Thein is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, husband, and 18-year-old daughter in refugee camp in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. Thein’s mother is retired, her daughter is a student, and her husband is a post-stroke disable person. Thein sells mohinga (Burmese noodles) in front of her home. However, her income is not enough to cover the family’s household expenses, and they have had to borrow 12,000 THB ($375 USD) from a neighbour to meet daily life expenses. For basic health care, the family usually visits the hospital in the refugee camp, which provides free health services. Since August 2023, Thein has been experiencing continuous bleeding, similar to menstruation, which has lasted for three months at a time. She also experiences tiredness and dizziness. Thein has been diagnosed with a myoma in her uterus and has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thein's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thein is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on April 20th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this treatment will help Thein be free from continuous bleeding and able to perform her daily tasks normally. Thein expressed her happiness by saying, “Thank you very much to this organisation [HFA-BCMF] and the donors for being willing to help with my treatment costs. I really want to recover from my health issue, which would not be possible without your assistance.” She also added, “I will work hard to repay my debt after I fully recover.”

Pu is a 42-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his parents and older brother in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. His parents are retired, while his older sister works in the banana farm outside of the camp. Pu has stopped working since his accident in 2024. In his free time, he loves to hunt rats or mice in the forest to help them get by every month. Pu underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for reversal. In Pu's case, his colostomy requires reversal to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Pu. The surgery is scheduled to take place on March 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently, and return to work. Pu said, "I want to recover and find work. Now with my colostomy bag, it prevents me from working. Thank you for helping me."

Samwel is a seven-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in a family of six. His mother is a farmer, and his father keeps livestock. Samwel has clubfoot on his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. As the pain increased, Samwel began missing school and eventually dropped out because walking to and from class became too difficult. His family had never sought specialized treatment before, as they were unaware that corrective care was available. Through a village outreach visit, Samwel was identified and referred to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Samwel will begin clubfoot treatment on February 10th, and he needs help raising $1,119 to fund his care. After treatment, he will be able to walk without pain and return to school, restoring his chance at education and a productive future. Samwel's father says, “He stopped going to school because of the pain he experiences while walking, and I fear for his future if he fails to be treated.”

Naw Paw is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She has been living in the refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her husband, her son, her daughter, and her grandson for more than 20 years. Naw Paw is primarily a homemaker. Together with her son, she assists in growing and selling vegetables and produce from their garden. Her daughter is also a homemaker and cares for Naw Paw’s grandson, while her husband volunteers at the camp church. The family’s limited income from vegetable growing allows them to cover only basic daily living expenses. In her free time, Naw Paw enjoys playing with her grandson, tending to the garden and speaking with neighbours. Watching her plants grow brings her happiness. However, ongoing health issues and financial uncertainty have caused her significant stress. In June 2025, Naw Paw reported lower back pain and pain in her right lower abdomen. An ultrasound was performed, which revealed gallstones. Naw Paw has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Naw Paw's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Naw Paw is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on January 12th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Naw Paw's procedure and care. Naw Paw shared, “I am always worrying about where I can find more money, especially with my health problems. I feel very relieved and thankful to receive support from the donors during this time.”

Gerald is a playful, friendly nine-year-old Grade 3 pupil from Kenya, the second of two children. He enjoys grazing cattle in the fields and dreams of becoming an engineer. “I am hoping that he can continue with his studies once he's feeling better, just like other children,” his mother said. Gerald has often struggled to converse, and as a single mother, Viola did everything she could to get him help. “When Gerald got to the age of walking, he couldn’t walk – he could only crawl, and that made me very nervous. His left hand also couldn’t function, and that was worrying,” she said. She took him to a referral hospital, where he attended therapy twice a week. However, due to financial challenges and the extended distance from their village to the hospital, they were unable to sustain the visits and were eventually lost to follow-up. Their breakthrough came unexpectedly. One day, Gerald’s grandfather heard about a disability assessment exercise in their village. He took Gerald for evaluation, and after the review, the assessors referred him to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital, for orthopedic assessment. Gerald has been diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and muscle coordination on one side of the body. The condition often causes stiffness (spasticity), weakness, difficulty with balance, and challenges using one hand or leg, which can affect ability to walk, run, or perform daily activities comfortably. Gerald walks on tiptoe and often feels pain, especially while running or playing football, something he really loves. Gerald also has a clubfoot on his left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. “Sometimes I feel bad because I cannot keep up with my friends in walking, running, and playing football. My prayer is that I will get better so I can continue playing with them and continue with my education as well,” Gerald shared. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gerald receive treatment. On December 11th, he will undergo clubfoot surgery repair, allowing him to walk better, play freely with his friends, and chase his dreams. Now, Gerald's family needs help to fund this $1,286 procedure. “I look forward to walking comfortably, playing football with my friends, and living a healthier life, just like them," said Gerald.

Hser is a 60-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, children, and grandchildren in a refugee camp in Sob Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. His daughter is a teacher, and one of his sons is a day laborer. Hser and his wife run a small grocery shop in the camp. Every month, they receive money on a cash card from a charity organization in the camp. They also raise chickens and a pig for their own consumption. They receive free basic healthcare in the refugee camp. Since 2021, Hser has had an inguinal hernia. Hser is in a lot of pain. He experiences swelling, as well as a burning and aching sensation, preventing him from performing his daily tasks. Fortunately, on November 10th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sariang Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,468 to fund Hser's hernia repair surgery. Once completed, Hser will be able to live more comfortably. Hser said, “I would like my discomfort to disappear, and I would like to be able to work properly. I hope my problem will be treated after my surgery."