Ler Moo is a 32-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Mae La Refugee Camp, Tak Province. In his free time, Ler Moo likes spending time with his family. Ler Moo experiences abdominal pain, and his condition has not improved with medication. He was diagnosed with gallstones, and his doctor informed him that he requires surgery. Ler Moo has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Ler Moo'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), Ler Moo is scheduled to undergo his cholecystectomy on October 4. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Ler Moo's procedure and care. “After surgery, if I feel better, I will try support my family as much as I can. I will apply for a suitable job in the camp so I can have an income to support my family,” says Ler Moo.

Sombath is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons, three daughters, and 23 grandchildren. She likes visiting the local pagoda in her free time. Three months ago, Sombath developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her cloudy vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sombath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 12, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. She says, "I look forward to going to the pagoda and spending time with my family."

Faima is a baby from Kenya. Faima’s mother is a stay-at-home mom. Faima 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, Faima has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Faima will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Faima that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 4 and will drain the excess fluid from Faima's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Faima will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. “I am praying and hoping Faima will get treated and thrive,” shares Faima’s mother.

Gustavo is an active 17-month-old toddler from Guatemala. He loves playing with his toy cars and older sister. He can be rather serious around strangers, but is always smiling with people he knows. Gustavo was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Gustavo has little energy to grow, and that his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise his growth. If left untreated, he may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for his well-being, his mother took Gustavo to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 12, Gustavo will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach his mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of his continued treatment, allowing him to gain weight, strengthen his immune system, and catch up with other children his age. "I am very grateful for the help my son is going to receive," says Gustavo's mother.

Rakith is a 22-year-old man from Cambodia who loves to play music and sing songs. In fact, Rakith has shaped his life around this passion—he is a professional DJ. Having a job that relies so heavily on listening has made Rakith’s current medical condition especially difficult. When he was five years old, Rakith had an infection in his left ear that went untreated. He developed a cholesteatoma, an atypical skin growth in the bone behind the eardrum. Although non-cancerous, the cholesteatoma has caused Rakith significant problems. He now experiences hearing loss and ringing or buzzing in the ear. Rakith traveled two hours to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, where he was told his hearing problems can be fixed with a mastoidectomy. When Rakith undergoes this operation on February 8, surgeons will remove part of his ear’s mastoid bone so that they can remove the cholesteatoma. When the growth is gone, Rakith’s hearing will improve. Rakith and his wife cannot afford to pay for this treatment on their own. For $842, we can fund the procedure he needs, as well as the lab tests and two-day hospital stay necessary to ensure he recovers safely.

Meet Precious, a 15-month-old girl from Tanzania who has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition where excess fluid builds up in her brain cavity. Precious had previously been treated for her hydrocephalus, and received a stunt to reroute the extra fluid in her head to her stomach where it would be reabsorbed into the body. Unfortunately, her shunt malfunctioned and she's now experiencing negative side effects. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), informs us, "Precious is experiencing stomach distention, she has lost her appetite and doesn’t get stool as she should. If not treated, Precious will lose her life." Precious' mother is a single mother of three who is currently depending on her own mother to support herself and her children as she stays home to take care of Precious. For $775 we can fund Precious' treatment to fix her shunt and drain the excess fluid from her brain. After this surgery, AMHF says, "Precious will feel better. Her stomach will go back to a normal size, she will regain her appetite." “I pray that my baby will get well and continue with normal growth. I need to be working so that I can take care of all of my children.” said Precious’ mother.

John is a 21-year-old man from Kenya, and the fifth born child in a family of eight. “John, like his siblings, dropped out of school in class seven (primary school) because his parents could not afford the school fees,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). John now works for a neighbor cutting down trees. “John had been well and very active until he recently fell from a tree and broke his leg,” says AMHF. John has been diagnosed with a fracture in his femur. He is experiencing pain and cannot use his right leg. “If not treated, John will be in severe pain and the delay in treatment may lead to a mansion, meaning John will not be able to use his leg again,” says AMHF. With $1,125 in funding, John will undergo open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. During surgery the doctor will insert a rod or large nail into the center of the bone, which will help to support it as it heals. “I am now a grown up man and I can't depend on my parents and brothers,” shares John. “I hope to get assistance for this surgery and I hope that my leg will heal soon so that I can continue with my job. I am planning to raise some money so that I can start my own family.”

