Ko Zin is a 24-year-old man from Burma. He lives in Thailand with his mother, father, and two sisters. His family is from Karen State, Burma, but they moved to Thailand ten years ago for better job opportunities. When Ko Zin was nine years old, he started to experience yellow eyes, low appetite, vomiting, and pale skin. His mother took him to a hospital, where he was admitted for a week, had blood tests done, and received blood and IV transfusion. He was diagnosed with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that causes your body to make less hemoglobin than normal, leading to low red blood cell counts and anemia. Physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital determined that Ko Zin should undergo a splenectomy, a surgery to remove the spleen. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled for September 14th. Once completed, will hopefully improve Ko Zin's quality of life. Ko Zin’s mother said, “One of his older sisters passed away when she was 10 with the same diagnosis as him so for him, we tried our best for his treatment as we can and thank you so much for helping us with the treatment support.”

Ruth is 36 years old and a single mother of three from Malawi. She also has one grandchild from her firstborn. Ruth has experienced multiple family losses. Both of her parents and her two siblings are deceased. The only surviving relative is her uncle, who is physically disabled and fully dependent on her for care and support. She earns a living by selling tomatoes. In 2003, Ruth began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on the right side of her neck. Over time, the swelling grew bigger and began to affect her health. She developed symptoms including loss of voice, neck pain, headaches, and frequent coughing. After 15 years, she finally sought medical attention and was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ruth receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Ruth shared, "My only hope is you; I tried all that I could, but failed. I am looking forward to your support."

Shivam is a 16-year-old boy from India. He is in the 11th grade and has two siblings. His father has a shop selling electrical items, while his mother is a homemaker. When Shivam was four years old, he sustained injuries from a heater. This caused a burn contracture of his left hand, affecting the mobility of his hand. When Shivam and his family learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, they traveled over 100 kilometers seeking treatment. On July 15th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery on his hand so he can move his fingers better. This should lead to improved grip strength and greater ease in performing everyday tasks like holding objects or writing. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Shivam shared, "I feel happy about getting this surgery, and I hope one day I can become a businessman like my father."

Lively little Aminen is four years old. He lives with his parents and his younger sister in Ethiopia, where his mother works in government administration, while his father assists with fieldwork and operates heavy vehicles. Aminen’s mother first discovered his condition during a hospital visit for allergies and fever. While examining him, the doctor diagnosed Aminen with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If he is left untreated, Aminen has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. The doctor explained that Aminen's condition could be treated through surgery. Initially, Aminen's mother believed the surgery could only be performed at a private hospital, which was beyond the family's financial means. Aminen was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 3rd, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of Aminen's procedure and care. Aminen's mother said: "We have a wonderful opportunity, and I never thought my child would receive treatment at such a hospital, but due to God's plan, I hope the surgical treatment will be successful."

Pheap is a 37-year-old fruit seller from Cambodia. She is married and lives with her husband, who also sells fruit in a local market. They have two young children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking new foods and watching the news. Five months ago, Pheap suffered an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Pheap experiences pain, swelling, ringing in her ear, ear discharge, and gradual hearing loss. This chronic ear problem makes daily activities uncomfortable and has affected her ability to communicate clearly and manage her work and household responsibilities. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Pheap receive treatment. On April 1st, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. She can contribute $100, but needs help raising $263 more to fund her procedure and care. Pheap said, “After this surgery, I pray that my ear will heal, and I can experience comfort and peace once more.”

Joseph is a 73-year-old man and a father to eight children from Uganda. Earlier in life, Joseph did not attend school, but later joined a community group where he learned basic writing skills. He and his wife engage in small-scale farming to sustain their family. Two years ago, Joseph developed a small swelling on the right side of his back. Over time, the swelling increased in size, and developed pain. He sought medical help at a nearby health center, where he was advised that he needed surgery. However, due to financial constraints, he was unable to proceed with treatment. The condition has significantly affected his daily life. He is unable to lift heavy items, bending to work in his farm has become difficult, and he struggles to sleep comfortably, especially on one side. Joseph traveled to our medical partner's care center, Rwibaale Health Center, to be evaluated. On April 8th, he has been scheduled for surgery where surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Joseph needs help to raise $153 to fund this procedure. Joseph says, "I hope that after surgery, I will regain my strength to work in my farm and sleep well without any challenges."

Christine is a 31-year-old mother of one from Uganda. Christine holds a diploma in Accounting and Finance, but she has been unable to secure employment in her field. She currently works as a receptionist at a medical clinic, earning a salary of about 45 USD per month. Her husband works as a boda boda rider. In her free time, Christine enjoys exploring new places. Christine is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Christine undergo a C-Section on March 11th. This procedure will cost $252, and Christine needs your support. Christine says, “I am not able to raise the funds needed for my surgery. The money I am paid at work can barely enable me to put food on the table, but I have a lot of hope that with your support, my surgery will be successful.”

Ravin is two years old and the youngest of two children from Cambodia. His father is a rice farmer, his mother works at a garment factory near their home, while his older brother is in grade six. He enjoys eating fried pork and likes playing with toy cars in his free time. When Ravin was eight months old, he accidentally touched a motorcycle exhaust pipe while trying to stand up. The burn caused scar formation, leading to tight skin and limited finger movement. The burn scar contracture causes pain when someone tries to straighten his finger. It also restricts normal finger movement and may affect hand function. His mother is worried that he may feel shy or self-conscious about his hand appearance as he grows older. When Ravin's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On March 5th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve finger movement, reduce pain, and allow him to use his hand more normally. This will support his ability to play, learn, and grow up with more confidence. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Ravin's mother shared, “When I see his finger like this, I feel worried about his future. I hope the treatment will help straighten his finger so he can use his hand normally and grow up with confidence, without feeling shy.”