“Pai is a 45-year-old woman who has lived in a Burmese village all her life,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us. “She lives with her husband and three-year-old granddaughter. She has three children - two daughters and one son, who all have their own families now. She and her husband are agricultural day laborers and work on a farm, planting and harvesting rice.” Pai has a uterine prolapse, a condition that occurs when the uterus sags or slips from it normal position and into the vagina. “She has been very worried about her condition and is always scared when she is waking that the prolapse will slip,” BBP explains. “She cannot work in her condition and is embarrassed and very worried about having surgery.” Pai’s journey to seek medical attention includes the first time she traveled away from home and the first time she ever saw a foreigner. $1,500 will fund her treatment, which “will result in Pai being able to return to her home in the jungle,” BBP continues. “She will return to her family and her work.” “My favorite thing to do is cook noodles and duck, pork of chicken curry and then sell it at local celebrations,” Pai shares. “I hope that in the future, I can cook and sell the food.”

Raymar is a 16-month-old boy from the Philippines who loves to smile at people who come near him. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, tells us, “he is unaware of his current condition and is moving and playing just like any other kid.” Raymar has an inguinal hernia, in which a mass of tissues protrudes through a weak point in his abdominal muscles. He has swelling around his groin area. Treatment for Raymar is a hernia repair, which will cost $1,437. His surgeon will push the tissues and fat back inside the abdominal cavity and suture close the opening in his muscles. The treatment will give Raymar an opportunity to live a normal life and he will be free from complications of hernias, such as tissue death. “As a mother, I dreamed of a wonderful future for my child, however, because of his condition, we could not clearly see his future,” says Raymar’s mother, “After he gets treated, we are excited to see him grow and play like other children and we will also be worry free."

Meet 30-year-old Sarom from Cambodia. “Sarom is married without children and she works as a farmer,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Sarom spends her time cleaning her house and taking care of her parents at home.” Sarom has a cholesteatoma in her right ear -- a non-cancerous skin cyst that has the potential to increase in size, and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the ear. “When Sarom was two years old, she began have right ear discharge every day, and she never received treatment beyond occasional antibiotics,” reports CSC. “This causes her pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).” For $809, Sarom can receive a mastoidectomy to surgically remove cells in the spaces behind her ear, relieving her persistent pain and unpleasant symptoms. CSC continues, “After a mastoidectomy, Sarom will be able to regain her hearing ability, and the discharge will stop.” Sarom is eager to heal properly and return to daily life, and her husband remains hopeful that her pain will soon come to an end. She shares, “I hope the ear discharge will stop, and I’ll have good hearing.”

Meet Dieuvens, a three-month-old boy from Haiti. Our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), shares, “Dieuvens lives with his family, and his father is a motorbike taxi driver and his mother stays at home.” Dieuvens’ mother was a student at sewing school, but placed her classes on hold in order to care for her son. Dieuvens has hydrocephalous. When he was born, a CT scan of his head revealed that he had excess fluid in his brain. This fluid is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid caused by blocked pathways in the brain. While this fluid normally provides a cushion for the brain, too much of it creates harmful pressure. “Dieuvens head is swollen; he has seizures and sometimes gets the flu and fevers,” adds PM. $1,260 will fund the surgery Dieuvens needs to drain the excess fluid from his brain. During the surgery, a shunt will be placed in Dieuvens’ brain to drain the excess fluid into his abdomen where it will be absorbed. PM shares, “This will allow him to have a healthy life, allow him to grow up normally, and enjoy a good childhood.” This surgery will have a positive impact on both Dieuvens and his mother’s future. Dieuvens will have an opportunity to develop normally and reach important milestones. Likewise, his mother is motivated to return to school after Dieuvens completes his recovery.

