Poe is a five-year old boy who lives with his family in Shwe Koke Ko village of Karen State in Burma. In his free time, Poe likes to play with his friends and toys. He also likes to eat sweets. Poe does not go to school because of his condition. Poe's mother and father are divorced, and both are remarried. His father lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand and he contributes to Poe’s financial wellbeing by giving the household 5000 baht (approx. $167 USD) per month. His mother does not provide the family with any extra income. Poe stays with his grandmother and great grandmother from his father's side. His grandmother works as a cleaner. The rest of the family does not currently have work. When Poe was eight months old, he got a severe fever and his family took him to the Wang Pha clinic near Mae Sot, Thailand, which is the same place where he was born. He was admitted at the clinic for three days, but his condition did not improve. Doctors at the clinic told his family to take him to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. The family immediately took him to MSH and he was admitted for one week. At MSH, he received a blood test and was diagnosed with Thalassemia, a blood disorder. He received a blood transfusion and after the transfusion, Poe felt better, but only temporarily. His family went back for three follow-up appointments to MSH, where he had blood transfusions each time. When he was one year and five months old, the family could not afford going to MSH any longer, so they took Poe to Myawaddy Hospital. He received another blood transfusion and an IV line. He was admitted for three days at the hospital. Although he felt better after getting discharged in Myawaddy, since his condition is chronic, he needs regular blood transfusions to stay healthy. It became increasingly difficult for the family to pay for Poe’s care, however, they decided to come to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) for further help in 2016. Since then, he has received many blood transfusions at MTC, sometimes monthly and sometimes bi-monthly. With these treatments, he is able to survive. However, his condition also affects his spleen, the organ that filters blood. To prevent further problems, medics at MTC told his family that doctors need to remove Poe's spleen. Since it cannot be done at MTC, he needs to go back to MSH to undergo the operation. Currently, Poe has frequent bloody noses, coughs up blood, and has blood in his stool. He feels better after having a transfusion, but it wears off in the weeks following the procedure. When its nearing time for another transfusion, he feels weak and tired. When asked what he wants to do when he grows up, Poe was adamant that he wanted to be a medic. “I want to help people,” he said. “When he sees people that are sick, he always tells me he feels sorry for them,” added his great grandmother.

Now two years old, Podolsky was born with a heart condition called atrioventricular septal defect, in which a large hole exists in the middle of the four chambers of his heart. This condition allows blood to mix between all four chambers without obtaining oxygen. Podolsky's cardiac condition leaves him sick, short of breath, and malnourished. Podolsky lives with his mother on a small island off of the west coast of Haiti. He likes playing with stuffed animals and toys and listening to music. His family is seeking $1,500 to support costs for preparation and transportation for Podolsky to access heart surgery. Another organization, Chain of Hope UK, is helping to cover the cost of surgery. His mother shared, "I am looking forward to this surgery so that my son can become healthy and strong, and will stop becoming sick so often."

Tam is an 18-year-old student from Cambodia. He has seven brothers, four sisters, and enjoys reading books and helping his father with his work in his free time. When he was a child, Tam had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Tam experiences discharge, itchiness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. He is unable to hear clearly and does not communicate well with others. Tam traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 6th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. "I hope that after my surgery, my ear discharge will stop and I will be able to hear clearly again," Tam said.

Soe is a 49-year-old man from Burma. He and his wife got separated about six years ago and he has been living alone since. Soe does not have a regular job, but sometimes he drives a shared-taxi to make a living. About two weeks ago, Soe's left eye started to get irritated and the itchiness did not go away for a few days so with the advice from neighbors and friends, he soaked some betel leaves in water with salt and used the liquid as eye drops. As soon as he dropped the liquid in, he sensed a burning sensation in his left eye. In hope to get cured, he used the homemade eye drops for two days. After two days, his eye became worse and the pain even radiated to his head. He could no longer open left eye due to the pain. Soe had no money to go to the hospital, but with the help from his neighbors and friends, Soe arrived at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) on December 3rd, 2019. The medics at MTC explained that his left eye has totally been damaged and that the only option now is to remove his eye. Soe feels sad and frustrated most of the time now and he keeps blaming himself for not being careful. He feels that his neglect now has caused him an eye.

