Tin was born via normal delivery at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Thailand on July 16th, 2016. After her birth, doctors discovered that she has a large teratoma—a benign tumor that contains cells that can grow hair, teeth, or nails—protruding from her groin. The teratoma is about half the baby’s body size. Baby Tin is able to urinate and pass waste, but her breathing is labored, and her heartbeat has lowered slightly because her body is under the strain of having to pump blood and oxygen in and out of the large teratoma. Since two months before Tin's birth, her mother has been living at Social Action for Women (SAW), an organization in Mae Sot, Thailand, that helps women in need. When she arrived at SAW, she traveled to MTC with a medic who works at the clinic because she thought she had a mass in her abdomen. There, she learned that she was seven months pregnant. She did not know that Tin had a large growth on her body until she was born. Tin will need surgery to remove the teratoma so that she can grow and develop normally. Unfortunately, Tin's mother has no income and no family support. She receives a small stipend from SAW to cover minor expenses, and she sleeps and eats for free at SAW’s safe house. MTC referred Tin to Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for surgical care. $1500 pays for surgery to remove the teratoma from Tin's body as well as transportation to and from the hospital, pre- and post-surgical consults, and 40 days of hospital care, including lab tests, imaging, medicine, and food for Tin and her mother. Let's help fund surgery for Baby Tin!

Rosath is a 37-year-old farmer who lives with his wife and two sons in Cambodia. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies on TV and reading magazines. In 2013, Rosath was in a moto accident that caused an open fracture of his left forearm. The skin over the injury has healed, but the nonunion fracture still causes him pain and prevents him from using his arm. Rosath traveled six hours to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) with his brother after hearing about the organization from a tuk-tuk driver. Surgeons at CSC will perform surgery—open reduction and internal fixation and a bone graft—to set and heal Rosath's broken bone. $405 pays for Rosath's surgery as well as two weeks of hospital care, five days of post-operative care (including physical therapy), and six follow-up appointments during the first year after surgery. After surgery, Rosath will be able to use his arm again.

Davide is a 67-year-old pastor from Malawi's Central Region. He lives with his wife and his five children and 12 grandchildren live nearby. With his free time, Davide loves gardening and reading novels and newspapers. Three years ago, Davide starting experiencing symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, including pain and difficulty urinating. Davide's symptoms made it impossible for him to work, and difficult for him to enjoy any daily activities. He came to Nkhoma Hospital to seek surgical treatment, which he had been unable to access until now. For $726, Davide will undergo prostate resection surgery. He and his family are looking forward to the procedure so he can return to his life, pain free. When Davide returns home, he is planning to work on building a new house for his family.

Meet Kor, a 57-year-old man from Cambodia. “Kor is married with three sons, two daughters, and one grandchild. He enjoys listening to the radio," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). One year ago, Kor developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes him blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for him to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Kor and his sister travelled two hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Kor's sight. With $225, Kor will undergo cataract surgery, during which his old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing him to see again immediately after his operation.

“I no longer have the strength to dig,” Abigaba shares. “But after recovery I will be able to take care of my banana farm.” Abigaba is a 77-year-old man from Uganda. He usually earns his money from harvesting bananas in his backyard plantation, but a recent medical issue has taken him out of commission. Two years ago, Abigaba developed swellings in his scrotum. These masses, known as acquired hydrocele, are caused by a build-up of fluid around the testes. Abigaba’s swellings have been increasing in size; they are painful, and make walking uncomfortable for him. A local councilman paid for Abigaba to visit a local health center, but the treatment he received there did not reduce the size of the swellings. Abigaba then visited Virika hospital, where doctors have recommended he undergo surgery to remove the hydrocele. Abigaba cannot afford to pay for this surgery on his own. His wife passed away and his children have all grown up and moved out, leaving him as the sole resident and breadwinner of his home. Although one of his daughters provides him with meals, Abigaba does not have any money saved for extra spending, since he has not been able to work lately. But we can help. For $215, Virika Hospital will provide Abigaba with hydrocele removal surgery, as well as his two-week post-operative hospital stay and medications. Let’s make sure Abigaba can leave his daily discomfort behind, and return to earning a livelihood on his farm.

Susan is a 34-year-old housewife from the Philippines who lives in a native house her husband, her three children, and her parents. She is a loving mother to her children, who are still very young. For the last 10 years, Susan has had an enlarged thyroid gland, commonly known as a goiter. Typically presenting as a lump or swelling at the front of the neck, a goiter can become large enough to obstruct nearby structures and cause difficulty swallowing or breathing. Most goiters are due to a deficiency of iodine, an important element in the body’s production of thyroid hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. Susan is very worried that her goiter will become bigger. She currently experiences pain with swallowing and eats only semi-solid food or soft foods. Because of her condition, she tires easily and finds it difficult to carry out daily activities such as washing the laundry, cleaning the house, and selling snacks in her neighborhood. Susan is also self-conscious when interacting with other people. Susan's husband has long wanted his wife to be examined by a specialist, but he could not afford to pay for her medical care. The income he earns as a family driver barely meets their family's basic needs. Susan received a medical examination during a health screening week sponsored by International Care Ministries. When she was told to come to town for her first consultation, she did not hesitate because she really wants the swelling in her neck to be gone so she can do things she wants to do without difficulty or pain. At the consultation, Susan was advised that she could undergo surgery—a thyroidectomy—to remove her thyroid gland. $1,500 covers the costs of Susan's surgery, transportation to and from the hospital, 10 days of hospital care—including medicine, imaging, and blood tests—and medication to take after she goes home. Susan is very optimistic about the operation. "I am very excited to undergo surgery to remove this mass in my neck," she shares. "I am thankful that my prayers were answered and someone will sponsor me for my surgery. My family and I were overjoyed at this good news. After the surgery, I will look for a job, so I can help my husband meet the needs of our family and provide for the future of our children."

