Khin is a 17-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her mother and step-father in Mandalay Division in Burma. Her mother works as laundrywoman for her neighbors, and her step-father works as daily laborer in construction sites. Khin was born with the help of traditional birth attendant. When she was one year old, she was constantly tired and inactive. Khin's mother was worried for her and took her to a hospital in Burma. The doctor diagnosed her with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). In 2017, Khin's symptoms became much more severe. She has difficulty breathing and cannot walk long distances. Fortunately, Khin learned about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a heart surgery to treat the defect. Treatment is scheduled for March 16, and Khin needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. Khin says, "I want to continue my study after I recover. In the future, I want to become a teacher."

Leshan is a handsome six-year-old boy from Kenya. In April this year, Leshan began suffering persistent headaches. A visit to a local hospital had him diagnosed with malaria and pneumonia. Leshan received treatment for two months, but his condition worsened. Leshan, who was always the best in his class, could not keep up, and his performance drastically dropped. Eventually, his vision became blurred and his lower limbs weak. These symptoms forced Leshan to quit school early July 2016. His parents took him to a different hospital where a scan revealed that Leshan has excess fluid on his head and a tumor known as medulloblastoma. Urgent specialized treatment would be required, and Leshan was referred to Bethany Kids Hospital, a Watsi partner. Leshan's parents cannot afford the treatment he needs to remove the tumor. Leshan's father is a pastoralist while his mother is is a stay at home mom. The family lives in a traditional house in Rift Valley Kenya. Leshan is the twenty-second born in a family of twenty-seven children and the last born to his mother who has nine children. If not treated, Leshan faces the risk of increased intracranial pressure, which is likely to cause brain damage or even death. "Leshan is such a bright boy and we would like to see him back to school," his father shared. "He has a bright future ahead of him and that is what we wish for him."

Tah is a ten-year old boy who lives with his parents and three siblings in Burma. Tah’s family has lived in Burma for their whole lives, living on a small farm where they grow food for their own consumption. His father, U Kyaw Poe, is the only member of the family who earns an income and works as works as an agricultural day labourer. Of his three siblings, Tah is the only one who attends school. He is currently enrolled in third grade, and enjoys his studies very much. His siblings do not attend school, but rather help their mother with farm work and occasionally accompany their father to his job as an agricultural day labourer. On May 18th, Tah was riding in the back of a vehicle transporting a large water jug through his village when the vehicle hit a bump and Tah tumbled out onto the road. The heavy jug of water that had been in the back of the truck also fell out, landing on top of him. He sustained a serious shoulder injury as a result of the incident, and when the pain did not subside in a matter of days his father decided to travel to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) to seek medical treatment. Tah and his father had to walk a few hours out of their village in order to catch a car that would take them to Mae Sot. The journey by car then took between 3 and 4 hours, When they arrived at MTC, clinic staff performed an x-ray of Tah’s shoulder, which revealed that it had been broken in two places. The trauma unit at MTC then referred Tah to Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) in order to receive support for the reparative surgery he will need. Currently, Tah is unable to move his injured arm whatsoever. He is in severe pain at all times, and has had to miss school in order to travel to MTC for treatment. Before his accident, Tah loved to play soccer with his friends and brothers, but he can no longer enjoy this pastime due to his injury. His father wants him to be able to return to school and get a good education so that he can have a career more fulfilling than working as physical labourer. "I want to feel better and return to school without pain," Tah said.

Three weeks ago, Saviour, a beautiful little girl, was born. She had a leaking cystic mass on her lower spinal region. Due to the risks associated with Saviour’s condition, her mother was advised to seek for specialized treatment immediately. According to her mother, Saviour sleeps a lot and feeds fairly well. Saviour’s mother is a college student while her father neglected the responsibility of taking care of their baby. Saviour and her mother solely depend on Saviour's grandparents who are subsistence farmers. The family lives in a three roomed house in the Western region of Kenya. Saviour's mother is worried that she cannot raise funds for her daughter's treatment. If not treated, Saviour is at a risk of getting infection and developing tethered cord that can lead to either Scoliosis and/or Kyphosis. She is also at a risk of lower limbs paralysis. Fortunately, we can help prevent these complications and fund the treatment Saviour needs - a spina bifida closure, which will cost $805. Saviour’s treatment will reduce the risk of infection as well as development of tethered cord and risk of lower limbs paralysis. “I feel sad that my daughter has this condition," her mother shares. "Any help accorded towards her treatment will be a great blessing to us.”