Meet Djouvensley, a 4-year-old boy from Haiti. “He is an only child and is very close to his mother, and shy around people he doesn’t know,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “He hasn’t started preschool yet, in part because of his cardiac condition, but his mother plans to enroll him as soon as he has healed from surgery.” “Djouvensley was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle, a birth defect in which both major arteries flow out of the same chamber of the heart, creating circulatory problem,” reports HCA. “This leaves him weak and at risk of death if not corrected.” It is important that Djouvensley’s condition is treated as soon as possible. The treatment for double outlet right ventricle is surgery. Upon looking at the heart to decide the best course of treatment, surgeons will proceed to connect the aorta to the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle. This will fix the circulatory problem and ensure blood flows through Djouvensley’s heart correctly. An organization called International Children’s Heart Foundation is helping with the costs of the surgery. With their generous subsidy, Djouvensley only needs our help in raising $1,500 for the surgery. After the surgery, doctors anticipate that Djouvensley will no longer experience any cardiac symptoms. He will be able to live a normal life and do the things he enjoys without complication. “We are so thankful to everyone who is helping my son,” shares Djouvensley’s mother. “I can never thank you enough but God will reward you.”

“I am very sad that this has happened to my daughter,” says the mother of Thi, a nine-year-old girl who lives with her mother, sister, and grandmother in Burma. Thi and her mother came to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), in search of help for Thi, who was healthy and active until she started experiencing dizziness and vomiting during the spring. “Over the course of several months,” says BBP, “Thi has lost the ability to walk unassisted and to write. Her speech is slow, and she talks with great difficulty. The left side of her face has also been paralyzed.” An MRI confirmed that Thi has a brain tumor, causing swelling in her head and making it difficult for her to control the muscles that move her body. BBP explains, “Thi no longer experiences regular vomiting or dizziness, but her symptoms are quite visible. She is very slow to respond to questions, and her speech is sluggish.” Thi is no longer able to attend school because of her condition. Thi’s mother buys and sells goods to support the family, but her daily earnings are only enough to cover a day’s expenses. In the past, she has had to borrow money from neighbors to pay healthcare costs. Given the family’s financial situation, money to pay for treatment for Thi is unavailable. With $1,485 in finding, Thi can undergo surgery to place a shunt that will relieve the swelling and pressure in her head. BBP shares, “It is hoped that Thi's current symptoms will be alleviated, and that she will be able to return to school following treatment.” Thi’s mother shares that sentiment. “I want her to go back to school and eventually become a preacher,” she says.

“The youngest of the family, Naresh loves to play pranks on his older brothers; he is the most active of the bunch and never stays still,” shares our medical partner, Possible. Naresh is a six-year-old boy from Nepal. “Naresh lives with his mother and two older brothers, and his dad is the sole breadwinner of the family and has been working in India for the last two years,” Possible tells us. Naresh currently has a fracture of his upper arm. Possible explains, “Naresh was playing on the second floor when suddenly his feet slipped and he fell to the first floor. He started having pain in his left arm and he has been having difficulty moving his hand, changing his clothes, taking a bath, and even sleeping.” Naresh needs surgery to regain mobility in his arm, and increase his quality of life. With $579, Naresh will receive surgery to repair his arm. In this procedure, the bone fragments are repositioned into their normal alignment, and then held together with special screws and metal plates. Following surgery, Naresh’s arm will be put in a cast and he will stay in the hospital for one to three days to ensure he is healing properly. When Naresh recovers he will have full movement in his arm. Possible reports, “Naresh is looking forward to getting back to school and playing with his friends.” "I am really thankful to our supporters for helping with Naresh’s treatment," his mother shares. "A huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”

