Htoo is a 6-year-old boy from Thailand. He lives with his parents, brother and two sisters in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Burma. Htoo and his siblings were born in the refugee camp. Htoo’s mother is a homemaker, while Htoo’s older brother and sisters go to primary school and Htoo attends kindergarten. His father used to work as a day labourer, but has been unemployed since the pandemic began. Currently, they have no income and receive some financial support for their daily expenses. Luckily, Htoo's family receives free basic healthcare and education in the camp. In late October 2020, Htoo was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. If he stands up for a short period of time, or walks, the right side of his private area will swell. Around twice a week, Htoo shares with his parents that this area is hurting him and he feels uncomfortable. Fortunately, on April 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Htoo's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 8th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Htoo's father shared, “Most of the time, my son is very active and playful. He will only rest when he complains about the pain.”

George is an 11-year-old boy and the third child in his family. George is in grade six and loves playing football a lot. Both of his parents are farmers. To earn a living, his mother sells the farm produce, which makes them some income. To supplement these earnings, his father completes any informal jobs he can find. George was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, George has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. George will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 3rd. AMHF is requesting $561 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. George’s father shared, “It is very difficult for us as a family to raise the required amount for his surgery. We are grateful and appreciative of any help offered to us."

Myo is a 16-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and four brothers in northern Rakhine State. Myo is a student in grade nine and his four brothers also go to school. However, they have been unable to study since the Covid-19 pandemic shut all schools. Myo’s parents are day laborers, and their family's combined income is just enough to cover their daily expenses since Myo and his brothers’ schooling is free. To survive with limited income, they forage for vegetables and fish. If they fall ill, they use traditional medicine, which is more affordable then going to a clinic or a hospital. Myo was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, which is 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, Myo cannot walk long distances or climb stairs because of his tiredness. Sometimes, he cannot breathe very well. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Myo. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 7th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Myo shared, “I am worried about my health and I feel sorry for my parents. Because of my health problems, my father had to work more days to earn more money. Also, my mother cannot work because she accompanies me and has to take care of me. I hope my school will reopen soon so that I can go back to school. One day I hope that I can become a teacher. I want to teach because there are not enough teachers in my village.”

James is a very playful and jovial boy. He loves to play with his friends and, his grandmother shared, they would play with anything because toys are hard to come by. One day James and his friends found a calabash and chose to play with it. While they were playing, one of them took the calabash and threw it to James. The calabash hit James at his right hip and he fell down. He struggled to stand up and immediately started limping and crying out of pain. He was rushed home to his grandmother where she took him to a nearby facility. James was given some pain medication and then sent home. His grandmother shared that a few days down the line his situation was not getting any better and he could not walk. James's grandmother sourced some funds and brought him to Kijabe Hospital for examination. Upon review, the doctor requested scans to develop a treatment plan, but due to lack of money to pay for the scan, his grandmother decided to go back home and look for money. While at home, it was took her a long time to raise the required amount for the scans. One day their church pastor visited to check on how they are adapting to life after the death of James’s mother. During the visit, he noticed that James was barely moving. He was concerned and asked his grandmother what was wrong. James's grandmother explained what happened and the current situation they are in. The pastor brought James back to Kijabe Hospital for the scans. When the doctor reviewed the scans, they immediately admitted James as an emergency case and a surgery was done helping to save his leg. During a regular clinic follow-up yesterday, his doctor noticed that the wound was oozing and was concerned about an infection. An x-ray was done and showed that his leg again needs emergency surgery to treat his condition. James is the youngest of four children. His father separated with his mother, and left James and his siblings to his mother. A few years later, James's mother died and his grandmother has taken full responsibility of the four children. To earn a living, his grandmother does laundry and ploughs farms for their neighbors. She does not have another source of income. James's first surgery was supported by Friends of Kijabe Hospital, but his grandmother is appealing for financial help for the surgery that is now needed for James. James’ grandmother shared, “At home after the first surgery, I was very happy to see James slowly trying to play with his friends again. Those were happy moments that I never thought James would experience again. I am requesting for financial help to put back a smile on his face."

Aaron is a five-year-old boy, the 3rd and last born child in his family. Aaron is talkative and likes playing with other children. His father is a farmer while his mother is a housewife and also a farmer. They live in a one-roomed traditional grass-thatched house in Kenya. Aaron has a condition called clubfoot on his right foot, which causes his foot to be twisted out of shape. This condition causes difficulty with walking and even with wearing shoes. Fortunately, Aaron traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, to seek care. On November 15th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on Aaron. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund his clubfoot repair procedure. After treatment, Aaron will be able to walk easily and wear shoes normally and comfortably. Josphat, Aaron's father, shared, “I am humbly requesting for help to enable my son to undergo surgery. We would love to see him walk like other children.”