Sopheaseng is a 60-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. In his free time, he likes to help his wife with the housework, feed the animals nearby the house, and listen to the monks pray on the radio. In March 2019, Soheaseng severly fractured his right arm when a tree fell on him. He is unable to move his elbow and arm normally, and often has pain in his upper arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 12th, Sopheaseng will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. Surgery will help realign the bones in Sopheaseng's arm so they can heal properly and allow him to move him arm and elbow joints without difficulty. "I hope that surgery will enable me to go back to work and that my arm will heal."

Samnang currently studies in sixth grade, and enjoys playing with his two sisters, reading books, and listening to music. Samnang was born with scoliosis. Since birth, the curvature in his spine has been slowly worsening over time. Today, he experiences pain when lying down, and difficulty walking, breathing, and sleeping. Surgery will remove the curve in Samnag's spine and realign the bones along his lower spine. Samnang will be able to breathe normally and walk and sleep without difficulty. He looks forward to returning to school and playing with his friends and siblings.

Judith is a middle-aged woman with lower back pain problem that has persisted for over 8 years. Judith has tried managing the condition with injections, medical pills and physiotherapy sessions. The interventions have not been fruitful as she recently started using a walking stick to attain balance. Judith was referred to our facility by a neighbour and upon MRI imaging, she had spinal fusion surgery recommended. If not treated, the pain will persist which might weaken her walking gait further. Judith is a mother of three children and used to work on their farm for subsistence farming but has since stopped. Her husband is employed as a timber yard operator. The family is not able to raise the total funds needed for her surgery and they appeal for financial assistance.

Abraham is a toddler from Tanzania. Since he was born, Abraham has been experiencing difficulty breathing. He was recently diagnosed with enlarged adenoids, which are the soft tissue behind the nasal cavity. Without treatment, this condition will cause Abraham's symptoms to persist and possibly even intensify. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $609 to fund an adenoidectomy for Abraham, which is scheduled to take place on August 9. Surgeons will remove his adenoids, hopefully relieving Abraham of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Sabrina’s mother says, “The type of treatment we could afford has not helped treat his condition. We have been informed surgery is going to make him better agin but we are unable to afford the cost please help fund my son’s treatment cost.”

Valary is a girl from Kenya. She was warming herself near an open fire in 2015 when her clothes caught fire. She suffered second degree burns and spent three months receiving care in a local hospital. After discharge, she did not heal fully, and contractures developed. This makes it difficult for her to walk. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Valary receive treatment. On July 12, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her walk easily again. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,176 procedure. Valary says, “I want to be a teacher when I grow up. Please help me."

Zaw is 15-year-old boy from Thailand. He lives with his mother, grandmother, twin sisters, and two older brothers. Last year he dropped out of school to help his mother run a food stall. In May, Zaw was playing tag with his friend. He climbed a tree but slipped and fell, breaking his left femur. Zaw is in a lot of pain. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Zaw will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for May 31 and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help him to walk again in the future.

Dennis is a young student from Kenya. He is the youngest in his family. Dennis has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Dennis traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 2. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Dennis's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. “I am seeking for support. I want to see my son walking uprightly. God bless you," says his father.

Win is a 54-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her father, sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews. Since 2016, Win has been experiencing lower abdominal and back pain. She has been diagnosed with an ovarian tumor. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Win's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Win is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on April 19. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After surgery, Win will no longer experience lower abdominal pain. She will be able to walk again without back pain. Win says, "I am afraid to have surgery but I want to get well so that I will go through it. I hope that after surgery, I will no longer experience the pain."