Meet Ivelia! At two years old, Ivelia is the second born in her family of five in Guatemala. She enjoys playing with her siblings and often takes care of her youngest brother. Her mother cares for the home and the children while her father works as a day laborer. Recently, Ivelia has begun to become unresponsive to sounds. “She is having issues forming words, and her mother worries that if it continues without some intervention she will not learn how to speak,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us. “She needs testing and speech therapy now to prevent permanent damage to her ability to communicate with others.” The speech therapy that Ivelia needs costs $386, more than the family can afford while meeting their basic needs. Ivelia will be provided with a case manager to provide her speech therapy, transportation to and from the centre, and the medication to go along with the therapy. “This therapy will provide Ivelia tools to communicate with her family and siblings, as well as the necessary testing to determine if she is having difficulties due to hearing loss, brain damage, or another complication that may be preventing her from developing her speech,” explains WK. “If hearing loss is detected, it will allow us to take the next steps in providing her with additional care.” Ivelia’s mother is dedicated to ensuring her daughter develops to her potential, but does not have the financial means to do so. “Help me help my child,” she shares.

Thaw is an 18-year-old student from Burma. Thaw is in the 11th grade and hopes to one day become a building engineer. His favorite pastime is playing football. "In November 2010, Thaw and his mother noticed signs that he was not healthy," shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). His symptoms, often exacerbated by playing football, included shortness of breath and tiredness on exertion. After being diagnosed with a heart condition by a local clinic, he and his mother traveled to a specialist who told Thaw that he would require cardiac surgery for his condition. BBP tells us, "Thaw is suffering from lethargy, back pain, abdominal and chest pain, and sometimes has difficulty breathing. Sometimes when he is unwell with fever, his lips and fingertips turn a little blue." Due to Thaw's condition, he is no longer able to go to school. Thaw lives in Burma with his mother, aunt, and grandfather. Their combined income is just enough to cover the cost of food. $1,500 will cover the cost of complex cardiac surgery for Thaw's congenital heart valve defects. Burma Children Medical Fund has contributed $13,525 towards his treatment cost. "I hope I can get help with my problems so I can continue my studies in the future," says Thaw.