Staller is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and four-year-old grandson in Myawaddy, Karen State, Burma. Staller and her husband previously ran a laundromat but had to shut it down due to her health issues. During her free time, she enjoys watching the news, Tiktok videos on her phone, and spending time with her grandson. Staller and her husband depend financially on their daughter, a housekeeper in Shan State. In May 2024, Staller began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe lower back pain and hematuria, or blood in the urine. Doctors want to perform a ureteroscopy to treat her condition. During this procedure, doctors will insert a scope through the urethra and bladder to locate the stone and remove it. Depending on the size of the stone, it may need to be broken down into smaller pieces so they can remove it more easily. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on March 9th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Staller expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for the assistance of my treatment costs. Without your help, my surgery would not be possible, and I cannot express enough words for my thankfulness to each of you.”

May Oo is a 51-year-old woman from Burma. She lives alone in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Originally from Bago Division, Burma, she moved to Mae Sot in 2021 in search of better job opportunities. Before her condition worsened, she worked in the garment industry producing clothing. However, she stopped working one month ago due to her health. In her free time, she likes to watch Burmese news on her phone and listen to Dhamma or religious teachings. When May Oo was 35 years old, she noticed a mass in her left abdomen. It slowly grew bigger and now causes pain. In January 2025, she visited a clinic where doctors informed her that she has a mass in her left abdominal and needs surgery to alleviate her symptoms and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping May Oo undergo surgery on February 6th. She needs your help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. May Oo said, “I feel very worried about my condition and this situation where I am unable to work and support my family. Since I have learned that my condition requires surgery, I felt very sad and worried because I cannot afford to pay for my surgery cost. Now that I have learned BCMF and donors will cover for my surgery cost, I feel very happy and thankful. When I recover fully, I will return to work and support my family”.

Na Say is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives together with her husband and their daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She fled to the refugee camp with her family in early 2024 due to a military airstrike on her village where her home was burned down. Na Say and her family ran through the forest for three days until they reached the refugee camp where her sister lived. Na Say stays at home to care for her daughter. Her husband sometimes sells traditional medicines to earn a little. But they mostly rely on cash cards from the aid agency in the camp. During her free time, she likes to learn how to make traditional Karen dresses. Na Say receives free basic health care in the refugee camp. But now, she is currently expecting her second child and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Na Say undergo a C-Section on January 7th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Na Say needs your support. Na Say said, “In the future, I will make Karen traditional dress and sell it for extra income to help my family.’’

Kitupu is a calm two-year-old boy from a village in Kwale County, Kenya. He is the only child in his family and lives with his grandmother, who has taken full responsibility for his care. Kitupu's mother is unable to provide the care he needs due to mental health challenges. Shortly after birth, Kitupu was diagnosed with syndromic clubfoot, a condition that causes both feet to twist out of shape, making it difficult for him to walk or stand. At just one week old, he started a series of casting treatments to correct the alignment of his feet. However, his treatment was interrupted when his mother became ill. Determined to ensure Kitupu received the care he needed, his grandmother took him in and has worked tirelessly to provide for his care. To support their household, Kitupu's grandmother grows crops on her small farm. The harvest feeds the family and any surplus is sold for income. Presently, Kitupu is undergoing serial casting to prepare for surgery that will correct his feet. On December 6th, he is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AIC Cure International Hospital, our medical partner’s care center. Following treatment, Kitupu will be able to stand upright, walk, run, and even play football. Most importantly, it will allow him to attend school and participate in daily activities like other children. Now, Kitupu's family needs help to fund this $1,286 procedure and post-treatment care. Kitupu’s grandmother shared, "I eagerly look forward to seeing my grandson walk properly and live a normal life like other children."

Baby is a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves being with his older sister, playing with other children and enjoys playing football. His dad is a farmer and a daily laborer, while his mom is a housewife. His dad also does casual work at a construction site for additional income. Baby was born with bladder exstrophy, a congenital anomaly that affects the bladder and surrounding structures, causing the bladder to form outside the body instead of inside the abdomen. The condition can lead to various challenges, including difficulties with urinary control, potential risks of infection, and a risk of infertility. Fortunately, Baby is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. After surgery and recovery, Baby will have an improved quality of life. Baby's dad said, "God knows about his surgery, but I hope he will heal. I hope his open bladder will be addressed, and he can become healthy."

Win Mar is a 57-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and their nine-year-old granddaughter in Karen State. She is a homemaker with two daughters who work as domestic workers in Bangkok. In January 2024, Win Mar began to experience blurred vision in both eyes, with more intensity in her left eye. Additionally, she feels occasional pain in her eyes. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for her to see clearly. If left untreated, she could lose vision completely. Win Mar was diagnosed with retinal detachment and needs to undergo surgery to reattach her retina. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, has scheduled Win Mar's surgery for October 8th and is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After surgery, Win Mar's vision will hopefully be restored. Win Mar expressed her gratitude, saying, “If BCMF and donors do not help with my treatment, I would have to be blind for the rest of my life. Thank you BCMF and donors for helping me. I pray BCMF will help more patients who cannot afford treatment costs.”