Meet two-month-old Sebastian, a cheerful baby boy from Haiti. “Sebastien lives with his mother and father; he is their first child, and also the first grandchild in both families, so he gets a lot of attention from his family,” reports our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “He is usually a happy baby and rarely fusses. His father works in the construction trades, and his mother worked as a market vendor until Sebastien was born.” Sebastien has severe pulmonary stenosis, a congenital defect that results from abnormal development of the fetal heart during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. “His pulmonary valve is too narrow to allow blood to pass freely through it,” explains HCA. “As a result, blood blacks up into his heart, causing heart failure and putting him at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.” For $1500, Sebastien can travel overseas to receive surgery that will correct the width of his pulmonary valve. University Hospital of Martinique is contributing an additional $7,500 toward his surgery. “A balloon will be inserted into the valve to stretch it open to a near-normal size,” reports HCA. “Following surgery, Sebastien’s pulmonary valve should function normally, and he should not need further intervention.” This cost includes passports, visas, pre-departure diagnostic procedures, airline tickets, food support, calling cards to Haiti, a host family stipend, local expenses, and temporary travel insurance. “The doctors explained to me that Sebastien’s problem is very serious and dangerous,” says Sebastien’s mother. “I’m so happy they will be able to fix it, God willing!”

“I work hard to support my sons and parents,” Ian’s mom shares. “I want to see Ian and his brother lead a better life that I do. I will ensure that they get the best education possible.” This is Ian, an eight-year-old boy from Kenya. Ian lives with his younger sibling, mother, and grandparents. Ian’s mother works in a bar along with one her brothers. “Ian was playing when he fell and fractured his leg,” his doctor at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tells us. “He was plastered but the fracture did not heal well. Ian experiences pain in his leg especially when walking. This has affected him in school because he cannot participate in activities that will have him walking around, standing or running. If the surgery is not done soon, Ian could develop severe infection which would result in amputation.” Ian will need an ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) procedure to repair his leg. Ian’s mother has not been able to raise the money for his treatment, but with $1,410 we can help. “We expect that after the surgery and recovery,” AMHF explains, “Ian will be able to focus on his studies and participate in all the school activates. The risk of infection will also reduce.”

"In April 2014, Htwe began to feel fatigued and developed a cough," shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "Since then she has struggled to sleep horizontally, and has egg shaped mass on her neck that makes it difficult for her to breathe." Htwe is a hard working, 52-year-old mother from Burma. She is the sole caretaker of her five children, and also cares for her niece. One of her children is currently undergoing cardiac treatment. Htwe has developed a cluster of benign masses on her neck that interfere with her ability to sleep and breathe. $1500 will fund the removal of her masses, which have been diagnosed as benign. “Treatment will make her a better mother and provider to her children," shares BBP. "Without the stress of her condition she will be happier and can think about the future with less stress and worry.” "My kids need me. What will my kids and niece do without me? I need to get treatment for them,” Htwe adds.

Meet Anastasia, a 45-year-old woman from Kenya! Anastasia is a widow and a mother of four growing sons, one of which is about to enter college. "Anastasia cleans and washes her neighbors to earn a living," our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation tells us. "She was never compensated and has been working hard to provide for her children." Anastasia has a swollen lump in her breast indicative of breast cancer, and she is currently experiencing numbness in her right hand as a result. "If Anastasia does not receive surgery, the cancer is likely to spread to her vital organs and thus leading to premature death," our medical partner explains. "God gave me great friends that have stood with me and my sons through our hard times," Anastasia explains. "When I told them that I will need surgery, they tried their best to see me through and I thank God that He has linked me to you. Thank you for your support!" For only $740, we can fund Anastasia's surgery and chemotherapy sessions to eradicate her breast cancer and allow her to continue taking care of her children!

Say hello to Teresia! She is 72-years-old, lives in Kenya, and has a grown-up son. "Teresia had been healthy and doing well until she slipped and sustained fracture of the tibia. Due to her condition, Teresia has been unable to move around and everything has to be done for her," explains our medical partner, the African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). She's also not able to help her son by farming. "If not treated, Teresia will remain in severe pain: the fracture may have delayed healing," AMHF continues. "She will not be able to walk again and this will mean that Teresia will remain dependent on others for the rest of her life." “My mother does not like to bother people," her son says, "she likes to be independent! I hope she gets well so that she can take care of her self and be independent." Teresia saw a doctor who recommended surgery, but she cannot afford the $1,125 cost. She doesn’t have anyone to turn to, as her son doesn’t make enough money to support his own family. Let's work together to raise the money Teresia needs to reduce her pain and help regain her independence!