Chu is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her sister and niece in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. She left her home in Yangon Region, Burma, to escape violence after a military coup in 2021. Chu and her sister work at a church in Mae Sot, where they cook and clean for daily events and handle behind-the-scenes tasks for weddings, funerals, and parties. They rely on donations from the church and have no formal salary. The income she receives is enough to cover basic expenses for the family, including food and healthcare. In her free time, she loves to cook and bake desserts. After surgery, she wants to continue to make snacks and potentially start a business selling them on her own. Since 2023, Chu has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including right lower back pain and right lower abdomen pain. The pain worsens when Chu stands or sits for long periods of time. Her symptoms are exacerbated at work, but she continues her duties, taking oral painkillers to manage the pain. Doctors plan to perform a ureteroscopy, a procedure used to diagnose and treat kidney stones or ureteral blockages by passing a small, fiberoptic scope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on April 10th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Chu said, "I had nowhere else to look for money. After your organisation agreed to help me, I felt relieved. I have fled from my home and left my family to come here. However, I feel warm and supported by my church with basic needs. Thank you for helping me.”

Neema is a 12-year-old girl from Tanzania. She was brought to our center by her family after concerns were raised about the inward bending of both her feet. Neema has been living with clubfoot since she was a young child, a condition that has affected her ability to move comfortably and independently. Due to her physical challenges, Neema is currently not enrolled in school. Despite this, she is a joyful child who enjoys playing, jumping rope, and participating in games with other children at the care center. Her playful spirit and resilience shine through, even as she faces limitations that no child should have to endure. Neema’s family is deeply concerned about her future, particularly her mobility, independence, and access to education. Fortunately, Neema's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons plan to begin her clubfoot treatment on January 26th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Neema's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk more comfortably, wear shoes with ease, and potentially return to school. Neema says, "I can't wait for the day when I'll be able to comfortably wear shoes on both my feet."

Htee is a 51-year-old man from Burma who currently lives in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. He lives with his wife, their three children, and his brother-in-law’s family. The family moved to the camp in September 2024 so that Htee could seek medical treatment in Thailand. His wife and brother-in-law work as agricultural day laborers, while Htee is unable to work due to his health condition. In June 2021, Htee began experiencing troubling symptoms. Doctors diagnosed him with urinary tract stones and prescribed oral medication, which helped improve his condition for a period of time. In August 2024, Htee's symptoms worsened. After several consultations and tests, doctors diagnosed him with a prostate urethral stone and recommended shockwave lithotripsy, a procedure that uses high-energy shock waves directed via X-ray or ultrasound to shatter kidney stones. Htee is scheduled to undergo treatment on February 2nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. With treatment, Htee hopes to recover and regain his ability to support his family. “I feel helpless and unable to support my family,” said Htee. “My wife has to be the breadwinner in this family, which makes me very sad. We are struggling financially, and I can’t even send my children to school. I am grateful for the support with my treatment and hope to be free from this suffering.”

Rahel is a 17-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her family, who depend on small-scale farming and seasonal labor for their livelihood. Those close to her describe her as patient, respectful, and determined, someone who rarely complains even when things are difficult. Despite these challenges, Rahel has remained motivated about her future. Rahel has grown up carrying a heavy physical burden caused by burn scar contractures affecting her hand. She values education and practical skills and wants to be able to work and support herself. However, the functional limitation in her hand has made schoolwork, vocational tasks, and daily chores slower and more difficult, affecting both her confidence and productivity With limited and unpredictable income, accessing specialized reconstructive care was never financially possible. As a result, Rahel adapted as best as she could, learning to use her hand in alternative ways, avoiding tasks that required strength and flexibility, and quietly pushing through discomfort. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rahel receive treatment. On February 17th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and a skin graft to give her a strong chance to regain grip strength and finger mobility, improvements that will directly impact her independence, learning ability, and future employability. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Rahel says, “Because my fingers are tight and cannot open well, I struggle to hold things firmly or write for long. I hope this treatment will help me use my hand normally and work independently.”