Setta is a 17-year-old student from Cambodia who lives with her mother, who works as a hairdresser from home. Setta is in the 11th grade and wants to be a teacher when she gets older. When she is at home, she enjoys eating bitter melon fried with rice, and often helps her mother with housework. Setta was born with idiopathic scoliosis, or an abnormal sideways "S" curvature of the spine. Her mom brought her to a public hospital, where she underwent a number of treatments for her condition. However, over the past five years, she has experienced back pain when walking for more than 20 minutes and the pain makes it difficult for her to sit comfortably in class. More recently, she has noticed difficulty breathing due to her rib cage pressing on her lungs. She also occasionally feels numbness in her legs from her vertebrae pressing on nerves. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Setta receive treatment. On September 3rd, specialty surgeons at CSC will perform a scoliosis spinal fusion surgery to correct Setta's spinal curvature and improve her health and quality of life. This surgery will relieve her chronic pain and allow her to breathe better, walk, sit, and study at school comfortably. Setta's mother can afford to contribute $100 toward her daughter's care. Now, she and her mother need help raising the remaining $1,400 to fund the surgery, hospitalization, implants, medication, and physiotherapy. Setta shared, "I hope after my operation, my spine will be straight. I want to walk with my friends and not have a hard time breathing, work to support myself when I am done with school, and not be ashamed of my back."

Dar is a six-year-old girl from Thailand. She lives with her parents and attends pre-school at a Thai public school. Her father works at a cattle farm, and her mother is a homemaker. Dar enjoys playing with her cats and toys and spending time on the phone during her free time. Dar has been diagnosed with a congenital cataract in her left eye. She experiences blurred vision in her left eye, which makes her rely on her right eye for reading and seeing. Additionally, there is a noticeable misalignment in her left eye. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Dar receive treatment. On August 6th, doctors will perform a lens replacement surgery during which they will remove Dar's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Dar's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Dar’s mother says, “I feel very grateful to Watsi. We could not afford my daughter’s surgery, which made me feel sad and worried for her. Now, she is about to get her surgery soon. I am very happy. After recovery, I hope she thrives in school and pursues her education successfully."

19-year-old Htun is a student from Tak Province in Thailand. Science is his favorite subject, and he is eager to continue learning more. Htun was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a damage to 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. This condition has caused Htun to experience fatigue, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath. He requires the support of pillows to sleep comfortably, as sleeping flat on his back exacerbates his breathing difficulties. He also has trouble eating, as he feels short of breath when swallowing food. He has had to withdraw from school due to the condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement procedure for Htun. His upcoming surgery, set for July 9th at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, will alleviate his symptoms, allowing him to return to school once he has fully recovered. Htun says: "Since my condition has worsened, I had to put my studies on hold in mid-July, and my mother has had to dedicate her time to caring for me, leaving her with no time for her previous activities. Despite this setback, I remain committed to pursuing my dream of becoming an electrical engineer in the future, as I find joy in repairing and creating things."

Hassan is an only child whose parents separated before he was born. Prior to his birth, Hassan's mother worked alongside his grandmother, doing farm work to earn income. After Hassan was born, his mother had to stop working so she could take care of him. Hassan was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth, a condition that occurs when a developing baby's spinal cord fails to develop or close properly while in the womb. Hassan had a swelling on his back that was open and leaking. He was admitted in hospital for a few days while his mother was taught how to dress the wound. An MRI and a CT scan were done and he was scheduled for surgery weeks later. While home, his mother continued with the wound dressings as instructed until the leaking stopped. During one of the post-natal clinics, Hassan and his mother were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids, for treatment. Upon arrival at BethanyKids, Hassan was examined and was additionally diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a build up of fluids in the brain. He was then scheduled for a spina bifida repair surgery, and the mother was told that once he recovered, he would be scheduled for a shunt insertion surgery. Due to financial challenges and a loss of income for Hassan's mother, the family is unable to meet the medical expenses. Without treatment, Hassan is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Hassan receive treatment. On March 15th, surgeons at BethanyKids will conduct a spina bifida closure surgery to promote Hassan's healthy growth and development. Now, Hassan's family needs help to fund this $1,151 procedure. Hassan’s mother says, “A while back, I had already given up on Hassan's treatment. Because the community had never seen such a condition, I was told that I would always get children who have different medical conditions. After coming to this facility, I realized that this was not the case. My hopes were raised again and now I’m looking forward to the best outcome in Hassan’s treatment.”

Khin is a 48-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband and their four daughters in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. Khin is a homemaker and her husband works as an agricultural day labourer. Since 2018, Khin has been experiencing troubling symptoms including difficulty breathing and swallowing, stiffness in her neck, and fatigue. In addition, her voice turns hoarse when she speaks for extended periods. Khin was diagnosed with goiter or the irregular growth of the thyroid. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Khin receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 7th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Khin said “I have had stress and depression since I learned I needed surgery because I cannot afford to pay for my treatment. I worried I would not be able to support my daughters. Currently, we only have my husband's income to support the family and that is not enough to cover the costs of the surgery."

Aye is a 33-year-old mother from Burma. She lives with her husband, mother, son, and three nephews. Aye and her mother take care of the household, while her husband works as a taxi driver and her son and nephews attend school. Her family also manages a small piece of land where they grow rice and raise livestock for their consumption and to provide additional income. In her leisure time, Aye enjoys staying updated with the news and watching movies on her phone. Aye was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes, ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes, this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Aye is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on April 9th to correct the atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Aye's procedure and care. Aye said, "After I have recovered, I want to support my son to finish his education. I enjoy the routine of bringing him to school and picking him up afterward. Additionally, I have a plan to open a grocery store at home. Cooking is a passion of mine, and I love discovering new recipes online and bringing them to life in my kitchen."