Ma Sway is a 39-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and five children in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She is originally from Karen State, Burma. She moved to the refugee camp in 2003, due to the fighting in her village in Burma. Her husband works as a farmer, where he plants vegetables around the camp. Ma Sway works from home as a tailor. Four of her children are attending school in the camp, and one is working outside the camp. They receive food rations and cash support from an international aid organization. In March 2024, Ma Sway noticed a painful mass in her left breast. She went to the camp hospital operated by another non-profit, where the doctor provided pain medication that offered some relief. However, in March 2025, she felt weak and felt two firm masses in her left breast. She underwent further tests, where doctors informed her the masses were not cancerous, but she needed surgery to have them removed. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ma Sway receive treatment. She will undergo mass removal surgery on June 12th at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sariang Hospital. Now, she needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once removed, Ma Sway will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and worry. Ma Sway shared, “I would like to have the masses in my breast removed because whenever I feel them, I worry they will become cancer.”

Pan is an 8-year-old from Burma who currently lives in Thailand with her mother, grandmother, sister, and cousin. She is in the second grade and enjoys playing with her little sister and cousin. Pan's mother sells vegetables and does housework, her grandmother is retired, and her younger sister and cousin are also in school. Pan's aunt, who works at a restaurant in Bangkok, sends the family some financial support to help cover their living expenses. For basic health care, the family usually visits the local clinic, which offers free basic health services and eliminates language barriers. Since September 2024, Pan has had a bilateral inguinal hernia that causes her to experience itchiness and swelling in her abdomen. Fortunately, on June 25th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Pan's hernia repair surgery. Once completed, this surgery will allow her to live more comfortably. Pan's mother said, "I am worried about my daughter, but I cannot afford my daughter's surgery cost, and I cannot do anything. Thank you so much to you [HFA-BCMF] and the donors. I want to see my daughter grow up healthy and happy so she can be a doctor in the future."

Edith is a bright, determined high school student from Kenya who has faced challenges in her life with remarkable courage and an unyielding smile. Her parents are small-scale farmers who work hard to provide for their four children. As their income is limited, they also have received financial support from the community to help support their children's education. When Edith was five years old, she was hit by a vehicle while crossing the road and suffered a severe spinal cord injury. Since then, she has been using a wheelchair, having lost sensation in the lower half of her body. The accident meant prolonged hospital stays, which kept her out of school and isolated from her peers, as well as coming to terms with being unable to walk again. Drawing on her strength and resilience, Edith returned to school at 18 to continue her educational journey. Her teachers recognized her intelligence and determination, so she was fast-tracked to Class 5. Three years later, she completed her exams and advanced to high school, where she is working hard to finish her schooling in the hopes of building a bright future. For the past five years, Edith's health journey had been relatively stable until January, when she developed a pressure sore on her left hip. The wound has since worsened, growing larger and more painful with time, causing Edith significant worry and discomfort. Due to financial constraints, her parents could not seek medical attention for Edith's condition. Concerned for her well-being, Edith's teachers advocated for her to receive medical care, and as a result, she was brought to our medical partner's hospital. Her doctors determined she urgently needs a debridement and skin graft surgery to treat the wound, prevent further complications, and avoid the infection reaching her bones. Our medical partner, African Mission (AMH), is helping Edith receive treatment. On May 28th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help her heal and return to school to continue her education. AMH is requesting $1,185 to fund this procedure. Edith shared, "I'm scared the wound might get worse and reach my bones, causing even more complications. All I want is to heal and finish high school."

Marry is an 18-year-old from Burma. She lives in Karen State with her husband, parents, and two brothers. Their family grows vegetables and fruits for their consumption. Marry used to weave and sell Karen shirts and sell them, but she is unable to work now due to her pregnancy. During her free time, she enjoys visiting her relatives in other towns and watching movies. Marry is expecting her first child, and her doctors recommend that she deliver via caesarean section because her ultrasound scan revealed that the fetus was in a breech position. Succeeding scans confirmed that she should deliver via a c-section so doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Marry undergo a C-Section on April 24th at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Marry needs your support. Marry said, "At present, I experience tenderness and tightness in my abdominal area, which makes it difficult for me to sleep. After giving birth and once my child is older, I hope to become a vendor to support my family. I have no preference for the baby’s gender, as long as the child is healthy."

