Ei is a 35-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband in Mae Taung Village, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. She is a homemaker and her husband works at a construction site and on his landlord’s farm. Since 2013, Ei has been experiencing pain in her pelvic area as well as in her back. She has been diagnosed with endometriosis. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ei's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ei is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on November 22. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Ei says, “Without money it is impossible to receive treatment and there is no opportunity to get a job easily."

Sirila is a young student from Tanzania. She is the fourth born in a family of seven children. She is currently in second grade. Her best subjects are mathematics, Swahili, and social studies. She wishes to be a doctor when she grows up. Both of Sirila’s parents are small-scale farmers of maize, beans, and vegetables. Sirila was diagnosed with genu varus. Her legs bow outward at the knees. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she cannot walk to school without pain and discomfort. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Sirila. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 11. Treatment will hopefully restore Sirila's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Sirila’s mother says, “Please help my daughter. Her condition keeps worsening every day. We don’t know what to do.”

Myint is a 29-year-old healthcare worker from Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State, Burma. Myint was diagnosed with urinary and kidney stones in late 2017. In early 2018, Myint underwent laser treatments at the hospital for his urinary stone and kidney stone. About a month ago, he had back pain and he visited the clinic. A medic did an ultrasound and found another stone in his bladder. Now, Myint is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the stone on September 12. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund this surgery. He says, "I was worried because I don't know what was going on. Now, I feel relieved that the stone will be removed. I am very grateful to all the donors who make this treatment possible for me."

Sokban is a sixth grader from Cambodia. He likes to study mathematics, the Khmer language, and science. He enjoys eating fried pork and loves to read and play games with his friends. Five months ago, Sokban had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Sokban experiences ear discharge and tinnitus. It is difficult for him to hear clearly and pay attention in school. Sokban traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On August 10, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. His mother says, "I hope my son's surgery is successful and he can get back to school."

Saw Phar is a 50-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his family. They grow food for subsistence on communal land. In his free time, he likes to do handy work, making hats and baskets with bamboo. Saw Phar was diagnosed with a bile duct stone and a gallstone. He experiences back and abdominal pain. Saw Phar has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, Saw Phar's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Saw Phar is scheduled to undergo his biliary obstruction repair on July 12. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Saw Phar's procedure and care. “I really miss home, but when I go back I will go back with happiness and without pain,” said Saw Phar.

San is a 55-year-old woman who was born and raised in Thae Phyu village in Yangon Division, Burma. She lives with her husband, son, two daughters, son-in-law, and two-year-old grandson. She and her family are all subsistence farmers on their own land, which has pigs, chickens, and produce. In her free time, San likes to watch TV. When she was 14 or 15 years old, San first noticed a small growth on her neck—the start of the goiter. It was the size of the tip of her pinky finger. Her parents suggested she go to the clinic to investigate it and get surgery, but because it did not cause her pain or any other problems, she did not do anything about it. Gradually, as she aged, and with each of her four pregnancies, the goiter grew in size. Over the years, many people told her she could get treatment. In the last year, the goiter has started to make eating and drinking uncomfortable. Fortunately, she visited our medical partner and is scheduled to undergo thyroid surgery on June 18. She needs help funding this $1,500 procedure. She hopes that the surgery will make her neck better and allow her to continue to do her farm work long into the future.

Aung is a 16-year-old student from Thailand. He and his younger brother live in a dormitory and study at a migrant school in Mae Sot. His parents live in Burma, and they are farmers. He spends his spare time playing football and cane ball with his friends. Four days ago, Aung was playing cane ball with his friends at their dormitory. The next morning, he felt a sharp pain in his right groin and developed a fever. Aung has an inguinal hernia and a femoral hernia. He is in excruciating pain. Due to the pain, he is hardly able to walk. Fortunately, on May 21, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Aung's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 21 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Aung says, “I want to become a politician when I grow up. First, I need to continue my studies though when I am fully recovered.”

Kaltum is a baby from Somaliland. She was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Kaltum is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on April 24. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kaltum's procedure and care. After her recovery, Kaltum will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Her mother says, “We are from a poor community. My husband is a daily laborer and I am a house wife. We raise six children at home and I came here in order to get my child the right treatment. I can’t afford the medical bill and we raised fund to transportation to come to Ethiopia and to this hospital. Once we travel all this way and get to this hospital it is my hope to get the surgery and to see my child in a healthy and good position.”

Mary is a milk vendor from Kenya. She is a mother of four. The family lives in their ancestral home in Kitale, Western Kenya. Mary has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Mary. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 26. After treatment, Mary will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Mary says, “I am confident that soon I will be treated and heal. I want to be there for my children."

Mi is a 38 year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, her mother, and her uncle. She used to work as a seamstress, but due to her symptoms, she stopped working seven years ago. Her husband plants vegetables and sells them in the market. He is the only provider for the family. Mi was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. She experiences severe fatigue and chest pain. She cannot sleep, and sometimes her vision gets blurry. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Mi. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 23 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Mi says, “I want to stay with my family and open a bazaar shop in Myawaddy to sell everyday objects.”

Yonas is a child from Ethiopia. He is an outstanding student whose good grades earned him a sponsorship to study in an international school. He enjoys studying language and playing volleyball with his friends. His mother is a single mother who makes injera (flat Ethiopian bread) for a living. Yonas was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Yonas is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 23. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. His mother says, “It is our hope to get the surgery and to find our child in a better physical status.”

Mal is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She is a housewife who looks after her two daughters. Her husband is a pastor. One day in April 2016, Mal woke up with blurry vision in her right eye. She visited an optometrist, thinking that she may need glasses. She was told, however, that this was not an eye problem and was told to visit the hospital in Mandalay, where they would be better equipped to handle her treatment. At the hospital in Mandalay, she was given oral medication, but this did not help at all. Finally, she had an MRI, which showed a large mass or tumor growing in her brain and exerting pressure on her ocular nerves. Mal experienced headaches and lost her vision in both eyes. Mal sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on January 15. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Until she lost her vision, Mal used to help teach the congregation’s children every Saturday at Sabbath School. She also used to sew clothes for her own children and she loved to read. “I hope I will be able to do this again,” says Mal.