Saw Myint is a 53-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his retired mother, a niece, and a nephew in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Karen State, Burma. As an agricultural day laborer and occasionally as a motorbike taxi driver, Saw Myint is the sole provider for the family. His income does not cover the household expenses, let alone medical needs. For his medical consultations, Saw Myint has to miss work and is forced to borrow small amounts of money from his neighbors. In mid-2023, Saw Myint noticed a small growth on his lower lip that did not go away. He visited the IDP camp clinic, where the medic checked his lower lip and mouth area. He gave him one month's medication and asked him to return when the medicine was used up. However, the growth continued to increase in size and started to cause pain. Saw Myint was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, where he was diagnosed with cancer. He is scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on February 13th and needs your help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. “I do not have much free time since I am the only contributor to the family, but I really wish for things to go back to the way they were before this,” Myint explained. “Thank you BCMF and donors for helping and supporting me, I could not have paid for the surgery by myself.”

Lei is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives in the refugee camp in Mae Hong Song Province, Thailand with her husband and six children. Lei moved to Thailand due to the conflict and fighting in their village. Lei continued to study in the camp. Her husband is a day laborer outside the camp. Their children go to school in the camp. They receive some support for food and healthcare through non-government organizations working in the camp. They also plan vegetables and raise chickens to support their family. Two days ago, Lei began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness, and nausea. She was diagnosed with appendicitis and now needs surgery to prevent her condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Lei receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on March 13th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Lei and her family need your support. Lei said, “I am miserable for this sickness. I would like to get proper treatment as soon as possible and get better quickly.”

Alefa is a single mother of two from Malawi. She sells onions to support her family. Nine years ago, Alefa started experiencing lower abdominal pains. She went to the hospital and was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and a myomectomy was done to remove the fibroids. Seven years later, the pain came back. A scan revealed she has uterine fibroids and requires surgery. Alefa was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Health Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with symptomatic fibroids and requires a hysterectomy, a procedure where surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, requests $1,363 to fund Alefa's surgery scheduled for February 21st. Once recovered, Alefa will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Alefa said, "My problem is overdue; nine years is not a joke. I look forward to the urgent attention to receive my healing and be a productive mother to my two children again."

Mandira is a six-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three sisters. She is in the first grade and is learning to read. Mandira has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Mandira will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On January 30th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8000 to pay for surgery. However, Mandira's family also needs help to raise $1,500 to fund the costs labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Mandira's family overseas. Mandira's mother shared, "Our family will be so happy once our daughter's heart is finally treated!"

Naw Be is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband in Tak Province, Thailand after they fled from Burma because of fighting and airstrikes in their village. Her husband works as a gardener on a plantain. The owner of the plantain is their friend who gives them shelter to live in and provides food for them, but not a salary. In July 2023, Naw Be visited her son’s family and had an accident. She fell from a hammock and injured her hip. The doctor diagnosed her with a femoral fracture in her left hip. Currently, Naw Be needs crutches to walk. She has difficulty bending her leg, sitting, or standing. She cannot help with household chores like cooking and cleaning and has to depend on her husband to take care of her. Fortunately, Naw Be learned about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Surgeons will perform a total hip replacement to relieve Naw Be of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for December 20th, and Naw Be needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. Aside from her symptoms, Naw Be said that she feels very sad and does not know how to speak out. She said, “It was hard to come and stay in Thailand as I do not have any legal documents and now face the problem with my hip. Now I cannot do anything and have to depend on my husband, and my son's family for financial support. I feel sorry for them, and I feel like I am a burden. I also cannot return home to my home country because of the airstrikes. All the villagers fled. I try to smile when I encounter people but sometimes, I feel a burning pain inside because of my condition and my bad experiences."

Eithan is a five-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives in the western part of Bolivia in a subtropical area with his mother and younger brother. His mother is an agricultural worker. Ethan enjoys playing with his younger brother. Eithan has Shone's syndrome, a condition that includes having a mitral valve that is too narrow as well as a narrowing of the aorta. These cause blood to back up in his heart and lead to heart failure. On November 20th, Eithan will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will correct these conditions by opening the passages to the right size. Eithan's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Eithan's mother said, "I cannot sleep thinking about my son's condition. That is the only thing that I could think of and now he will have his surgery. I am so grateful!"

Mee is a 50-year-old woman who is originally from Karen State in Burma, but now lives with her mother and sister in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. The family moved to Thailand in December 2023 due to a civil war in Burma. Mee has a mental disability, and her mother takes care of her while her sister works as a day laborer to support the family. The family's income is insufficient to cover their daily expenses, leading them to occasionally borrow from relatives. At present, they are in debt. For health care, they usually visit Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Mae Sot for minor ailments. In early 2024, Mee began experiencing back pain and abdominal pain. She could not walk straight because of the pain and felt that the skin of her belly was tight. She has been diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition that occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. A total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix, has been recommended. If left untreated, Mee's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Mee is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on October 22nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this surgery will help Mee free from her uncomfortable symptoms. Mee’s sister said, “I feel anxious about her condition, especially since she also has a mental disability. Now that she needs surgery, I have yet another worry: how we can afford the costs. When I learned that there is an organization and donors willing to help my sister, it felt as if all my worries had lifted."

