Ko Zin is a 24-year-old man from Burma. He lives in Thailand with his mother, father, and two sisters. His family is from Karen State, Burma, but they moved to Thailand ten years ago for better job opportunities. When Ko Zin was nine years old, he started to experience yellow eyes, low appetite, vomiting, and pale skin. His mother took him to a hospital, where he was admitted for a week, had blood tests done, and received blood and IV transfusion. He was diagnosed with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that causes your body to make less hemoglobin than normal, leading to low red blood cell counts and anemia. Physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital determined that Ko Zin should undergo a splenectomy, a surgery to remove the spleen. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled for September 14th. Once completed, will hopefully improve Ko Zin's quality of life. Ko Zin’s mother said, “One of his older sisters passed away when she was 10 with the same diagnosis as him so for him, we tried our best for his treatment as we can and thank you so much for helping us with the treatment support.”

Shivam is a 16-year-old boy from India. He is in the 11th grade and has two siblings. His father has a shop selling electrical items, while his mother is a homemaker. When Shivam was four years old, he sustained injuries from a heater. This caused a burn contracture of his left hand, affecting the mobility of his hand. When Shivam and his family learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, they traveled over 100 kilometers seeking treatment. On July 15th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery on his hand so he can move his fingers better. This should lead to improved grip strength and greater ease in performing everyday tasks like holding objects or writing. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Shivam shared, "I feel happy about getting this surgery, and I hope one day I can become a businessman like my father."

Emmanuel is a 45-year-old hardworking father from Philippines. He previously worked as driver to support his family, but is currently unemployed, which is challenging while raising two school-going children. His wife is also unemployed, and with no steady income, the family often skip meals and mainly depend on partial repayments of debts from relatives, and occasionally borrow money from the children's uncle. Six years ago, Emmanuel began to experience troubling symptoms, including intense chest pains that radiate to his back, which prevented him from sitting or lying down. He made repeated attempts to seek treatment in public hospitals, but these were unsuccessful due to overcrowding. Emmanuel is growing increasingly worried about not being able to provide for his family, yet he remains hopeful that the surgery could alleviate his painful symptoms and reduce the financial strain on his family. Emmanuel has been diagnosed with cholelithiasis, which are hardened pieces of bile that form in the gallbladder. Doctors have advised him to undergo a cholecystectomy, which the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at a risk of future health complications. Emmanuel is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 11th, through our partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's surgery and care. Emmanuel says: "Despite our current struggles, I remain optimistic about our future. Once I receive treatment for my condition, I'll return to work so I can provide for my family again. My wife and children keep me strong."

Aaron is a quiet and calm three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the 6th born in a family of seven children who live in a village in Kilifi County. Aaron was born with both spina bifida and clubfoot conditions, which has made his early years very challenging. He has already undergone surgery to address the spina bifida condition, but he is still unable walk, stand, or crawl on his own. Both Aaron’s parents are small-scale farmers who work hard to provide for their large family, but life has not been easy. After his spine surgery, Aaron started serial casting clinics at a county hospital to correct his clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. However, his feet began to swell, and the family slowly lost hope in the treatment. They did not know what to do next. One day, Aaron's family heard about a mobile clinic in Mombasa, organized by our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure Hospital. Without hesitation, they traveled to attend the clinic, hoping for a new beginning for their son. After an assessment, Aaron was scheduled for bilateral serial casting in preparation for surgery. Aaron and his family traveled to AIC Cure Hospital where he is currently undergoing serial casting. Following this, surgeons have scheduled clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Aaron's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand, walk, and live a more independent life. His parents look forward to the day he will join school like other children and grow up with confidence. Aaron's father says: “My prayer and hope is for my son to walk and join school, just like other children."

Mar is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his sister, niece, five nephews, and a grandniece in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Mar is retired. His niece and sister are teachers at the camp school, while his nephews work as construction and carpentry day laborers. Their combined income is just enough to cover their daily living expenses. They received free basic health care at the camp clinic. During his free time, Mar volunteers to clean at the church. In the middle of September 2025, Mar began to experience pain in his lower back and noticed blood in his urine. He visited the camp hospital, where a doctor examined him and suspected he may have a benign mass in his prostate, and referred him to a bigger hospital for further investigation. Mar sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the mass on February 13th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “It is not comfortable to walk with this urine tube. Without it, I cannot pass urine. I hope I can have surgery soon,” said Mar. He also added, “Thank you, BCMF, for helping me with my treatment. I hope to live without this urine tube after the surgery.”

Mili is a five-month old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, who is a homemaker; her father, who is a truck driver; and two older siblings in a neighborhood of La Paz. When Mili was born prematurely, doctors informed her family that she had Down syndrome and a heart condition. Since then, Mili has had difficulty breathing and gaining weight, and needs this surgery to become healthy. Mili has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition prevents Mili's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness, and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. On January 13th, Mili will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Mili's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Her mother says: "I trust my child will have a successful surgery. I'm grateful for the kindness that people at the hospital have shown me; the doctors and nurses and everybody here are very nice to me and my daughter!"

Ber is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and older brother in a refugee camp in Thailand. She is a community health worker, while her two daughters go to school in the camp. In her free time, she loves watching movies and playing with her daughters. Ber is currently expecting her third child, and her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to macrosomia and pregnancy-induced hypertension. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ber undergo a C-Section on December 10th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Ber needs your support. Ber said, "I am the sole earner for my family, and next month there will be no more job for me as the USAID cut affected my workplace and the project I am working on is no longer available by January 2026. I am a bit sad and do not know where to look for a job. I am thinking of making snacks and selling them in the camp."

Toe is a retired 68-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two sons, his daughter-in-law, and his grandson in the refugee camp in Sob Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. One of Toe's sons is enrolled in school, and his daughter-in-law works as a nutritionist in a hospital in the camp. The family also receives monthly cash support from a charity at the camp. In 2022, Toe began suffering from burning and aching pain caused by an irreducible inguinal hernia. His hernia has grown larger and become increasingly painful. Now, Toe needs surgery to live more comfortably and regain his quality of life. Fortunately, on November 10th, Toe will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sariang Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,468 to fund the procedure. Toe shared, “I would like my discomfort to disappear. I cannot do whatever I want to do, and I cannot walk properly.”