Four-year-old Junior is the youngest child to his loving father and mother, a farm laborer and vegetable grower, respectively. Junior enjoys building houses out of mud and stones. Our medical partner, the Kellermann Foundation (KF), shares, "Junior is a fun little boy who has been unable to play because he is suffering from a hernia and sometimes he is in a lot of pain." A hernia occurs when soft issue protrudes through a weak part of the body such as the abdominal wall, groin, or scrotum. $227 will allow doctors to perform a hernia repair surgery on Junior, allowing him to "return to the normal life of a little boy, growing and playing and getting ready for school," shares KF. Junior's father adds: "Thank you to all the donors because without them, I would not be able to afford the surgery for my son."

Meet Im, a 66-year-old woman from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) shares, “Im is married with five children and ten grandchildren.” Throughout the day, “Im tries to keep herself busy doing housework,” adds CSC. For the past seven years, Im’s vision has worsened due to a hypermature cataract in her left eye. Cataracts occur when a cloudy film grows over the eye lens, causing a gradual decline in vision. This condition is most common in older individuals, and cataracts will continue to develop until they reach hypermaturity. When hypermaturity occurs, the cloudy film over the lens becomes an opaque, solid mass—greatly limiting one’s vision. CSC informs us that Im's condition “makes her partially blind, and she can’t go anywhere or do much without assistance.” These limitations have caused a decrease in her self-confidence. "Im can’t support her family in any way,” remarks CSC. With $150 in fudning, Im will undergo a procedure to surgically correct the hypermature cataract in her left eye. In this procedure, her old, cloudy eye lens will be replaced with a new, artificial one. CSC states that after surgery and two days of hospital support, “Im will have restored vision.” With regained vision, Im will once again be independent and plans to travel around her country. After surgery, Im expresses her hope "to go to the pagoda more often and travel to different places in Cambodia.”

Meet Cho, a 42-year-old mother of two from Thailand. Cho was recently diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. “For the past four or five months Cho's abdomen has started getting bigger and bigger and she started to experience a lot of pain,” explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She cannot sit or stand easily. She cannot sleep well at night and she is in a lot of pain. She can feel the mass in her abdomen when she lies down. She cannot eat a lot because her abdomen is distended. She has difficulty breathing and suffers from fatigue." With $1500 in funding, Cho will receive surgery to remove the ovarian cyst. Funding will also provide pre-surgery CT scans and post-surgical outpatient visits. Following treatment, Cho hopes to work as a domestic helper in order to pay for her son's school fees. "I want to have surgery, and I want to be happy and to take care of my son's future," Cho shares. "I want to work hard for my son to ensure he has good education."

Gloria is a 28-year-old woman from Guatemala. Gloria came to our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) with an incorrect cancer diagnosis, "She came to us totally distraught, looking for help," says WK. "Fortunately, on examining her we were able to confirm that this is just a benign growth, a lipoma, and not a cancer." Still, the growth causes Gloria pain and limits her ability to walk. Gloria says, “I am looking forward to having a family, but I’m in no hurry. Right now my priorities are working and saving money.” However, her lipoma is making it difficult for her to work. For $360, Gloria can have her lipoma removed and return to life without pain. Gloria is already relieved that she does not have cancer and grateful that her treatment is within reach. Gloria tells us, "I thought this was cancer, and I'm so glad that it is not, and that there is a solution." Let’s give Gloria the opportunity to achieve her dreams to become successful and eventually have a family!

"Eladio has a very large lipoma on his back that has been growing for many years," Wuqu' Kawoq (WK) tells us about this 50-year-old, K'iche'-speaking gentleman from Guatemala. "This causes a lot of pain and interferes with his abilty to work in his fields. He's spent a lot of money and time over the years trying to get a surgery, but he's never been successful." Eladio earns a living for his family (including a few small ones) through agricultural work - he grows corn and beans and other vegetables for local markets. Eladio tells us that the WK team that right now his goal is "just to be without pain and to be able to take care of my family." "He's excited to have connected with our team, and hopeful that we will be able to help him," WK writes. $360 will cover the cost of removing the lipoma and help Eladio get back to work pain-free. WK is ready to do their part to help Eladio get back in shape. Let's make their efforts worthwhile.