident."

Eliud is a 41-year-old truck driver. He is quiet and talks with a lot of calmness. He is married with two children aged 2 and 6 years and the sole breadwinner for his family, as his wife is a homemaker who does not have any source of income. To earn a living, Eliud works as a truck driver earning a commission on jobs. He shared that depending on the availability of work, his income is often inconsistent and negligible. Following a road accident, he has been unable to work and his family has been incapable of raising funds for his treatment. He is requesting financial assistance as he has no medical insurance coverage. On 12th March, Eliud was involved in a road accident. While driving his truck, he swayed off the road as he tried to avoid a pedestrian and hit a post, suffering a broken ankle and a bruised leg. He was rushed to a local health facility for first aid and later referred to our medical partner at Kijabe Hospital for surgery and an orthopedic review. An x-ray revealed a right open tibial plafond fracture. This is the joint between the tibia and ankle bone. He went to the operating theater and had an external fixator, called ex-fix, put in place to stabilize his bones. He was discharged two days later and advised to come after two weeks for a clinic check-up. When he returned to the clinic, doctors determined that an urgent tibial plafond ORIF (Ankle ORIF) is required. It is difficult for Eliud to walk or work. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 5th, Eliud will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again and he will be able to resume work to earn for his family. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $979 to fund this procedure. Eliud says, “I broke my leg during this accident and cannot walk. As a driver, I cannot work because of the fracture. I need this surgery to make the leg well and be able to drive.”

Sesilia is a 12-year-old student from Tanzania who was born and raised in the remote village of a Maasai community where her parents are subsistence farmers. She enjoys art classes and has a passion for painting and writing short stories. It is her dream to be a portrait painter. In 2013, while staying with her grandmother, Sesilia was involved in an accidental fire that burnt her right arm and chest. Sesilia's wounds took three months to heal and left her with damaged skin on her right hand and chest that limited her mobility. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sesilia with treatment. On March 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her use her hand freely. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Sesilia says, “I would like to be able to fully use my right hand. I wish I’ll be able to help with heavy chores around the house and at school.”

Anastazia is a 5-year-old girl. She comes from a big family, with 7 children and two parents. She enjoys spending time with her siblings helping around their house; cooking, washing, and fetching water are some of her favorite activities at home. She lives in a small village called Maji moto located in the northwest of Tanzania, where people from the area are mostly farmers. Anastazia's parents are small-scale farmers who cultivate maize and nuts which are rain dependent. Due to the recent climate change, that has affected rains, they have not had a good harvest in the past two years that has resulted in an unreliable market and income. One year ago, Anastazia got in an accident; while she was trying to help her older sister take a pot of hot tea from the stove, the steam from the pot burned her hand and she let go of the pot and the tea spilled all over her right arm, axilla, and groin. She was given first aid by her sister and then rushed to the hospital. It took almost two months for the wounds to fully heal. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around her burn. She has had difficulty and discomfort while walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Anastazia receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her walk easily again. Now, she needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Anastazia’s mother says, “She enjoys spending time playing with her siblings and friends but the pain from her thighs makes her enjoy it less. I hope this treatment will give her the chance to enjoy games with her siblings.”

Emmanuel is a 39-year-old father of two from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He lives with his wife and children and works in sales at an electronics store. He has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. There is a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart, which causes blood to leak out without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Because the care he needs is not available in Haiti, Emmanuel will fly to the United States to undergo cardiac surgery on February 27th. Doctors will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital is contributing $10,000 to help pay for this surgery. His family now needs $1,500 to help fund costs of the surgery preparations, including labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments, and travel expenses. Our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance will accompany Emmanuel overseas and ensure he safely undergoes treatment. Emmanuel says, "I am excited for this surgery so that I can focus on taking care of my family without worrying about my health."

Dante is a hardworking father from the Philippines. He tirelessly supports his six children, brings them to school, and sustains their everyday needs. For ten years, Dante has dealt with an Inguinal Hernia. This condition causes him pain and swelling that limit his movement. The financial burden associated with medical care prevents him from seeking regular treatment, forcing him to endure the pain and prioritize the needs of his children instead. Despite his constant pain, he perseveres as a tricycle driver, ensuring his children have access to education and a better life. Dante was referred to our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, and he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center on June 2nd A portion of the cost of Dante's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1103 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Dante shared, "We're financially incapable to afford my needed treatment, but through your help, I'll be able to be operated on. I can't thank you enough for your support. May the Lord bless you, Watsi, and World Surgical Foundation Philippines!"

Chom is a loving grandmother: a mother of three sons, four daughters, and has 13 grandchildren. She has lived in Svay Rieng province in Cambodia with her youngest daughter, a rice farmer, since her husband's passing. At home, she enjoys going to the pagoda with other villagers on holy days. Six years ago, Chom developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her vision to blur. She has difficulty seeing clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking. Thus, she is unable to travel places on her own anymore. When Chom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she came four and a half hours from her province seeking treatment. On January 24th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and implant an intraocular lens in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Chom needs help to raise $253 to fund her procedure and care. She said: "I hope after surgery I can see well again. I can walk and eat by myself and feel useful to my family."