Kheng is a 65-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has three daughters and four grandchildren, and she enjoys watching Khmer dramas on television. Five months ago, Kheng developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision and irritation. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Kheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On June 4, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope after surgery I will be able to see clearly so I can recognize people's faces and attend ceremonies at the pagoda."

Nyo is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, daughter and son in Myawdddy Town, Karen State. Two years ago, Nyo experienced a sense of tightness in her back that would come and go. One night in the beginning of March 2019, she started to experience severe pain in her upper abdomen. The doctor diagnosed her with a bile duct stone after a CT scan. Nyo has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Nyo's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Nyo is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on May 2. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Nyo's procedure and care. Nyo says, "I cannot wait to have surgery and get well. After that I can spend time with my children happily."

Si Blu is a 22-year-old girl from Thailand. She lives with her parents and younger brother and sister in Mae La Refugee Camp, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province. She and her family fled Burma 12 years ago because of the civil war and a lack of job opportunities in their area. Today, Si Blu’s parents sell noddles and snacks from their home in the camp. Si Blu loves to listen to music and help her parents with household chores in her free times. Currently, Si Blu experiences fatigue and she is too tired to climb stairs. She often has rapid breathing as well as heart palpitations when she is more tired. Si Blu was born with ventricular septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Si Blu is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on March 17 to correct his condition and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Si Blu's procedure and care. Si Blu said, “I feel like my health is getting worse and worse and I cannot handle it anymore. I am too tired to work or walk. I love to work but my work place has stairs I have to climb, and I cannot climb the stair every day. I hope that after surgery, I will be able to help my mother at home by selling noodles and snacks.”

Mi is a 47-year-old woman who lives with her husband and elderly mother in a village in Hpa-an Township, Karen State, Burma. While she looks after her mother and their house, her husband works as a subsistence farmer on their small piece of land. Mi also has a daughter who works in a textile factory in Bangkok. Around three years ago, Mi started to experience what she thought were muscles aches. Later, the muscle aches developed into back pain in the area around her left kidney. For one year, she took pain killers. Later, an x-ray indicated that she had a renal stone in her left kidney. Mi decided to visit our medical partner's care center. Now, she needs surgery to remove her kidney. Surgery is scheduled for February 4 and will cost $1,500. “I just want to recover, go back and look after my mom and the house,” says Mi.

Htet Pel is a 50-year-old man who lives with his family in Mae Tha Lar Village, Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, Burma. His main income comes from working as a lottery ticket seller, and he also works as a daily laborer. Ten years ago, Htet Pel severely burned his left hand when he was refilling an oil lamp with diesel near an open fire. His injuries healed, but scars developed. Eventually, the thickness of the scars made his fingers rigid and limited the movement of his fingers, until he could no longer grip anything. Htet Pel will undergo contracture release surgery to treat his condition and help him use his hands again. The procedure is scheduled for January 15 and will cost $1,500. He says, "After surgery, if my hand gets better I will work more to increase my family’s income."

Peter is a 70-year-old farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife. Together they have seven children and nine grandchildren. Since last year, Peter has been experiencing difficulty urinating and radiating pain up his torso. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Peter's surgery. On December 4, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Peter is looking forward to having this surgery so he can continue to do his favorite activities. He says, “Thank you for this good program. We have come to be treated many times and thanks to you I am able to be seen. This is very helpful to me.”

Eh Kaw is a two-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, who are subsistence farmers. Since he was one month old, Eh Kaw has had an inguinal hernia. He cannot play with other children because of the pain that it causes. Fortunately, on November 1, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Eh Kaw's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 1 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Eh Kaw's father says, “My son loves to play a lot with his friends when he is not in pain. But when he is in pain, I have to carry him night and day, and he is not able to play.”

Blessing is a two-month-old baby from Kenya. She is the the youngest in a family of three children. Her parents are farmers. Blessing has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Blessing has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Blessing will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Blessing that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 26 and will drain the excess fluid from Blessing's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Blessing will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Blessing’s mother says, “I feel bad that I cannot raise any amount to help my daughter. I hope the people who helped us can stand with us once again.”

Filipina is a mother and grandmother from Malawi. She spends her days caring for her grandchildren, who live with her in her village, where she also maintains a small farm. Since last year, Filipina has been experiencing back and abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $650 to fund Filipina's surgery. On August 24, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and seven nights of hospital stay. She is relieved to be helped through this surgery. Her family looks forward to her recovery, with her grandchildren waiting for her return home. She says, "I will be able to care for my grandchildren again who depend on me, thank you so much!"

Andrew is a baby from Haiti. He lives with his mother and father in a small fishing village on the west coast of Haiti. Andrew has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent oxygen from adequately circulating through his body. Andrew will fly to United States to receive treatment. On August 6, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in his heart and will remove the muscular blockage near his valve. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $18,000 to pay for surgery. Andrew's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Andrew's family overseas. His father says, "Our family is very grateful to everyone who is helping us travel for this surgery."

Iden is a baby from Tanzania. He is the second born in a family of two children. His father is poultry farmer and owns a small shop that helps him to provide for his family. Iden has clubfoot of her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Iden traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 6. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Iden's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk when he gets older.. Iden’s father says, “Please help my child get the treatment for his legs. We really do not want him to grow up with a disability that is going to hinder him from living a normal life and having same opportunity like other kids."

Bryton is a baby from Tanzania. Both his parents work in the textile industry as casual laborers. Bryton has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Bryton has been experiencing an increasing head circumference, irritability and vomiting. Without treatment, Bryton will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Bryton that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 16 and will drain the excess fluid from Bryton's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Bryton will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Bryton’s mother says, “I would love to see my boy grow up and have a happy normal life like other children, be able to play and go to school and not be looked at as a disabled child.”