Shane is a four-year-old toddler from Bolivia. She is the middle of three children and lives in a jungle valley in northern Bolivia where her parents are both farmers. When Shany began to walk, her parents noticed that she would become out of breath very easily. After several doctor visits she was diagnosed with a condition called pulmonary valvar and subvalvar stenosis, in which the area in and near one of the four valves of her heart is too narrow. Blood cannot pass easily through this valve, leaving her weak and short of breath. Surgery is recommended to repair her heart. Our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund Shane's surgery. During surgery, doctors will open the valve to a more normal size so that blood can circulate normally through her body. Her mother shares: "Our family is hopeful that after this surgery our daughter will be healthy and strong enough to start school."

Getrude is a 66-year-old humble and soft-spoken woman. She is married and the mother of eight children - five boys, and three girls. Her eldest son is a truck driver, two of her sons are in the bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) business, and the remaining two sons are farmers. Her daughters are all married and are local farmers. Getrude managed to study up to the primary level and now earns a living through her small banana and coffee plantation. Unfortunately, her husband is unable to work due to issues with diabetes and hypertension. Getrude was brought in by her daughter, who reported that she had been experiencing a protruding mass, backaches, and lower abdominal pain for the past six months. Her symptoms are exacerbated by lifting heavy objects or walking long distances. After examination by a doctor at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), she was diagnosed with uterine prolapse with an anterior cystocele. Fortunately, surgeons at AMH are able to help and have recommended that Gertrude undergo a hysterectomy and surgery to help relieve the pain she is experiencing in her abdomen, which will cost $243. Gertrude and her family are hopeful that this procedure will help relieve her pain, and that she will have no more problems. She shared “I am going through a lot of pain, I can do nothing at home, but I hope with surgery, I will get better.”

Men is a 15-year-old student, living with his mother, three brothers and one sister in Battambang province in Cambodia. Men and all of his siblings are in school, while his mother, who is divorced from his father, grows potatoes and rice. At school, Men enjoys Khmer literature, reading and writing in Khmer, and playing football with his friends. In January, Men was on a motorbike with a friend, when they were hit by a tractor. Men fractured his left femur, and fell hard onto the concrete injuring his shoulder. After the accident, Men's family took him to a provincial hospital for surgery on his femur. Subsequently, Men developed an infection - diagnosed as osteomyelitis - and he has also experienced improper healing of his fracture. As a result, Men is unable to walk, and is currently confined to a wheelchair. He is in pain, and he is also unable to use his left arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On June 2nd, Men will undergo a fracture repair procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $483 to fund this procedure, which should enable Men to walk again, and to return to school. Men's mother is hopeful that after surgery he can walk so he can go to school again.

Monika is a five-year-old student and the oldest child in her family. She just started the first grade. When she is not at school, Monika likes to play with other children around her house. In April, Monika was playing with friends and tripped causing a fracture of her left forearm. This injury has left Monika's arm red and swollen and has made it difficult for her to dress and feed herself. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On April 18th, Monika will undergo a fracture repair procedure and CSC is helping Monika and her family raise $483 to cover the cost of the surgery. This procedure will repair Monika's forearm, and she will be able to use her hand again. Her mother said, "I hope this surgery can fix her arm and she can return to school. It is hard to see her cry every day."

Vireak is an active nine-year-old boy. He is in the third grade and has one younger sister who is not yet in school. His parents are cashew farmers. Vireak likes reading books from school and helping his mother with housework when he isn't studying or playing with his friends. For the past several months,, Vireak has been experiencing difficulty swallowing when he eats, and has difficulty breathing at night. He has frequent fevers and sore throats, which have not improved with local medical treatment. He feels poorly and misses school, doesn't want to eat, and has trouble breathing well at night. Vireak was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Vireak, which is scheduled to take place on May 3rd. Vireak's parents have helped to raise $37 towards his surgery where surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Vireak of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Vireak says, "I hope I will feel better and can swallow, breathe better, and stop having throat infections."

