Brenda is a nine-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She lives with her parents and three older siblings. On Sundays, her family enjoys being together and attending mass. Brenda's favorite foods are hard boiled eggs and bananas. Brenda was recently diagnosed with malnutrition. On February 16, Brenda will begin treatment at our medical partner's care center, Clinic Tecpán. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $437 to cover the costs of nutrient and food supplementation. This will also pay for an education program that will teach her mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. "I am very happy, because I hope that through the program, my daughter will be able to improve her development," says Brenda's mother.

Moeun is a 70-year-old housewife from Cambodia with five sons and two daughters. She likes to stay at home, look after her grandchildren, and cook for her family. In 2011, Moeun fell, resulting in a fracture in her right femur. In 2012, she first came to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), to receive an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) procedure to heal her fracture. She traveled four hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Later that year, she returned to remove the hardware from the procedure. However, a few days later, she fractured her femur once again, and surgeons performed another ORIF procedure and bone graft to heal her injury. Moeun recently returned to CSC because it is difficult for her to walk, and she is in pain. Surgeons at CSC will remove the hardware from her second ORIF procedure to allow Moeun to feel comfortable again. The surgery is scheduled for January 17, and our medical partner is requesting $411 to fund the treatment.

Three-month-old Amadily has not grown at all since she was born. Her mother is unable to produce breastmilk. As a result, Amadilly is not growing, and she has difficulty sleeping due to hunger. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Amadilly's health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. Brain development is compromised, and Amadilly is at risk of long-term damage. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 17. Amadily is the first child to her parents. Together, they live in a rented one-room adobe house. Her parents work in a butcher shop. They need help to fund this $1,107 treatment. Amadily's treatment will be simple and effective. She will receive formula, which will give her the protein, calories, and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. Her mother will receive in-home nutrition education, so she will learn low-cost ways to prevent future cases of malnutrition. Amadily's immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. "I really want my daughter to be able to get better, but I do not have the economic resources to buy her the milk she needs," says Amadily's mother. "I want to see her grow, be a good person, and maybe even become a doctor when she's older."

Meet Lam, a 67-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Lam is married with one son, one daughter, and two grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Two years ago, Lam developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for her to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Lam and her daughter travelled two hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Lam's sight. With $225, Lam will undergo cataract surgery, during which her old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing her to see again immediately after her operation.

“I really hope to be able to get a job to provide some support for my family,” shares Tha, a 29-year-old husband and father of four children from Burma. Tha suffers from bladder stones that restrict his everyday activities. Bladder stones are painful, crystallized masses in the bladder that currently put Tha at risk of chronic urinary infection. In 2012, Tha had one of his legs amputated after a serious accident involving a landmine. According to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), “These injuries combined with the pain and chronic infections caused by his bladder stones make it impossible for Tha to work, so he stays home to take care of the children.” While initially from Burma, Tha and his family currently live in Thailand. His wife works hard to support the family, but is unable to take care of her children and cover the medical costs that Tha needs for full treatment. Before his illness, Tha used to love cooking for his family. His wife fondly recalls these memories, sharing that he cooks better than she does. BBP explains that "without surgery, Tha will continue to develop more bladder stones and his infections will only get worse.” For $1500, Tha will receive surgery to completely remove his bladder stones. Surgery will have a positive impact on Tha’s life, freeing him from pain that currently limits his ability to work, and spend time with his family.

Meet Ku Paw, a 31-year-old woman from Thailand! She was born with a congenital heart defect and has a hole in the wall between the lower chambers of her heart. “Ku Paw was diagnosed with heart disease at birth and she has learnt to adapt to her heart condition as best she can. She currently suffers from fatigue, heart palpitations, club fingers and toes, and sharp chest pain,” reports our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Ku Paw lives with her mother, twin sister, two brothers, sister-in-law, and nephew. “Ku Paw attended school until grade 7. Since leaving school, Ku Paw has taken on the role of homemaker. She receives financial support from her older sister who works in the kitchen of a refugee camp hospital, as well as her twin sister who works as a teacher. Her mother who is a special education teacher also contributes to the family’s income. Despite their combined efforts, the family currently struggles to make ends meet,” continues BBP. For $1500, we can fund surgery to correct Ku Paw's heart defect. “Treatment will allow Ku Paw to live a more fulfilled life, one where she has more energy to pursue her interests and can find employment for the first time,” says BBP.

“I just wish that the pain on my knees will go away and all me to walk again,” shares Uyande, a 78-year-old woman from Tanzania. “Some Sundays I fail to walk to church because my legs will just not let me walk. I wish to be able to do a few things at home and also visit my children and grandchildren.” Uyande has osteoarthritis. She “walks with difficulties due to the pain on her knees, especially the left knee,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, tells us. “If not treated, she will continue to feel pain.” “Uyande is a mother of eight children, grandma of 22 grandchildren, and great-grandma of four great-grandchildren,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “She lives with her husband. Even with the help from her children, the cost of a total knee replacement is too high for them to afford. Uyande wishes to be more independent.” Doctors at AMHF want to completely replace Uyande’s hurt knee, a procedure that costs $960. Let's cover the cost of her treatment and help her walk again!

When three-year-old Than Win’s parents noticed that their son was breathing irregularly, they took him to a clinic, where an X-ray revealed that he had a screw lodged in his lungs. The screw in Than Win's lungs is causing the otherwise happy child to have problems with his respiratory system. Than Win’s doctors believe that they can remove the screw surgically. The endoscopy and surgery that would remove the screw and return Than Win's respiratory system to normal costs $1,200. Than Win’s father is a Burmese tenant farmer, paying a rental fee in order to work another farmer’s land, and he doesn't have much disposable income to put towards this procedure. Let's help baby Than Win lead a life free of respiratory problems!