Daychai is a 52-year-old man from Thailand. He lives alone in a village where he works as a gardener, growing fruits and maintaining the garden. From his work, he earns 3,000 baht (approx. 100 USD) per month. On February 23rd, Daychai was driving home from work and, suddenly, he lost control. He ran into a post beside the road and was knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he found himself admitted at a hospital with pain in his right ankle. The doctor came to see him and told him that his right ankle is fractured. He would need surgery at nearby Mae Sot Hospital for his ankle to heal properly. Currently, his right lower leg is swollen and he cannot walk without crutches. He is in severe pain though he feels better after he takes pain medication. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Daychai will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for February 25th and will cost $1,500. This surgery will help his ankle heal properly so that he can walk again and he can go back to work. He said, "I am all alone and if I do not work, then I have no income and no money to eat. I need to recover to be able to walk and work again. I will be more careful next time while driving."

Samuel is a hard working and handsome young 17-year-old. He is the second born in a family of four children. As his mother puts it, Samuel is a very obedient, hardworking, and kind boy. Samuel left high school after seeing how his mother was straining with his father being sick, so he started doing any casual work available to try and support his mother's efforts. Their family has encountered many challenges leaving Samuel's mother feeling helpless and frustrated. They shared that this is a hard moment for their family as Samuel's grandmother recently passed away and now Samuel has been in an accident. On January 15th, as Samuel was walking along the side of the road, a car hit him and the driver ran away. Samuel is experiencing pain from the fracture injury that resulted from the accident. If not treated, he may have malunion, where his leg may be permanently impacted and he may never be able to fully use his leg again. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 27th, Samuel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Following surgery, Samuel will no longer be in pain. His leg will heal and he will be able to walk. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “I left school to assist my mother, and now this has happened. I feel very frustrated and hope someone can assist me so that as soon as I get well, I can start working again to support my mother and our family,” said Samuel looking very concerned.

Noel is a nine-year-old student and the oldest child of two children in his family. He is currently in first grade in school, and will join second grade early next year. Noel’s mother works as a small-scale farmer to make a living, and sells her surplus when possible. Noel has clubfoot of both feet, a condition in which his feet are twisted out of shape causing difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. This year, Noel has had difficulty walking to and from school. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Noel receive treatment. On December 17th, Noel will undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center, and now, AMH is requesting $935 to fund Noel's procedure and care. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Noel’s mother shared, "I have always wanted to seek treatment for my son but due to financial challenges, I have not been able to get the money."

Jayden is a quiet, shy two-year-old boy. He is the youngest in a family of three children. His mother works as a waitress in a local hotel while his father recently took on a new job as an uber driver. Jayden was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and be at risk of infertility. Jayden's parents learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), through a local television station. When Jayden turned two, his parents brought him to AMH's care center for examination. On November 8th, Jayden will undergo corrective surgery. AHM is requesting $847 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Jayden’s mother shared, “As a family, we are really looking forward to Jayden being able to have treatment.”

Letina is a bright sixteen-year-old student. He's from a large family with ten children with Letina being one of the oldest. At school, Letina's best subjects are math, Swahili, and social studies. He is a hard-working student and helps look after his father's cattle when he is not studying. About three years ago, Letina's legs began curving as he grew. At first, it was a slight curve but has worsened over the years. As a result, Letina has had to stop his studies in search of treatment for his legs. Due to the family's limited income, they could not previously seek treatment for their son. Letina visited our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), where he was diagnosed with bilateral valgus, a condition in which the bone joint is angled outward away from the body's midline. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, walking is painful and near impossible. Letina shared he is now unable to walk a long distance and feels pain when he does walk. On October 26th, Letina will undergo corrective surgery. Treatment should help restore Letina's mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. AMH is requesting $880 to help fund Letina's surgery. Letina shared, "Walking has become very hard for me due to pain and how deformed my legs are. My friends have been making fun of me at school."

Oem is a 70-year-old rice farmer. He and his wife have two daughters, two sons, and three grandchildren. All of his children work as farmers. Due to his age and poor vision, he is unable to go outside much anymore, so he stays at home and takes care of his grandchildren. When he has time, he likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio or listen to the news. One year ago, Oem developed a cataract in his left eye causing him sensitivity to light and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Oem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for an hour and a half seeking treatment. On September 20th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Oem shared, "I hope I can see clearly again. I can go to the rice field to help my wife, and I can plant some vegetables and raise some chickens for sale to support my family."

Azimera is the 27-year-old daughter of two farmers. She is passionate about her education, and has dreamed her whole life of starting her own business. Azimera dealt with labored breathing and a persistent cough for years, but her symptoms eventually got so bad that she had to drop out of school. She now works a simple job at a hotel, but struggles to make ends meet on her modest earnings. Azimera tries to remain positive despite her illness, but lately she has been so sick that she can rarely get out of bed to go to work. Recently, a local priest noticed Azimera’s painful cough and suggested that she travel to Addis Ababa to see a doctor. Immediately after seeing her, Dr. Rick Hodes diagnosed Azimera with mitral stenosis, an easily treatable but life-threatening heart condition that narrows her mitral valve and causes blood to back up into her lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe. Azimera does not have close to the $1,500 she needs to fund her heart surgery. Without treatment, it will be nearly impossible for Azimera to achieve her dream of going back to school and starting her own business. We have an opportunity to make a huge difference in Azimera’s life. Let’s raise the money she needs for heart surgery and help her get back on track toward achieving her dreams!