Yeng is a 20-year-old from Cambodia. He is married and has a one-year-old son. He likes to listen to pop music, watch Youtube, and play football with friends. In June 2017, he was in a motorcycle accident. Now, his ankle is in pain and he has difficulty walking. Fortunately, he will undergo a fracture repair procedure on February 7 at our medical partner's care center. He hopes his surgery will allow him to walk easily and play football with his friends again. Now, he needs help raising $390 to pay for treatment. He says, "I look forward to returning home and walking without pain."

Zaw is a 22-year-old man who lives with his family in a village in Karen State, Burma. Zaw works as a semi-subsistence farmer with his parents, growing corn and rice. In May, Zaw started to cough a lot, experience chest and abdominal pain, and feel constant fatigue. At a local hospital, he was diagnosed with a cardiac condition but, unable to afford surgery, he returned home. His cough and fatigue have persisted, and he now requires an oxygen tank at night. On October 6, surgeons will finally perform the heart surgery Zaw needs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for his medical treatment.

Ye is a 14-year-old eighth grade student from Burma. He lives with his family. His mother is a shop vendor, and all of Ye's siblings go to school. In his free time, Ye usually helps his mother in their family’s small shop. When he was six, Ye was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of 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. Currently, Ye experiences chest pain and he has to take medication to feel better. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Ye. The treatment is scheduled to take place on November 6 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “If I feel better after surgery, I will go back to school to continue my education. I want to become an educated man one day," says Ye.

Thet is a 19-year-old farmer who lives with his family in a village in Mon State, Burma. His family owns a rubber tree farm where they harvest the sticky resin and create rubber sheets to sell. A few months ago, Thet began feeling tired and experiencing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Thet tried oral medication from a local hospital, however his symptoms still failed to improve and ultimately forced him to take leave from farming. A month later, Thet decided to go to a private clinic. Following the administration of an echocardiogram, doctors diagnosed Thet with an atrial septal defect, or a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of his heart. The cost of surgery was too high, so Thet returned to his home without treatment. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to repair the defect in Thet's heart. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 10 and, once completed, will greatly improve Thet's quality of life. Thet worries about his family’s finances and hopes to be able to go back to work as soon as possible. He looks forward to being able to save up for his future, saying, “I would like to save some money first, and then later have children."

Yan Pai is a 16-year-old boy from Burma. He left school one year ago because his family could no longer afford tuition. Since then, Yan Pai has been working as a day laborer. For a few months, Yan Pai was experiencing pain in his leg. He tried to continue working, even taking a new job in a furniture shop. Recently, however, the pain grew so severe that Yan Pai found walking difficult and he began using crutches. X-rays showed an abnormal growth in his leg. Yan Pai was referred to a Watsi medical partner for further investigation. He received an MRI on October 17, 2016. The MRI results will help doctors make a diagnosis and plan treatment. Yan Pai's mother supports the family, but her income as a day laborer does not cover his medical costs. She has already sold a piece of land, and Yan Pai is sad that his condition is affecting his family. The family needs help to fund his $814 MRI. Of the future, Yan Pai is hopeful. "I want to be a businessman someday," he says.

Patrick is a five year old boy from Kenya. He has four siblings and lives with his parents. Patrick’s parents are peasant farmers, often subsidizing their income with hired casual labor in other people’s farms. Patrick’s family lives in a grass thatched house in the village. Patrick suffers from Chronic Osteomyelitis - severe bone or bone marrow infection. Medical bills have driven the family into financial strain, forcing them to sell their ancestral land to meet the cost of care. Patrick’s left leg started swelling in November 2013. He is not able to walk well and has not been able to join school because of this condition. He has had several surgeries to stop the infection by removing the dead areas on the bone. Following the prior surgeries, Patrick has had complications. Doctors recommend additional surgery to remove the damaged tissue, followed by a skin graft. If left untreated, Patrick may need to have his leg amputated, which may result in death. The family has exhausted the funds they had after selling family land. They appeal for our financial assistance. Patrick’s mother says, “I want my child to be well, he might be a great leader."

"I had almost lost hope when I learned that I would have a chance for surgery. It is like a dream to me, and I can't wait to go!" says Monise, once again full of promise. Monise is a 26-year-old young woman living in Haiti with her mother. She enjoys going to church and helping her mother cook. Monise was preparing to enter university to study business when health problems put her plans on hold. “Monise suffers from a condition called ameloblastoma, in which a benign tumor began growing in her jaw and has now expanded to a life-threatening size,” writes our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “The mass is beginning to block her windpipe and would be fatal without immediate surgery." HCA is requesting $1,500 to help fund the cost of transporting Monise to New York City for a surgery expected to last over twelve hours. Mount Sinai Hospital is contributing $75,000 towards the procedure. HCA explains, “One team of specialists will first remove the mass, and a second team will then reconstruct her jaw using bone material borrowed from Monise's leg. While Monise's face will always bear evidence of her surgery, the medical team should be able to completely remove the tumor and restore her to health." Let's pitch in to help Monise gain a new lease on life!