Pya is a 57-year-old man who lives in Karen State, Burma with his wife, daughter, and grandson. Pya’s family owns land on which they grow rice. In March 2017, Pya started feeling pain in his lower abdomen, but he did not seek any medical care. Shortly after this pain developed, it forced him to stop working. Pya used to take herbal medicines for his symptoms. However, they were not very effective, and his condition deteriorated. He could not manage the pain, so he traveled to a clinic, where a medic examined him and performed an ultrasound. He was then referred to Mae Sot Hospital, our medical partner's care center, for further testing. Over three visits, he received an x-ray and blood and urine tests and was diagnosed with bladder stones. Pya was then scheduled for surgery on October 24. In addition to his pain, Pya’s condition has affected numerous other aspects of his life. Because he has had to stop working, his family has been struggling financially. Fortunately, we can help by raising $1,500 to pay for his surgery. Pya says, “I want to be able to work on my own farm again. I want my family to be able to eat well and have meat again.”

Wilson is a young student from Tanzania. Wilson is the youngest in a family of four kids. He loves playing football with his friends at school. For some tine now, Wilson has been experiencing difficulty breathing, especially at night. He was recently diagnosed with enlarged adenoids, which are the soft tissue behind the nasal cavity. Without treatment, this condition will cause Wilson's symptoms to persist and possibly even intensify. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $609 to fund an adenoidectomy for Wilson, which is scheduled to take place on October 11. Surgeons will remove his adenoids, hopefully relieving Wilson of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Wilson’s father says, “We have tried to use medication on his condition but it has not worked. We were told the only way he could get better is through a surgery, which is too expensive for us to afford. Please help our son if you can.”

Esther is a baby from Haiti. She lives with her mother and father in Port-au-Prince. She is their first child. Esther has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Esther will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 6, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Esther's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Esther's family overseas. Her mother says, "We are very glad for this surgery so that our daughter can gain weight and have more energy."

Katusabe is a single mother from Uganda. She is a mother of seven children. For one year, Katusabe has had an inguinal hernia. This hernia is causing her discomfort and if not treated, it may lead to intestinal tissue damage and death. Fortunately, on September 26, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Katusabe's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. She says,"After surgery I will resume working in my fields."

"Once I am healthy, I will be able to work hard and save money," Soe Win shares. "I will try to donate to the needy. I can see a brighter future ahead of me. When the rain stops a rainbow will appear in its place." Soe Win is a 30-year-old woman from Burma who “likes to spend her time outside of work at the local monastery, helping the less fortunate any way she can," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Soe Win has a uterine myoma -- a condition where uterine muscles develop abnormally and benign tumorous growths called fibroids grow within the uterus. The fibroids increase the pressure on the internal organs, causing abdominal pain. "Soe Win cannot sleep well and it is difficult for her to stand up and sit down," says BBP. Due to this pain, “Soe Win is unable to walk more than a short distance.” “Since she lives alone,” BBP explains, “Soe Win worries that if she does not get better, there will be no one to take care of her.” Though she currently works as a laundress, her income is not enough to pay for the operation she needs. With $1,500, Soe Win will receive a total hysterectomy—a procedure in which her uterus will be removed to prevent the fibroids from returning. “With surgery, Soe Win will not be in pain anymore, and she will be able to sleep well and move around much more easily," BBP adds. Following this procedure, Soe Win is looking forward to being healthy enough to work and go to the temple.

Oeun is an 83-year-old grandfather from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Oeun has hypermature cataracts in both of his eyes, making it hard for him to walk around alone, eat, and distinguish people’s faces.” Oeun feels guilty about his lack of independence because it forces him to constantly rely on his son to help him with everyday activities. CSC continues, “Oeun has six children and ten grandchildren. Before his vision got bad, he liked to read books.” With $225 in funding Oeun will receive surgery to remove the cloudy cataracts from his eyes, replacing his old lenses with artificial ones. Following surgery, his vision should be clear! Oeun tells CSC that after surgery, “He looks forward to going to the pagoda, visiting his kids in other provinces, and, most of all, eating without assistance.”

“I want to get better. I have a young child, and I love my husband. I want us to have a life together,” says Maria. Meet Maria, a 28-year-old mother from Guatemala who has a brain tumor. “Maria came to see us a few weeks ago with severe weakness on the left side of her body, severe headaches, and partial blindness,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. Maria has had these symptoms for the past 6 months. “However, Maria can’t afford treatment and without Wuqu’ Kawoq’s help, this will be a fatal illness,” continues Wuqu’ Kawoq. “Maria and her husband heard through word-of-mouth about our clinic, and they decided to pay us a visit. They brought all of their test results, hoping that Wuqu’ Kawoq would be able to help them gain access to the needed treatment,” says Wuqu’ Kawoq. Maria’s symptoms prevent her and her husband from working, forcing her husband to take care of both her and their newborn baby. For $1475, we can provide chemotherapy to Maria. Wuqu Kawoq expects, “Maria will need aggressive treatment to control this illness. Based on what the tumor looks like on the scans, we have a good idea that it is curable. Treatment will relieve symptoms and, in the best case scenario, will completely cure her.”

Meet Lwin, a 42-year-old father from Burma who has kidney stones. “Lwin currently experiences back pain, abdominal pain, and stomach pain. Sometimes he gets dizzy and feels weak and he also has low blood pressure,” reports our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). When Lwin previously went to the hospital, he was misdiagnosed and the kidney stones remained. It wasn't until months later that he received the correct diagnosis. “Lwin has five children and four of them are studying. Due to his illness, he cannot support his children and cannot provide any income for the family. His family has to rely on selling ducks and chickens,” continues BBP. “After his treatment, Lwin wants to go back to his normal life, return to work, and take care of his family.” Lwin aspires for all of his children to obtain an education. For $1500, we can fund surgery to remove Lwin’s kidney stones and have him return to his family healthy and able to work. “Lwin will be able to live pain free and return to work, allowing him to focus on his family’s welfare,” says BBP. “It will also restore his dignity which he feels like he has lost over the last year.”

At 21 years old, Chanthou works in a garment factory in Cambodia to support herself. She was born with blepharoptosis, or drooping eyelids that cause blurred vision. "She is embarrassed about the way she looks," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). The condition also prevents her from seeing clearly. Not only does her condition impact her self-confidence, but her blurred vision gets in the way of her work. If treated, Chanthou will be able to perform her job much better. Fortunately, CSC is able to surgically treat Chanthou's blepharoptosis for $290. This will improve both her vision and her confidence. "She hopes that her eyes can be fixed so she can do her job more easily and that she will look more beautiful," says CSC. Let's help Chanthou continue to support herself, improve her vision, and lift her self-esteem!

Lexidamise is a one-year-old little girl from Haiti. Laxidamise was born with the duo of cleft lip and palate, birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip and mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. A few months ago, Lexidamise received surgery to repair her lip. Now she needs one more procedure to fix her palate so she can learn to eat like other kids her age. Lexidamise’s mother explains how it is difficult to find anyone who can feed and take care of her child in the special way she needs. As a result, she has been unable to work and cannot afford treatment for Lexidamise. For $960, Lexidamise will receive surgery to repair her palate and complete the last stage of her treatment. Let’s make sure this little girl grows up healthy and strong!