Meet Cho, a 42-year old woman from Burma. Cho lives with her mother, brother, husband and 12-year old adopted son. Until recently, Cho worked in a local tea shop to support her family but over the course of this year, Cho had to stop working due to increasing pain and discomfort from a uterine myoma. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), informs us that in addition to regular fevers, Cho “experiences back pain, stiffness in her legs and numbness in her abdomen." Upon seeking medical advice, Cho received an ultrasound and was diagnosed with uterine myoma, a condition in which fibroid masses develop within the uterus where they may continue to grow and multiply. The necessary treatment is too expensive for her family to afford at this time, due to her inability to work and a recent car accident that left her husband handicapped. “Cho worries about her son’s well-being," says BBP. "She wants to get better and return to work to help her husband recover from the injuries sustained in his accident." For $1,500, Cho will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix. This will prevent the uterine fibroids from redeveloping in the future. After surgery and recovery, Cho looks forward to being able to resume working to fulfill her hope of providing for her family without pain.

"Maung Pi is a ten-year-old boy from a rural village in Burma," Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. "When he was two years old he accidentally pulled a pot of boiling water down on himself when his mother wasn't in the kitchen." "For financial reasons, and because there were no hospitals near their village, Maung Pi's parents were unable to take him to get treatment for his burns," BBP writes. "Instead, they had to rely on using traditional oils to heal his scars. As a result, he has severe scar contractures down the left side of his body and his left arm is severely disfigured." BBP is ready to help. With $1500 Maung Pi will receive plastic surgery to release the skin contractures, allow him to be active and less self conscious. "I want to be able to play with my friends without them teasing and making fun of me," Maung Pi says. "After my treatment I will go back to school and I also want to help my parents more on their farm." Funding Maung Pi's care will help turn these dreams and ambitions into viable possibilities.

Rina, a 14-year-old girl from Cambodia, fractured her spine, and broke her tibia and fibula about a week ago, when she fell from a tree she was playing in "that was about twenty feet high,” describes our medical partner. “Her left leg and left side of her bottom took the brunt of the fall, leaving her with a broken tibia and fibula, and a compression fracture of the first vertebrae of her lumbar spine." As a result, Rina "can't do anything but lie in bed without having horrible pain and is experiencing numbness in her left foot.” "Rina is in the eighth grade at school and has two younger sisters," her doctors continue. "She loves to read and her favorite class is Biology." For $405 we can provide Rina with treatment which will significantly reduce her pain and will soon allow her to walk again. Let's help Rina get back on her feet and back to school!

Meet Martine, a baby girl living with her parents and two older siblings in Haiti. Her mother is a stay-at-home mom and her father works in construction. Martine was born with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus, “in which a hole between two parts of the heart that normally closes by itself after a baby is born, instead remains open,” our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, tells us. “As a result, blood can flow through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen; leaving the child sickly and breathless. Without treatment, the condition can be fatal.” $1,500 covers Martine’s surgery that will repair her heart and allow her to live a long and happy life. “We are relieved to know that Martine can have this surgery – we don’t know what we would have done without this help!” share her parents.

This is Esther, a hard working 24-year-old mother of two living in Tanzania. Esther and her husband are small-scale farmers with seasonal income. Last year, while cooking porridge on the stove, Esther had a seizure and fell into the open fire. According to a doctor at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), "It was her little daughter who saved her life by shouting so loudly for help when she found her mother face down on fire," As a result of the burn, Esther is unable to close her eyes. She constantly tears up due to dust and wind blowing in her eyes. She is also at high risk for an eye infection due to the debris that enter her eyes. "If not treated, Esther will never be comfortable," says AMHF. A $780 skin graft treatment will allow Esther to close her eyes again. She will no longer be in constant discomfort, and will be able to refocus on her family, children, and work. Esther says, “I long to be able to close my eyes, look without tears falling down my cheeks and not to suffer when it is cold, windy and dusty." Let's guarantee Esther access to the treatment she needs!

