Win is a 32-year-old father from Burma. He resides with his wife and six-year-old daughter. Win runs a small jam shop with his wife. During his free time, he enjoys using social media and playing football with his friends. Win was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long term damage to the heart and lungs. Win experiences chest pain, palpitations, and difficulty sleeping due to night sweats. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Win. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 13th at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital. Once completed, Win will hopefully live more comfortably and with such high risk from his cardiac condition. Win said, “Thank you for your assistance with my treatment. I’m glad and thankful for the support from BCMF."

Gay is a fifteen-year-old resident of Burma, who lives in a village in a conflict area called Karen State with his parents and two older sisters. Gay's parents and one of his sisters work in subsistence farming and his other sister is still in school. Due to financial constraints, Gay tends to the family's cows instead of attending school. During his leisure time, he enjoys fishing and gathering vegetables. On the morning of November 13, Gay was in an accident while riding on his friend's tractor. He was seated next to the driver and fell off when the tractor hit a bump while descending a slope. The trailer being towed behind the tractor ran over his right thigh, resulting in a severe femur fracture. Currently, Gay experiences considerable pain and is unable to move his right leg. He requires assistance from his father for basic activities like using the bathroom. Fortunately, Gay was able to make it to Mae Sot General Hospital, a care center of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Thanks to the support of BCMF, Gay is slated to undergo surgery on November 14th, to reset his fractured bones, allowing them to properly heal. BCMF is requesting $1500 to help fund this procedure. This surgical intervention holds the promise of enabling Gay to walk again without enduring pain. Expressing his gratitude, Gay's father shared, "When I heard that my son needs an expensive surgery, I felt hopeless. I did not know what to do and I felt so sad to see him in pain. When I learned from the doctor that donors will help pay for my son's treatment, I felt so happy that words cannot express how I felt. Thank you so much with all my heart for helping my son."

53-year-old Aye lives with her husband, son and two daughters in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her husband is a teacher, and Aye is a homemaker. All of the children go to school. In her free time, Aye loves to plant different types of flowers around her home. One day in the middle of 2018, Aye's friend told her that her neck looked a bit swollen. Aye did not seek medical attention, as she wasn't experiencing any symptoms. Gradually, however, she began developing mood swings, anxiety, and fatigue. Although she was put on medications by the doctor, her symptoms worsened, and she was referred to Mae Sot General Hospital. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with a left thyroid mass and for the next three years, she returned to the hospital for multiple follow-up appointments. During her appointment on September 28th, the doctor told her that she will need surgery to remove her thyroid and cure her worsening condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is seeking $1,500 to fund Aye's thyroidectomy, which is scheduled for October 11th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. Aye is looking forward to her surgery, as she feels as if the mass is increasing in size, and is causing her to have fatigue and chest pain. Aye said: “Because of my condition, I feel sad and angry without reason. Afterwards, I feel bad for my family. I believe that after my surgery, I will have normal emotions again, and I will be able to help my family more.”

Htet is a 38-year-old mother of four from Burma. She works as a street vendor, selling vegetables while her husband is currently unemployed. Her eldest daughter works as a money changer. Her other children attend school. During her free time, Htet enjoys visiting with her neighbors. Since November 2022, Htet has been experiencing frequent abdominal pain that has progressively worsened over time. She has been diagnosed with a gallstone. Unfortunately, medications only help relieve her pain temporarily. Htet has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Htet's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Htet is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on September 19. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Htet's procedure and care. Htet said: "It is impossible for me to pay for the surgery. I was so delighted when I met you and knew that you would help me get surgery. I would like to say thank you so much for your great support."

Sopheakdey is a 42 year old tuk-tuk driver, living with his wife and two children in Kandal province, Cambodia. Sopheakdey's wife works in a clothes factory, while Sopheakdey stays at home with their five year old daughter, since his condition prevents him from being able to work. For the past four years, Sopheakdey has been suffering from chronic back pain. While he has no history of trauma, it is difficult for him to bend, twist, or stoop down; any work or activity causes pain. His legs feel weak and clumsy, so he stays home. Because he cannot work, he worries about being able to feed his family. Fortunately, a relative told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Surgeons have diagnosed him with spondylolysis, a weakness or stress fracture in one of the vertebrae, the small bones that make up the spinal column. This weakness can occur with no known injury. The most common cause in adults is degenerative arthritis. On August 3rd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre plan to do a posterolateral lumbar fusion, to stabilize his spine and decrease his pain. Now, Sopheakdey needs your help to defray the cost of the $1500 operation. The money he receives will cover surgery, medication, and post-operative care. Sopheakdey said: "I hope that my pain will be less after surgery, and I can go back to work to help my wife and children."

Regina is a 42-year-old mother of four from Burma. She is a hardworking homemaker. During her free time, she enjoys walking around the neighborhood. Regina has been diagnosed with a gallbladder condition, resulting back and abdominal pain, yellowing of her skin, and other worrisome symptoms. The medications the doctors have provided her have not worked. If left untreated, Regina's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. She has therefore been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Regina is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on May 22nd. BCMF is requesting $1,487 to cover the total cost of Regina's procedure and care. Regina said “I am glad to receive help from BCMF for my operation. I am also very thankful to you for helping patients who can't afford surgery. I hope my operation goes well.”

Joyline is a 14-year-old student at a primary school in Kenya, where she lives with her parents and two younger siblings. Her parents are small-scale farmers who plant potatoes and beans, mainly for home consumption, with some sold for an income. They live in a home without electricity, using firewood as their source of heat, while getting their water from a nearby river. Joyline reported that she started feeling pain in her leg in November of last year. Her parents brought her to two different facilities, where the only treatment provided was pain medication. Walking has become difficult to the point she had to stop going to school and is unable to walk on her own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On May 9th, Joyline will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. The treatment will repair her fractured femur, and enable her to live a pain-free life. Now, African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Joyline says: "I feel so much pain, and the worst of it all is that I cannot walk. I am so uncomfortable when I see my mother helping me do things that I could do on my own. Kindly help me so that I may be able to go back to school and study well, as this is my final year in primary school."

Jasibe, who is only four months old, lives with her mother, grandparents and three older siblings in the mountains above La Paz, Bolivia. Jasibe was born with a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart, and a leak between two of the major blood vessels near her heart. As a result, blood doesn't flow normally through her body, and she struggles to breathe and to gain weight. Fortunately, our medical partner is here to help. On April 5th, doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will perform surgery, and repair both of these defects, so that blood can flow normally through Jasibe's body. Now she and her family need your help to raise $1,500 for this life changing procedure. Jasibe's mother said: "Our family is praying that after this surgery our daughter will become healthy and will be able to gain weight!"