Zaw is a 30-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and son at his parent in-law’s home. Though they live together, household income and expenses are not intermingled as his in-laws have their own children to care for. His wife stays at home to take care of their son while he works as a agriculture day laborer. In 2014, Zaw became aware of the symptoms caused by his condition. Whenever he tried to do heavy lifting he would experience laboured breathing. He became especially alarmed when he began walking from sleep due to his difficulty breathing. Besides feeling weak and tiring easily, his legs would sometimes tremble. On January 10, 2015 Zaw and his wife went to the National Heart & Lung Centre in Rangoon, which performed a cardiogram and referred him to Asia Royal Hospital for further testing. The doctor gave Zaw an appointment date to go back but because he ran out of money, he had to travel back home to borrow more money. Returning on time for their appointment, Asia Royal Hospital conducted a CT carotid angiogram. Zaw was told that treatment for his condition could cost 5,000,000 kyat (approx. 5,000 USD), Zaw and his wife returned home. Back in their village, concerned neighbors recommended Zaw travel to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), a Watsi partner. Departing from Mon State and accompanied by his wife and two aunts, they made a costly journey to Thailand. Upon arrival at MTC in July 2016, staff conducted an echocardiogram and diagnosed Zaw with a heart condition called Mitral valve regurgitation. He requires surgery to correct the condition and get healthy again. When Zaw isn’t working, he looks forward to spending time with his son. Because work is hard, he rests during his time off and occasionally the family will go on outings to visit relatives. "I look forward to returning to the days when I can work and provide for my family as I once did in the past," Zaw shared.

Chhe is a 59-year-old housewife from Cambodia who is married with two sons and two daughters. She enjoys watching movies, staying at home, and cooking for her friends and family. Last year, Chhe fell down and fractured her left elbow. Although she received a surgery at another clinic a month ago, she cannot afford to return to complete her treatment. Her fracture is mobile but she needs to have a pin removed and screws added to her left elbow. She is also in mild pain. Chhe traveled five hours with her son to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. For $405, surgeons will remove the pin in her elbow and add screws during an open reduction internal fixation procedure. This will keep her bones in place while the fracture heals properly. After recovery, Chhe will be free of pain and able to return home and use her arm again to take care of her family and friends.

Ragatim is an elderly man living in a remote area in Baringo County, Kenya. His wife is a farmer and he is a father to seven children, who are also farmers and live around the area. In 2015, Ragatim had an operation on his eye when an eye camp was held in their village. He, however, had an infection in his eye and was hospitalized at a local hospital. Due to his blurry vision, he is completely dependent. He is not able to walk with ease as well. After the discharge, he had an injury again on the same eye and completely lost his sight in October 2015. After being screened, a cataract surgery was recommended. He was not able to raise the amount needed and thus appeals for financial assistance. For $230, we can provide Ragatim with cataract surgery to restore his vision in his right eye. “I want to be able to see again and be independent as before," shares Ragatim.

Meet Phoeun, a 62-year-old man from Cambodia. “Phoeun is married with three sons, three daughters, and 15 grandchildren. Phoeun is a rice farmer and enjoys visiting the pagoda," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Six years ago, Phoeun developed a pterygium in each eye. A pterygium occurs when growth starts on the clear tissue of the eye and spreads to the cornea. "This causes him to have blurred vision and experience tearing, irritation, and burning," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Phoeun and his wife travelled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Phoeun's sight. With $150, Phoeun will undergo an excision surgery, and his cyst will be removed. “The burning, pain, and irritation will be relieved. His eyes will look much better after the operation. The redness and tearing will also stop,” CSC explains.

41-year-old Myint Khaing lives with her husband and four children in a village in Burma. "She and her husband have been married for eleven years. All of their children attend school," reports our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Myint Khaing has been pregnant 10 times and had two miscarriages. In 2014, she noticed a growth in her lower abdomen. One year later, it had increased in size. During a family visit to another part of Burma, Myint Khaing learned about a local clinic that partners with BBP and sought care. Doctors diagnosed her with uterine fibroids, a painful condition caused by noncancerous growths in the uterus. "Currently, her condition includes the discharge of blood clots, chills, headaches, occasional vomiting, and painful urination. Sometimes she is unable to urinate, which further compounds her pain," BBP explains. "Myint Khaing is a house wife and her husband is the sole provider of the family," shares BBP. He earns about $20 per month as a fisherman. In her free time, Mying Khaing likes to plant vegetables and clean around the home. Currently, the family is about $200 in debt to a neighbor, mostly for school fees and other living expenses. For $1,015, we can fund a hysterectomy to remove Myint Khaing's uterus and cervix. This will relieve her pain and other symptoms, allowing her to return to a normal life.

"Kim is married with one son, three daughters, and 10 grandchildren," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray." 78-year-old Kim developed a cataract in each eye one year ago. Cataracts are very common among elderly people in Cambodia. They often lead to blindness because people do not know treatment is available or can't afford it. Kim's cataracts cause "blurred vision, burning, tearing, cloudy lenses, and photophobia. She can't see anyone clearly or go outside alone," CSC reports. Fortunately, a simple $225 surgery at CSC can restore Kim's eyesight. With our help, doctors will remove the old, cloudy lens in each of her eyes and replace them with a new, clear implant. Kim traveled four hours with her granddaughter to reach CSC for treatment. Let's help restore her vision!