Zin is a twelve-year-old girl with chronic osteomyelitis in her hip joint. She lives with her parents, four brothers, and two sisters. Zin is currently in seventh grade at school. Zin’s parents own and work a rice field and garlic farms. Her two older siblings also work as day laborers on other farms. Still, the family has to borrow money to pay for fertilizer and to rent tractors and other farm equipment. In February of 2014, Zin began to experience discomfort in her hip. She visited a general hospital and underwent an X-ray. The doctor diagnosed her with tuberculosis and attributed her hip pain to untreated tuberculosis. She was prescribed anti-tuberculosis medication. On a recent visit to the hospital, Zin learned that she needed surgery to treat her hip pain. She had osteomyelitis, an infection in her bone. She could not walk properly, sit for long periods of time, or sleep on her side. On December 15, she underwent a hip replacement surgery. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. “I want to finish school and become an educated person," says Zin. "I want to be a medical doctor or a nurse, because I know how it feels to be a patient.”

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.

“One month ago, Phea developed a chalazion on her right eye,” explains our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “The cyst on her eyelid is swollen and causes a burning sensation.” Phea is married and has two sons. She is 34 years old, and she and her family live in Cambodia. To support her family Phea works in a garment factory, and enjoys Thai dramas on TV and classical music in her free time. To seek treatment for the cyst, Phea and her sister travelled for two hours to get to CSC. Doctors diagnosed her with a chalazion, a small, benign bump that appears on the eyelid. Untreated, it can be uncomfortable and interfere with vision. Because the cyst interferes with Phea’s vision, doctors recommend that it be removed. With a simple operation, the doctors will make a small incision to cut the chalazion away from the eye and allow Phea to see clearly again without any burning sensation. $150 will cover the cost of pre-operative care, surgery, necessary medicines, and hospital stay. After the surgery, Phea looks forward to getting rid of the burning sensation and improving the appearance of her eye. “I will be able to do my work well and not worry about how the cyst affects my vision,” she tells us.