Paw is a 42-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and four children in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Her husband is an agricultural day laborer, and all her children go to school in the camp. She is a homemaker. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children and helping them with their homework. Paw is pregnant, and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Paw undergo a C-Section on January 16th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Paw needs your support. Paw said, "I do not have money for my surgery. If you can help me with the surgery cost, thank you very much for that. I will also look for a job as a day laborer when my baby grows up in the future."

Sareach is a cheerful three-year-old boy from Prey Vaeng province who lives with his mother, who is a garment worker. At home, he spends his time playing with toy cars with his twin brother and enjoys eating all kinds of Khmer soup.  Sareach was born with a cleft lip and palate, which was repaired when he was a baby. There is still a gap in his upper gum, where teeth should be. Without treatment, his permanent teeth will not grow properly, and he will struggle with chewing, speaking, and smiling with confidence. Doctors at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, explained that Sareach now needs an alveolar bone graft. This surgery will place bone in the gap of his upper gum, giving the teeth the support they need to come in straight. For Sareach, this surgery is the next step toward a healthy smile and a future where he can speak and eat without difficulty. He is also starting to feel insecure about his appearance, and his mother hopes to increase his confidence. On December 2nd, Sareach will undergo surgery, and he needs help to raise $665 to fund his procedure and care. Sareach's mother shared, "After the surgery, I hope my son will feel better, so he can grow healthy and go to school with confidence."

Valentina is a 14-month-old girl from Bolivia. She has five older siblings and loves to laugh and play with her family. Her father works as a driver, and her mother sells food. When she was a young baby, Valentina's parents noticed she was always agitated and couldn't breathe normally, so they took her to the doctor who diagnosed a heart condition called ventricular septal defect. This means there is a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart and blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. Valentina also has Down syndrome. On December 3rd, Valentina will undergo heart surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood will no longer leak through it. Valentina's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Valentina's father said, "Valentina is a sweet little girl, we hope everything goes well, so she can have a healthy heart!"

Axzelle is an 18-year-old student from the Philippines. His parents have been separated for a while, and his father and grandmother support him. His grandmother is a saleswoman, and his father is a company driver. Axzelle's medical condition has prevented him from continuing his studies and participating in sports, and he has also experienced bullying from peers. Axzelle is eager to undergo surgery so he can finish his studies and work to help support his family. Seven years ago, Axzelle began to experience troubling symptoms, including a noticeable growth in his neck. He was diagnosed with thyroid disease and needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Axzelle receive treatment. On August 15th, he will undergo a thyroidectomy, during which surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of his treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Axzelle's procedure and care. Axzelle said, "This free operation will help my family lessen our financial burden. I am very thankful to everyone who has provided help to me and my family."

Su is a 42-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two children in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Su’s two children are students. She worked as a taxi driver but had to stop her work three months ago due to her current health issues. In her free time, Su enjoys learning English and the Thai language. In 2024, Su started to experience right upper abdominal pain, which made it difficult for her to breathe properly. At the local clinic, she was diagnosed with gallstones. Su needs to undergo surgery for her condition; however, she cannot afford it. Her symptoms persisted and worsened. Su has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Su'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), Su is scheduled to undergo gallbladder removal surgery on July 8th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Su's procedure and care. Su said, “I feel that I suffer from this kind of disease, and it is a big burden that I need to look after my two children. I have no one to rely on, and sometimes I feel tired, and I want to give up on everything.”

Nedson is a 43-year-old farmer from Malawi, married with four children. For some months now, Nedson has not been able to work on his farm due to his medical condition. He frequently requires support from his wife, who has also not been able to find time to do farm work since Nedson has been hospitalized several times. Seven months ago, Nedson began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain after being hit by a motorcycle while walking. He was diagnosed with a perforated ileum, and on January 1st, he was taken to the theatre for a loop ileostomy. This is a surgically created opening on the body's surface, typically the abdomen, connecting an internal organ to the outside to divert the flow of bodily waste since the normal route was compromised due to injury. He has been assessed and is now fit for ileostomy reversal, allowing for normal bowel movements. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to complete his treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Nedson's surgery. On August 5th, he will undergo surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. "If possible, donors, kindly help me to resume good health; I need to get better and take care of my family," said Nedson.