Nob is a 31-year-old loving husband and father. He and his wife have two sons, ages seven and three, and one daughter, who is 10 years old in the third grade. Nob's wife works in a garment factory. Last month, Nob was in a traffic accident where fractured his left femur. After the accident, he underwent surgery at a local clinic. Unfortunately, after two days, when doctors ordered an angiogram, they discovered that his femoral artery had ruptured in the accident. His left leg is pale and cold, and doctors have recommended an amputation to save the rest of his leg. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Nob receive treatment. On April 5th, he will undergo an amputation at CSC's care center. Now, he needs help raising $446 to fund his procedure and care. Nob shared, "I am thankful that I can use a prosthesis once I recover and return to work to support my family."

Charles is a hard working elderly man who farms along with his wife. They have ten children but are empty-nesters, as their children have all left home and have their own families. A year ago, Charles developed a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. The condition causes him discomfort and makes it difficult for him to work. Upon review, doctors determined he will need to undergo surgery to finally heal. Fortunately, on February 15th, Charles will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at the care center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). This procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. AMHF is requesting $146 to fund Charles's surgery. Charles shared, "If I can be treated, you will have done a great job because I have suffered for a very long time. After treatment, I will be able to continue farming even if I am an old man!"

Daw Khin is a 45-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, who are retired and supported by Daw Khin's sister, who earns an income from renting out their land. Daw Khin used to work as a teacher before her condition made it difficult for her to continue teaching her students. Around June 2020, Daw Khin began to feel very tired and experienced heart palpitations. She shared that it felt like she could not breathe while teaching. Because these episodes happened infrequently, she did not seek treatment at the time; however, in December 2020, her condition worsened, and she went to a local hospital. After receiving an electrocardiogram, doctors determined she has an enlarged heart and an abnormal heartbeat and prescribed medication to help Daw Khin feel better. Since Daw Khin's symptoms continued, her sister brought her to a cardiologist in April 2021. Upon review, Daw Khin's condition was diagnosed as an atrial septal defect, a birth condition in which there is a hole in the wall that divides the upper chambers of the heart. The cardiologist informed her that she would need surgery, but the cost was too high for Daw Khin's family, so they returned home with medications. Daw Khin currently experiences headaches, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue and heart palpitations when talking or walking short distances. Fortunately, a friend visited Daw Khin in June and told her about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Daw Khin contacted BCMF and learned that BCMF will be able to help her finally heal. On February 6th, she will undergo an atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to help fund her procedure. Daw Khin shared, "I would like to teach all my students again in the future. I like teaching students."

Cheu is 58-year-old rice farmer. Cheu and his wife have two sons and three daughters. They are all farmers and work in the fields to earn a living. When he is not in the fields, he enjoys listening to the news on the radio. Three years ago, Cheu developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him difficulty seeing in bright or low lights, double vision, and frequent tearing of his affected eye. He can no longer see to ride his motorbike or plant the rice correctly due to his vision. When Cheu learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On December 14th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. He shared, "I hope to go back to being a successful farmer to support and feed my family. I feel sad I cannot help my family, and I cannot go outside."

Samet is a 65-year-old retired teacher. She has one daughter and three grandchildren. Sadly, Samet's husband died during the Khmer Rouge regime many years ago in Cambodia. Now she lives with her daughter, who is a farmer, and in her free time, she enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Three years ago, Samet developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her tearing and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Samet learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 4th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Samet shared, "I hope after surgery I can see people's faces, be outside more, and do my housework well."

Ruos is a 30-year-old security guard who is married with one son and one daughter. His son is 12 years old and in ninth grade, while his daughter is nine years old and in fourth grade. In his free time, Ruos likes to play volleyball. In August 2017, Ruos fractured his left leg in a motor vehicle accident. After the accident, Ruos visited a provincial hospital where his leg was casted for three months. Afterwards, he went to a traditional Khmer healer where he received a bamboo splint for another two weeks, but his fracture did not heal. In February 2018, he had a fracture repair procedure where a surgeon affixed hardware to help heal the fracture. The fracture is now healed, but the locking nail in his left tibia is infected and needs to be removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 28th, Ruos will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This procedure will help him walk easily again and heal his infection. Rous shared, "I hope my left leg is finally healed and will not become infected again and I can return to work soon after I recover."