Oliver is a married mother of four children, all of whom are married with children except the last one who is still in school. She is a farmer together with her husband. Her second child, a daughter, has been there for her support throughout her illness. Oliver likes chatting with her daughter and enjoys eating nsima made from cassava maize flour served with fresh fish. Oliver was well until one year ago when she noted a small lump on her right breast that was not painful. She visited her nearest hospital where some pain medication was provided. She visited many other hospitals after noting that the growth was becoming bigger as time passed. At one of the hospitals, a diagnosis of suspected breast cancer was made before proceeding to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further assessments. At Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), different tests were done, and a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma was made followed by four cycles of neoadjuvant therapy. Oliver was later scheduled for surgery on January 15th this year but unfortunately, she did not report back since she did not have the funds. On January 29th, Oliver went back to KCH where she was referred to our medical partner's care center Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) so that she can undergo surgery more urgently. Of late, Oliver has been experiencing needle pricking pains, and weakness affecting her farm work plus household chores as a mother. On January 30th, Oliver reported to PIH and met the surgeon who confirmed the need for a modified radical mastectomy. Modified radical mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast, including the nipple, areola, and skin plus most axillary lymph nodes. Oliver believes the surgical operation will help her get back home in a good condition and enable her to resume her farm work. Oliver said, “Kindly remove this breast for me to have my peace of mind after getting rid of these bad symptoms that I experience, I would rather be able to move on in my age.”

Aye is a 25-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her parents, grandfather, aunt, brother, sister and daughter. She and her sister are homemakers, while her father is a day labourer. Her brother works in a garment factory, and her mother and aunt are unemployed. Since Aye was 12 years old, she has experienced difficulty passing urine on and off. In October, this worsened and she now has blood in her urine and severe pain in her lower back. Doctors want Aye to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Aye's CT scan and care, scheduled for December 20th. Aye said, "I have been experiencing these symptoms for so many years but because of financial problems, I have never receive proper treatment."

Myint is a 27-year-old woman from Karen State, Burma. She moved to Thailand to be with her sister. Myint's sister works in sales and her brother-in-law works in construction. In her free time, Myint likes to listen to Burmese songs and studies Thai language online to learn to speak and read. Myint was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own as the person grows, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Because of this condition, Myint has difficulty breathing and tires easily. She feels pain in her chest and other parts of her body and has difficulty sleeping. Myint is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on April 12th at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital to correct her atrial septal defect. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Myint's procedure and care. Myint said, “I am so happy and thankful for all the donors and BCMF for helping with my heart surgery because I would not be able to afford it. I hope I will recover soon and when I am better, I want to work and save some money to go back to stay with my father.”

Loy is a retired rice farmer from Kandal province. She has four sons, six daughters, and 17 grandchildren. Since her husband passed away from lung problems 10 years ago, she has been a widow, living with her youngest daughter, who is still a student. Loy likes to listen to the news on the radio and cook for her family. About six months ago, Loy developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her sensitivity to light, tearing, and blurry vision. It is difficult for her to work inside or outside the home, and she feels embarrassed that she cannot help her daughter with many simple duties due to poor vision. When Loy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On November 1, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She said: "After surgery, I want to sew for my grandchildren and do good housework."

Thy is a 43-year-old mother who lives with her husband and daughter in Prey Veng province. Her husband grows rice, and her daughter works in an office. Thy supplements the family income by selling spices and snacks from a small grocery in front of their house. When not selling snacks, she is busy keeping her house clean or cooking for her small family. Seven days ago, Thy slipped and fell on a wet muddy road. Her left wrist has become swollen, and she is unable to hold anything. Thy and her husband traveled by tuk-tuk for 2 and a half hours to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) where surgeons diagnosed her with a wrist fracture. On September 8th, Thy will undergo a closed reduction of her wrist fracture. Thy is able to contribute $50 towards the cost of the surgery and needs help raising $485 to fully fund the procedure. The broken bone will be put back in place, which will allow it to grow back together in better alignment. After surgery, she will be able to use her hand again. Thy said, "After surgery, I hope I can use my hand without pain and open my grocery store again."

Sopheakdey is a 42 year old tuk-tuk driver, living with his wife and two children in Kandal province, Cambodia. Sopheakdey's wife works in a clothes factory, while Sopheakdey stays at home with their five year old daughter, since his condition prevents him from being able to work. For the past four years, Sopheakdey has been suffering from chronic back pain. While he has no history of trauma, it is difficult for him to bend, twist, or stoop down; any work or activity causes pain. His legs feel weak and clumsy, so he stays home. Because he cannot work, he worries about being able to feed his family. Fortunately, a relative told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Surgeons have diagnosed him with spondylolysis, a weakness or stress fracture in one of the vertebrae, the small bones that make up the spinal column. This weakness can occur with no known injury. The most common cause in adults is degenerative arthritis. On August 3rd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre plan to do a posterolateral lumbar fusion, to stabilize his spine and decrease his pain. Now, Sopheakdey needs your help to defray the cost of the $1500 operation. The money he receives will cover surgery, medication, and post-operative care. Sopheakdey said: "I hope that my pain will be less after surgery, and I can go back to work to help my wife and children."

