Surjeet is a 26-year-old man from India. He drives an electric auto rickshaw as a daily wage earner. When Surjeet was four years old, he sustained burns while sitting around a bonfire during winter. For around two months, he was treated at home by a nurse working at a government hospital. Twelve years ago, Surjeet, who lives in Bihar, travelled over 300 kilometers to visit our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, for specialized care. He had extensive post-burn contractures or tightening of the skin around the neck, arms, hands, and lower lip. He has undergone two surgeries for the release of his neck and left axillary contractures. Surjeet needs another surgery to help him regain strength and mobility in his right wrist and hand. On April 16th, he will undergo burn contracture release surgery, and he needs help raising $1,442 to fund his treatment and care. Surjeet has high hopes that this surgery will help him regain the function of his right hand. Surjeet's father shared, "With the help of G S Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital, I hope that my son will be able to study further with the promise of a better future after this surgery."

Pu is a 42-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his parents and older brother in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. His parents are retired, while his older sister works in the banana farm outside of the camp. Pu has stopped working since his accident in 2024. In his free time, he loves to hunt rats or mice in the forest to help them get by every month. Pu underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for reversal. In Pu's case, his colostomy requires reversal to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Pu. The surgery is scheduled to take place on March 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently, and return to work. Pu said, "I want to recover and find work. Now with my colostomy bag, it prevents me from working. Thank you for helping me."

Amos, who is 32 years old and single, lives in Narok County in Kenya. He works as a small scale farmer. Amos had just finished watching a football match on February 4th, when an argument broke out among his friends. Trying to be the peacemaker, he stepped in to calm the situation, but was struck with a forceful blow to his face. Despite the pain, Amos hoped that it was something minor, and took pain relievers. Two days later, however, his jaw had become severely swollen, and the pain was unbearable. He sought help at a nearby hospital, where scans revealed that his jaw had been fractured in three places. He was immediately referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for specialized care. Amos requires a mandible Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery to repair his jaw, and to prevent long-term complications. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 12th, Amos will undergo the fracture repair procedure at AIC Kijabe Hospital. This procedure will help relieve his pain and enable him to eat, speak, and get back to good health. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Amos said: “I’ve been on a yoghurt and mashed food diet for a week now. It feels like my teeth are falling out. The pain is unbearable.”

Yonas is a quiet and shy 10-year-old from Ethiopia who loves playing football, making handmade crafts, and helping his mother around the house. Yonas lives with his parents and his youngest cousin. His mother is a teacher at a government school, and his father is a security guard at a bank, though he will be stopping work this month. Together, his parents work hard to support the family and meet their basic needs. Most of their income is spent on food, making it challenging to afford medical bills and medication. Yonas was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His mother was unable to find a health center to address his needs and was advised by relatives to leave the condition as it was. However, when Yonas was four years old, another relative noticed the condition and informed his mother that the symptoms were unusual. Distressed for her son and fearful of the stigma associated with this condition, she felt overwhelmed and hopeless. After moving to Addis Ababa, Yonas's mother took him to a hospital, where they were referred to a pediatric specialty hospital. The doctor reassured her that surgical intervention could correct the condition, which gave her hope; however, they were also informed that there was a waiting list for the surgery. Yonas's mother continued to worry whenever he fell ill, fearing it might be related to his condition. After waiting five months, she finally received a call from the referral hospital informing her that Yonas had been referred to our medical partner's hospital, BKMCM Hospital. Fortunately, Yonas will undergo corrective surgery on January 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Yonas's mom said, "I wish my child could be as healthy as other children and safely complete his surgery. I long for the day when we can put this ordeal behind us."

Nee is a 29-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Sot Province, Thailand. The family is from Burma, but had to move to the refugee camp in 2023 after a military airstrike on their village. Nee is a homemaker and her husband is an agricultural day laborer. During her free time, she enjoys listening to stories and songs on her phone, and playing with her children. Nee is currently expecting her third child and is nearing her due date. She has been receiving free basic healthcare in the refugee camp, and recently, the doctors informed her that her baby is in a frank beech position. They recommend that Nee deliver via caesarean section to ensure the safety of both her and her child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Nee undergo a C-Section on December 8th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Nee needs your support. Nee shared, “When I learned I needed surgery, I started to worry about money. My family cannot afford the surgery cost, even our daily expenses is not enough. I do not have any relative that I can rely on, so I feel stressed. Now, knowing that I can receive support, I am happy. Thank you so much for helping me.”

Nan Lae is a 15-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, her two younger siblings in Karen State, Burma. Her father is a rice farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. She had to stop studying after the fourth grade due to her family’s financial difficulties. The family earns money from harvesting and selling rice, and their income is just enough to cover their daily expenses. In 2023, Lae noticed swelling in her gums. She visited the local clinic with her mother, where the medic removed a mass in her gums. The swelling disappeared, but after a year, the mass returned. Lae continues to experience swelling around her gums and difficulty opening her mouth. She can only chew on her left side because her right side is swollen. Nan Lae sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 12th, and needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Lae shared, “I cannot eat; sometimes I have to avoid chewing hard food.” Her mother added, “I want her to recover from this as soon as possible. She has already suffered for two years.”