Moh Moh is a 15-year-old girl who lives on the Thai-Burma border. She was born with a lump on her face. As she got older, the lump got bigger. Her parents never sought treatment for her because they knew they could not afford it. Since she was a young girl, Moh Moh has been embarrassed about the lump on her face, but she has never experienced any pain or discomfort. Recently, however, Moh Moh was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At one of their care centers, she was diagnosed with a meningoencephalocele, which is a sac of nervous membrane and fluid protruding from a gap in the skull. Fortunately, Moh Moh is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on December 22. The results of this scan should give her doctors more information and help them develop a personalized treatment plan. Moh Moh's mother says, "I want to keep her near me because she’s the youngest child. I hope she can go back to school next year, but I am glad she dropped out this year because now she has the chance to have the treatment."

Naw Blu is a one-month-old baby girl who lives in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her parents moved to the camp from Burma to escape civil war and raise a family. In addition to her parents, Naw Blu also has three older sisters. One week after Naw Blu was born, her mother noticed that her left leg wasn't moving. X-ray results did not show any bone abnormalities. On December 16, Naw Blu will undergo a CT scan, which will help her doctors diagnose the problem. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, is requesting $414 to fund the scan. Over the past year, life in the refugee camp has grown more difficult, due to reduced food rations and fewer community workers. Jobs within the camp have become scarce. Despite these challenges, Naw Blu's mother is optimistic about the future. She will do whatever it takes to ensure the wellbeing of her children. She says, “I want my daughter to finish school, and after that she can do whatever she wants.”