Gladness is a 5-year-old smart and vibrant girl who enjoys interacting with all kinds of different people. She is the firstborn in a family of two children, and her parents make a living by selling thrift clothes and shoes in Arusha city. Gladness has faced significant health challenges since she was one year old. During playtime she tripped and fell, resulting in an injury to her leg. Her father promptly took her to the hospital, where they received ointment to massage the affected area. Unfortunately, two years later, she had another accident that dislocated her right knee. It was during this hospital visit that the medical professionals discovered a previous, untreated fracture from her first accident, which has caused other problems. Gladness and her father traveled over 180 kilometers to the medical center and our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund her surgery, which is scheduled for June 27th. Treatment will hopefully restore Gladness's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Gladness’s father shared, "I hope this treatment will help my daughter. I wish for her to grow up without any abnormalities."

Bramwel is a 10-year-old boy from Makindu, in Makueni county in Kenya. He lives with his grandmother while his mother works in Nairobi. Because he was born deaf he attends a school that specializes in educating deaf students. Since birth, Bramwel has lived with a clubfoot, which significantly affects his mobility. He walks on tiptoe and falls often. His grandmother brought him to the clinic in Makindu, seeking help for her grandson. With the assistance of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Bramwel is now scheduled to undergo angular deformity correction surgery on May 8th. This surgery will enable him to walk confidently and continue his studies. Bramwel and his family need your help to fund this $1,224 procedure. “As the grandmother of Bramwel, I would love to see him walk like other children and continue living a normal life. Any help to cater for his surgery will mean a lot to us,” Bramwel’s grandmother told us.

Saw Lay resides in a school dormitory in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. He used to study at the school but stopped in July 2023 when his condition worsened. During his free time, Saw Lay enjoys hunting, foraging for vegetables in the forest, and listening to music and stories on his phone. In May 2021, while in Burma for his studies, Saw Lay was driving to the market on his motorcycle when he was hit by a car, resulting in a broken left femur. Saw Lay underwent internal fixation surgery to address this issue. However, since September 2022, he has been experiencing pain in his left leg, accompanied by difficulty sleeping and depression. He cannot bear weight on that leg and has to use crutches to get around. If he sits for an extended period, he will experience back pain. Upon medical evaluation, a doctor diagnosed him with a non-union left femur shaft fracture. He will undergo surgery on November 7th to not only alleviate his pain and discomfort but also improve his overall quality of life. Saw Lay said, "I am happy that I can finally receive the surgery I need with the help of the donors and the Burma Children's Medical Fund. Thank you for having mercy on me. Without your help, I wouldn't be able to afford it. Thank you so much for your kind support, and I will never forget it."

Zaw, who is 29 years old, lives with his wife and extended family members in Karen State, Burma. He and his wife are currently unemployed, although Zaw hopes to work as a second-hand motorbike seller. Zaw has had an irregular heartbeat since he was 10 years old. Although he visited a local clinic as a child, he was never provided a definitive diagnosis. By January 2022, he began to experience fatigue. His back and neck were stiff, and he lost his appetite. He also had difficulty sleeping, experienced a persistent cough and body aches, and his lips turned blue. After multiple hospital visits, Zaw was told he had a heart condition that required surgery. Unable to afford surgery in Burma, Zaw sought affordable care at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Thailand. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, he received a free echocardiogram, which revealed he had mitral valve regurgitation, atrial valve regurgitation, pulmonary valve regurgitation, and patent ductus arteriosus. He is now scheduled for a procedure at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital in Bangkok on April 18th to repair or replace three of his valves and address any other issues with his heart. Currently, Zaw continues to experience fatigue, thus he is unable to work. He experiences shortness of breath and a racing heartbeat, for which he requires oxygen therapy three times a day. He needs your help to raise the $1,500 to fund his life-changing surgery. Zaw said: “I want to be free from this disease as soon as possible. Thank you all for helping with my treatment cost.”

Fabriana is a very happy 14-month-old baby girl from the highlands of Kenya, where her parents are small-scale farmers. She lives with them, her older sibling, and her grandparents in a semi-permanent house where her parents plant vegetables for sale. Fabriana has an umbilical protrusion that causes her pain, especially after she eats. Her family brought her to a clinic that prescribed her medication, but her condition worsened. Fabriana stopped eating regularly and has not been as playful as before. Her worried mother brought her to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, for further diagnosis. Surgeons there will perform surgery on March 27th to alleviate her symptoms. Now, African Mission Healthcare is asking for $737 to help support this treatment. Fabriana’s mother said,”I am so uncomfortable when my baby cries with pain because of the hernia. Lately, she has not been eating well, and her weight has gone down. Kindly help her so that she may grow in a good way.”

Ra is a 50-year-old mother of two. Ra lives in a refugee camp near the Thai-Burma border with her family, where they are provided with accommodation and a monthly food allowance. During her free time, Ra shared that she enjoys praying. Since July 2023, Ra has been experiencing discomfort in her lower abdomen, accompanied by pain and heavy menstruation. During a routine medical check-up in the camp, a mass was detected by the doctor. She has been diagnosed with severe endometriosis, an often-painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, it is expected that Ra's symptoms would continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ra is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on September 7. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, it is hoped that Ra will no longer experience pain, discomfort, and the other symptoms that have impacted her life. Ra said, "I feel uncomfortable and worried. It feels like something is moving in my belly. I hope this will go away after the surgery. Thank you BCMF and donors. May God bless you."