Six-year-old Siya is from India and lives with her parents and three siblings. Her father sells vegetables for a living, while her mother takes care of the home and the children. Two months ago, Siya suffered an electric burn. The wound healed, but it left behind a contracture: scar tissue has tightened and pulled the index finger of her right hand into a bent position. She can no longer straighten it fully. At an age when she should be learning to hold a pencil, draw, write her letters, and play freely, her hand is holding her back. Siya has been advised to undergo surgery to release the contracture. Without it, the scar can tighten further as she grows, and her finger may become permanently stiff. Fortunately, our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, can help. Siya will undergo surgery on October 9th, and she needs help raising $929 to fund her procedure and care. With timely surgery and follow-up care, Siya has a real chance of regaining the movement in her finger, so she can grip a pencil, write, eat, and dress herself. Siya's grandmother shared, “We are grateful that she is receiving this surgery.”

Tasmiya is a bright, curious five-year-old girl from India. Tasmiya's father works in the carpet industry; her mother is a homemaker. Her favourite fruit is mango, and like any child her age, she wants to run, play, and go to school with her friends. She is the second of four daughters, and her father describes her as a girl who loves to study. Her face lit up whenever school was mentioned, but her injury made it difficult for her to continue her education. About a year ago, Tasmiya was playing with a friend when she accidentally fell into hot water, causing severe scald burns. The burns covered a large area of her chest, affecting both sides, including tissue near her breasts and chest wall, as well as her right thigh. As the burns healed, they left thick, raised scarring across her chest and thigh, and most disabling of all, a scar contracture at her right elbow that has pulled the joint out of its normal position. The contracture in the right elbow has left her unable to fully extend or use her arm normally. Simple daily tasks like writing, dressing, and carrying a school bag are difficult for her right now. Tasmiya has not been able to go to school or continue her education, something her father says weighs on her, since she loves learning. As she grows, the scarring on her chest also carries the risk of restricting normal development if left untreated. Tasmiya's family learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and sought treatment. On September 2nd, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery. This will release the contracture and help restore use of her arm, allowing her to write and carry a school bag, dress herself, and do everyday things other five-year-olds do without a second thought. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Tasmiya's father shared, "I am happy that she will have her surgery done, and I am confident because my neighbour, who had severe contractures, was treated here and is fully healed. I have full faith in Tasmiya's recovery."

Nae is a 38-year-old woman who lives with her family in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. They receive support from development agencies for food and household expenses. They also have access to basic healthcare and education in the camp. In her free time, Nae loves to embroider traditional clothes for extra income. Since June 2024, Nae has been experiencing pain in her lower abdomen. She cannot sit for long periods and feels tired easily. She diagnosed her with a leiomyoma or a benign tumor in the cervix. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Nae's surgery. On March 5th, she will undergo gynecological surgery that will help address her symptoms and allow her to resume her daily activities free of pain. Nae said, "I would like to have the surgery to finally be healthy again. The monthly follow-ups and not feeling better make it difficult for me to manage my daily life."

Vincent is a 13-year-old boy from the Philippines. His mother works as a cashier at a pawnshop, and his father is a factory worker. At the age of 10, during a consultation for circumcision, Vincent was found to have hypospadias, a congenital condition that affects the urethra. Initially, his parents thought that his condition would resolve naturally, as their son did not experience any pain. However, the attending physician explained that Vincent could not undergo a regular circumcision and required corrective surgery instead. Following the diagnosis, the family sought medical evaluation at various hospitals, looking for an option they could afford. Fortunately, they were referred to our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Vincent will undergo corrective surgery on May 3rd. A portion of the cost of his procedure will be supported by the government health insurance program, but Vincent needs help to raise $1,184 more to completely fund his procedure and care. Vincent's parents shared, "It is our dream to provide Vincent the necessary surgical intervention. As his parents, we want him to live normally. I believe this is crucial as untreated hypospadias could affect his ability to have children in the future. So we couldn't thank you enough for making this dream come true."

Kimsrun is an 18-year-old student from Cambodia who lives with her parents and four siblings in Phnom Penh. Her family works hard to support each other. Her father is a rice farmer, and her mother sells food from home to earn a living. Her oldest sister helps by selling fruits at the market, while her two younger siblings are still in school. At home, Kimsrun enjoys helping her mother sell food, especially by making soup and cooking rice to sell. Three years ago, Kimsrun had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in her left ear to perforate. As a result, Kimsrun experiences pain and discharge. This condition makes it difficult for her to concentrate in class or to help her mother sell food. Kimsrun traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 5th, she will undergo a myringoplasty, during which surgeons will close the perforation in her left ear. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. Kimsrun said, "I hope I no longer have ear discharge, so I can help my mother easily and focus at school."

Poe is a 26-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, husband, and younger brother in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Her husband and mother work as agricultural day laborers. She usually relies on free basic healthcare services from a local clinic. During her free time, she enjoys looking after her younger brother, doing household chores, and reading online articles about newborn care. Poe is currently expecting her first child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to 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 Poe undergo a C-Section on May 21st. The procedure will cost $1,500, and Poe needs your support. Poe said, "I feel happy that the donors are going to help me with the treatment cost. It feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel less stressed about repaying my debt.”

Swe is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, son, and brother-in-law in Tak Province, Thailand. The entire family works as day labourers in corn fields except her son, who is a student. Currently, Swe has some tenderness and a mass in her left breast. She is taking oral antibiotics and painkillers. Doctors want Swe to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Swe's CT scan and care, scheduled for May 2nd. Swe expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for assistance with my treatment costs. You are the saviors of my life, and I feel immense happiness because of that.”

Say is a 27-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, her father, four siblings, and her daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Say is originally from Karen State, Burma, and arrived in the camp with her family in 2000 after the military attacked their village. She got married in 2019 after finishing junior college in the camp. Her father is a motorboat driver and her husband is an agricultural and vegetable farmer. Say is a homemaker and sometimes goes to her husband’s vegetable farms to help him. Say is currently expecting her second child and her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. Say had diabetes mellitus, anemia, fetal LGA (large gestational age), and polyhydramnios during her first pregnancy. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Say undergo a C-Section on February 21st. This procedure will cost $1500, and Say needs your support. Say said, “I wish to have a healthy baby, and I am happy with either girl or boy, as long as my baby is healthy. In the future I plan to go the vegetable farms more often and stay there when my children grow up to help my husband.”