Meet 27-year-old Sukroth. He lives in a rural area of Cambodia and works as a rubber plantation laborer to contribute to his family's daily needs. “About one month ago, Sukroth had an injury with a machine at work," writes our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "He lost one finger and badly damaged his left hand. Sukroth spent the family savings to travel to Vietnam for good treatment; however, they have run out of money, and Sukroth needs further surgery to improve hand function." While Sukroth continues to work at his job, he is worried that he will be fired due to his limited ability to carry things and grip his hand. For $300, the team at CSC can perform a contracture release surgery with a skin graft, which will improve the overall function of Sukroth’s left hand. Let’s help Sukroth regain his dexterity and continue working his job at full capacity.

Velina works as a caretaker for children and also does odd cleaning and washing jobs. She is 68 and lives with her husband, a salesman in a mechanic shop, in Haiti. When at home, Velina loves to cook. A while ago, Velina noticed a bump on her breast and went to see a doctor, who did a biopsy. The biopsy showed breast cancer. Our medical partner, Project Medishare of Haiti, tells us, "Velina has had surgery; she needs chemotherapy to finish her treatment. The chemotherapy sessions she will have to take will give her big chances to complete the treatment and to be cured because if she does not take chemo she will have to start over." They add, "her breast is painful sometimes and she does not feel comfortable; this mentally affects her." Velina is worried because she cannot pay for the chemotherapy she needs, which will cost $1000. Together, we can raise this money for her. Your donation will help Velina beat cancer once and for all!

Lillian is a one-year-old baby from Guatemala who comes from a family with limited resources. Due to an ongoing illness and because food is often scarce in her home, Lillian has not been getting the nutrition she needs to grow as she should. She is extremely underweight and short for her age and her development is not progressing much month to month. She can't sit or speak, and has limited energy. For $525, our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, can provide intensive nutritional therapy that will help Lillian develop normally again. Her doctor notes that Lillian's family are attentive to her condition and are "looking forward to working with us to turn around their child's health." Let's help give Lillian a chance at a healthy life!

Florence is just six days old. She is the firstborn child to two loving parents. Her mother is a tailor and her father sells merchandise in a nearby trading center. The family owns a small piece of land, which they farm for home consumption. Florence has spina bifida, which causes an open mass on her back. Without surgery, Florence is likely to develop an infection, have a tethered spinal cord, and develop scoliosis. Florence's parents earn enough to cover the basic needs for their family but they have been unable to raise funds for Florence’s surgery. “I look forward to seeing my daughter’s back closed. It makes me feel so sad to see it open, and I pray we’ll get the support we need for her surgery,” her mother says. For $980, Florence will receive surgery to close the mass on her back. She will be at much less risk of developing an infection or other conditions caused by spina bifida.

Sarak lives in Cambodia. He is a typical 24-year-old: he loves to listen to music, read, and watch TV. Unfortunately, Sarak was involved in a motorbike accident and fractured his right finger. This causes him pain and limits the functionality of his right hand. Now, he cannot work and it is difficult for him to write. For $300, Sarak with receive a procedure to realign his fractured bones so that they heal properly. This will restore the function of his hand and decrease his pain. Let’s help Sarak get back to work with full function of his hand!

As their first and only child, Mohamed is the love of his parents’ life. Despite being born with hydrocephalus—a medical condition in which abnormal accumulation of fluid around the brain causes increased pressure in the head—this five-month-old is quite healthy. With early diagnosis and timely treatment, most children with hydrocephalus recover successfully and go on to lead normal lives. If left untreated, however, this condition can lead to brain damage, a loss in mental and physical abilities, and even death. Mohamed needs $650 for a shunt placement that will drain the excess fluid around his brain. His family is very poor and traveled several hours to bring him to the hospital so let’s do our part to make sure he gets well!

Meet Martha, a 12-year-old girl from Kenya. Martha's mother died when she was giving birth, so Martha grew up in an orphanage. Martha lives with a brain tumor that causes her severe headaches and weakness in her legs. Left untreated, the brain tumor could cause permanent brain damage and possibly death. The orphanage where she lives takes great care of her, but they don't have the resources to pay for her treatment. "We are grateful that Martha has a chance of treatment," her guardian at the orphanage says. "We are thankful for those willing to support her surgery.” For $1,500, Martha will receive a craniotomy to remove the tumor. She will stop experiencing severe headaches, and she can live without risk of the tumor growing. Let's help Martha grow up healthy and strong!