Abigaelle is a preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her mother, father, and older brother in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Her father works in construction and her mother is a shopkeeper. Abigaelle has a cardiac condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect. A large hole exists between all four chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without flowing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Abigaelle will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 14th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use patches to close the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6500 to pay for her surgery. Abigaelle's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Abigaelle's family overseas. Abigael's mother says, "I have been very worried about my daughter's health for a long time, and I am so happy to learn that her heart can be fixed!"

Nar Ni is a 21-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and her one-year-old daughter in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. She is from Karen State, Burma but a few years ago, she moved to Thailand to look for better opportunities. Her husband is a farmer and Nar Ni looks after her daughter at home. In her free time, she loves to play with her daughter. Nar Ni 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 during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. She currently feels tired when she walks or does her household chores. On February 26th, Nar Ni is scheduled to undergo heart surgery. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Nar Ni's procedure and care. After her recovery, she plans to work as a day laborer so she can support her daughter. Nar Ni said, "Thank you very much to all the donors who are willing to help me with the surgery cost. I wish that all your work and businesses are more successful and may your family be healthy and happy."

29-year-old Francis lives in a village in Kenya, working in a small retail shop. He studied film making in college, but has so far been unable to find work in this area of study. Francis has been facing a tough battle with chronic kidney disease since 2018, a challenge that arose from high blood pressure and eventually led to kidney failure in 2019. To help his body manage excess fluids, he began dialysis treatments twice a week. Unfortunately, these sessions come with significant discomfort and pain due to the temporary catheter that is used for the procedure. Francis sought help from a surgeon at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, who recommended a new approach: creating a connection between veins and arteries in his forearm. With the support of the medical team through the national health insurance, he successfully underwent surgery. However, despite this hopeful start, his fistula did not fully develop as his veins were weakened from frequent needle insertions during dialysis. During his recent check-up, it was found that his fistula was not functioning properly, and he was advised to have a new one created. This time, the surgeon is able to create a different type of connection using a larger vein and artery. With the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, Francis is scheduled for this important procedure on January 15th at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Francis needs your help to raise $1,127 to fund this procedure, which will help make his dialysis sessions more comfortable and reduce the chances of complications, giving him a better quality of life. Francis says: "I've been having dialysis twice a week with a temporary catheter for almost six months now, and it causes a lot of discomfort. A fistula would be so much more efficient and reduce my risk of complications. Please help me get this surgery, so that I can start experiencing smoother dialysis sessions and a better quality of life."

Eh Hay is an eight-year-old young boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, and six older siblings in Tak Province, Thailand. Originally from Burma, Eh Hay and his family moved to Thailand to look for better job and education opportunities. His father is a day laborer, while his mother is a homemaker. His oldest brother is a teacher at a migrant school, and his other six siblings are students. In April 2022, Eh Hay started experiencing blurry vision. He was later diagnosed with a left eye injury. Doctors recommend enucleation, the removal of the eye, to treat this condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 20th at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. Once completed, Eh Hay will hopefully live more comfortably. Eh cannot see with his left eye. He is shy around people, and he does not go out. He quit school and stopped going to church as there are a lot of people there. Eh Hay said, “I want my eye to look as normal as other people’s eyes but now I feel like I am very different from others.” Eh Hay’s mother added, “I feel sad when I know that he feels this way but we cannot do anything. We do not have money for his treatment as well, so I was worried that he has to stay like that for his whole life. Thank you so much for providing this support to my son and I hope that, after the surgery, he will go back to school.”