Kanika is a thirteen-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with her mother and younger brother in Pursat Province, near the border with Thailand. Kanika's mother sells groceries at home, and her father works at a factory in Korea to support the family. Kanika is currently in seventh grade and enjoys her geography class. She has shared that she wants to work in Korea like her father when she is older. At home, Kanika's favorite meal is fried fish with rice, and she likes doing her homework and helping take care of her younger brother. Kanika has been diagnosed with both Marfan syndrome and scoliosis, which are complex conditions leading to pronounced spinal deformities. These conditions affect her physical appearance, making her fingers and toes long and slender and causing a sunken chest. Marfan syndrome also impacts her heart function. Her scoliosis results in severe double curves in the thoracic and lumbar regions. These conditions make her feel uncomfortable at school, and in social situations, impacting her daily life. Kanika and her mother were referred by a public hospital in Phnom Penh to our medical center, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for spine treatment. On September 4th, specialized spinal surgeons will perform a fusion surgery to stabilize and correct Kanika’s severe spinal curvature. The surgeons will use implants and bone grafts to join the vertebrae together. Kanika’s mother can only afford $100 toward her daughter’s care and needs your help to raise the remaining $1,400 for the surgery, hospitalization, implants, post-operative medication, and physiotherapy. This procedure will help relieve Kanika’s discomfort, improve posture, and prevent future complications. Kanika's mother shared, "I hope that my daughter will be able to live comfortably and continue her schooling."

Balbina is a seven-year-old girl living with her parents and seven siblings in Tanzania. Balbina's parents are seasonal farmers. When Balbina was three years old, her mother noticed that she was having difficulty walking. At first, she thought it was due to fatigue from all of the walking that Balbina enjoyed doing. However, as the days went by, the problem persisted. Her mother took her to the nearest clinic, but they could not diagnose the issue. Over time, Balbina’s condition worsened. Eventually, Balbina began walking with one of her legs bowed. The condition deteriorated rapidly, and within six months, her gait changed completely. This made it difficult for her to walk and perform other activities at home. Balbina was in pain and easily fatigued. The family tried seeking treatment for Balbina, but were unsuccessful. They visited traditional healers hoping for a cure, but nothing worked. Balbina was referred by a hospital employee to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where she was diagnosed with windswept deformity. This condition requires corrective surgery to treat her legs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $891 to fund the procedure, scheduled for August 13th, that will enable Balbina to grow into a healthy young woman. Balbina’s father said: “I wish for my daughter to be okay. We would love to see her dreams come true as she grows older.”

Juanita is a widow with two children who is currently unemployed due to her physical limitations as a senior citizen. She is financially dependent on her daughter who is a single parent. Her daughter's income working as a factory worker is barely enough for the family's needs. Four years ago, Juanita began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain and vomiting. She endured the pain for the past years but in the past two months, it occurred more often. Juanita has been diagnosed with gallstones and was advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, which is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Juanita is scheduled to undergo surgery on July 13th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Juanita's surgery and care. Juanita said, "Thank you very much for your help. I hope you will continue helping more patients like me because it really is a huge help. Private hospitals are very expensive and there is no way we can afford it so I am very grateful."

Min lives with his family in Tak Province, Thailand. His father is a construction day laborer and his mother is a homemaker. In his free time, Min likes to play with his siblings, read stories, and watch movies on his phone. In the middle of 2022, Min fractured his right leg when a car hit the electric bicycle he and his friend were riding. After his family borrowed money, he had a steel rod inserted into his fractured bone during surgery at Mae Sot Hospital. During his last follow-up appointment in October 2023, the doctor said Min would need to have the rod removed. Unable to pay for it, Min's parents did not bring Min back to the hospital. In May 2024, Min started to experience pain in his right leg when he walked. His mother brought him back to the hospital, where the doctor said Min would need to have the rod removed. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund, can help. On June 14th, Min will undergo hardware removal surgery that will relieve him of discomfort and pain. Now, Min needs $1,500 to fund this procedure. Min's mother said, "I feel very sad when my son is in pain and I really want him to have surgery to remove the rod but I can't help him. Now that I know there will be an organization and donors who will help pay for my son's treatment, I am very happy."

Kay Thaw is a 29-year-old day laborer from Burma. He lives with his parents, five younger brothers, two younger sisters, a brother-in-law, and a nephew in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) Camp, in Karen State, Burma. Kay Thaw and his family fled to the IDP camp a year ago due to the conflict happening around their village at that time. The combined income of Kay Thaw's family is not enough to cover their daily needs. They borrow money from neighbors and also receive food donations in the IDP camp. During his free time, Kay Thaw likes to play football and cane ball. He also enjoys reading religious books. Currently, Kay Thaw has blurred vision in both of his eyes. Often, his eyes become red, inflamed, itchy, and watery. He cannot see other people’s faces and has difficulty seeing at night. Kay Thaw was diagnosed with juvenile cataract in both eyes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Kay Thaw. On May 17th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Kay Thaw's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Kay Thaw said, “I hope my vision goes back to normal so that I can see and work well. I am totally blind at night. I cannot see other people's faces even when they are beside me. I cannot read the prayers when I go to church. I am worried about my eyes. I cannot afford to pay for my treatment. Without your help, I do not know what I can do."