Vin is a 32-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. Vin's sister and parents have died, so he now lives with other relatives. When he isn't working, Vin enjoys meeting up with his friends and helping people work on their homes while listening to the radio. One year ago, Vin developed hip pain on the left side. He presented to our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre with left femoral neck necrosis. Surgeons at CSC will perform a left hip replacement that will reduce his pain and increase his mobility again. Currently, he can not walk without supports and is unable to work. His treatment is scheduled for October 7th, and Vin needs help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. Vin said, "I hope I am able to walk again so I may work again and my family members won't have to worry so much about me."

Thomas is an 11-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the last born in a family of five children. Thomas was born through an emergency cesarean section, which his parents were not expecting. They had to sell some of their harvest which they had saved for home use to be able to pay the bill. Thomas' parents are small-scale farmers who depend entirely on what they harvest for their living. Thomas has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Thomas traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on September 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Thomas's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear shoes when the time comes. Thomas’s mother says, “We have been left with no money to be able to afford our son’s treatment cost, kindly help us.”

Chamnan is a 33-year-old soldier from Cambodia. He and his wife have two children. His wife works at a nearby factory while their kids are at school. Chamnan enjoys playing soccer with his fellow soldiers, reading the news, and travelling around the countryside. In 2013, Chamnan had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his right ear to perforate. For this reason, Chamnan experiences ear discharge and hearing loss. He cannot communicate clearly with others, and has had to spend money on medicines for his infection. Chamnan traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On August 5th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $464 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chamnan said, "I am hoping that my surgery will let me hear well enough to talk with my co-workers more, since they like to talk with each other a lot."

Nay Kaw is an 11-year-old student from Burma. He lives with his parents, two older brothers and two younger sisters. He is currently in first grade since he left monkhood last year. His father is a farmer and his mother is a homemaker who looks after his youngest sister at home, the other sister is also a student like Nay Kaw. Nay Kaw, along with his two brothers, help with household chores and in his free time, he likes to play cane ball and hunt. Since birth, Nay Kaw has a had a mass on his right wrist. When he turned three years old, the mass increased in size but was still not painful. But by the time he was ten years old, the mass increased in size again, and became swollen and painful. His mother took him to a traditional healer but the medicine he received did not help. Fortunately our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, can help. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on July 9th. This surgery will relieve him of his pain and discomfort. He needs your help to cover the $1,500 cost of his procedure and care. Nay Kaw shared, “I would like to be a teacher because I would like to teach children like my friends who are not able to go to school to study.”

Pheap is a 39-year old seafood seller from Cambodia. She lives with her husband and for children. Her oldest son is a construction worker, while the others are students. In addition to working long hours, she also spends time helping her children with their work. In her free time she like to watch Khmer dramas on TV. Six months ago, Pheap developed a cataract in each eye, causing her to become partially blind. She feels constant irritation in her eyes. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Pheap learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three-and-a-half hours by taxi seeking treatment. On June 3rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $425 procedure. Pheap said, "When my eye surgery is successful, I can finally work again to get more money for my family, and I can recognize my children. They want their mom to be better."

Meet Sharon, a 5-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the second born in a family of four children. Sharon was brought to Medical Partner's clinic by her grandmother. Her mother has stayed at home and according to Sharon’s grandmother, she is mentally impaired. Both Sharon's mother and grandmother do not work and only depend on farm products and well-wishers. Their family hails from Makengi village in Embu county. Sharon has a burn scar deformity that she sustained at home when paraffin poured on her and unfortunately, she caught fire, severely burning her feet. She healed with contractures on her hands and feet as well. She currently cannot walk or hold things on her hand and she is in great pain at the moment. Surgery will be of great impact to her as she will be able to stand, walk, and hold things. Her family is not able to raise the estimated cost of surgery and thus requested for support. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Sharon receive treatment. On May 20th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to better allow her to use her hands easily. Now, she needs help to fund this $799 procedure. “We cannot be able to raise the estimated cost of surgery and if there are any means that you can support us, we will be grateful.” Sharon’s grandmother told us.

Cyrus is a businessman from Kenya and the father of four children. He sells second-hand clothes to make a living. His wife takes up small jobs to complement his income. He was involved in a road accident as a pillion passenger while rushing home to avoid trouble with the police during the current COVID-19 curfew in the country. While riding a motorcycle, they lost control as they were trying to avoid hitting a pedestrian. He suffered a closed femur fracture and was rushed to the hospital. He is in pain and cannot walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 7th, Cyrus will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Cyrus says, “I am in great pain and worried of the financial cost required. Kindly help me. I look forward to continue providing for my children.”