Paw is 27 years old. She lives with her husband and her five-year-old daughter in a refugee camp in the Hong Son Province, Thailand. They were originally from Karen State in Burma and fled to the refugee camp with her husband and daughter in 2021 due to a military airstrike in her village. Her husband sometimes works as a day laborer outside of the camp and every month they receive a cash card from a relief agency. Their monthly total income is not enough to cover their daily expenses. During her free time, Paw enjoys making traditional dresses and earns extra money for her household. She stopped making dresses after she got pregnant because she gets backaches when she sits too long. Paw is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of her history of preeclampsia. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. While basic healthcare is provided for free in the refugee camp, this does not include delivery and surgeries. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Paw undergo a c-section on November 22nd. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Paw needs your support. Paw shared, “I will continue making traditional dress after giving birth because doing that I can earn extra money and can still take care of my kids at home.”

Verah is a 23-year-old vibrant young woman from Nairobi County, Kenya, who dreams of becoming a journalist and sharing inspiring stories from her community. As the youngest of six siblings, her family faces significant financial challenges. With her father unable to work due to injuries from an accident and her mother relying on subsistence farming to support the family, Verah's journey has been filled with hurdles. Eight years ago, Verah experienced a tragic accident at school that changed her life forever. While touring the grounds in a newly acquired school bus, a brake failure caused the bus to roll over multiple times. This horrific incident claimed the lives of five students and left many others, including Verah, with serious injuries. Though she survived, Verah endured profound physical losses—her right arm was amputated, she lost all but her thumb on her left hand, and the left side of her scalp was severely damaged. After a challenging month in the hospital and subsequent surgeries to help her heal, Verah faced a new reality. With the unwavering support of her family, she completed her high school education, eventually pursuing a degree in communication and media. However, her journey is far from over. While she has made incredible progress, her scalp still requires specialized care. Today, Verah is in her second year of studies, using her thumb to type on her devices while facing frequent headaches that hinder her attendance and focus in class. Despite these challenges, her dream of becoming a journalist shines brightly in her heart. In August this year, Verah underwent a procedure to help with her healing, but an infection has complicated her situation. She now urgently needs surgery to address the infected tissue and cover her wound. Unfortunately, Verah's national health insurance is currently inactive due to a transition being undertaken by the program, leaving her family to seek alternative support for her medical expenses. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Verah receive treatment. On October 15th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help in the healing process of her scalp wound, helping her complete her college education and fulfill her aspirations. Now, Verah's family needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Verah says, "Since the accident, I have worn a hat to keep the wound on my head hidden. I hope that this surgery will finally allow me to heal and move freely without drawing attention to myself."

Meet Lucio, a 49-year-old Lucio factory worker from the Philippines. He and his wife have three children. Their oldest son is married and the younger children are still in school. Three years ago, Lucio developed an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and discomfort in his left side, especially when he is carrying out heavy, physical tasks. Given the nature of his work, which requires physical exertion, Lucio is keen to undergo surgery to address the hernia. He believes that regaining his health will enable him to perform his job more efficiently so that he can continue to provide for his family. On September 13th, Lucio will undergo hernia repair surgery, at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Lucio's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is raising the remaining $1,103 to cover the cost of Lucio's surgery and care. Lucio said: "The prospect of a free operation not only offers a path to recovery for me but also represents a lifeline for my family. Thank you very much to all of you for helping me."

Bukhari is a seven-month-old baby boy from Kenya, the youngest of three children. His father works as a casual laborer, mainly at construction sites, while his mother is a homemaker. Bukhari was born at home with a noticeable swelling on the lower part of his back. His parents initially hoped it would lessen over time, but as the weeks went by without any change, their concern grew. After a month, they took him to a nearby hospital, where he was examined and then referred to a treatment facility in Nairobi. Determined to help their son, Bukhari’s parents returned home and began raising funds to cover their journey to the recommended facility. During this time, a family friend advised them to seek help at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). After tireless efforts, the family was able to gather enough funds to bring Bukhari to BKKH for a thorough examination. Bukhari was diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine doesn't properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, he faces serious risks, including potential paralysis of his lower limbs, infection, and developmental challenges. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Bukhari receive treatment. On August 5th, surgeons at BKKH will perform a spina bifida closure surgery to alleviate complications associated with the condition, allowing healthy growth and development. Now, Bukhari’s family needs help to fund this $856 procedure. Bukhari’s father says, "From the moment he was born, we have been worried about his health. We are hopeful that he receives the treatment he needs and recovers quickly."