Vichheka is a 29-year-old delivery man. He is single and has one older married sister. He lives with and helps support his parents - his father is a tuk-tuk driver and his mother sells fish at the local market. In his free time, Vichheka enjoys listening to music with his friends and going to the cinema. In December 2021, he fell off a ladder while helping a neighbor and fractured his left elbow. He had surgery at a local hospital where he received a plate and screws in his arm. Now his fracture has healed, he no longer has pain, and needs the hardware removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On November 1st, Vichheka will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This procedure will help him move his elbow well again. Vichheka said: "After surgery, I hope to be strong again to work for my family."

Channarith is a 47-year-old security guard for a local restaurant. He is married and has two sons and one daughter. His wife also works in a local clothes factory. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the radio, reading the news, watching boxing, and exercising. Last week, Channarith was in a collision with another motorbike. He did not seek any care but now he cannot work, is in pain, and cannot move his right shoulder. Fortunately, a neighbor told him about Children's Surgical Centre and the care they provide. Surgeons there have diagnosed him with a dislocated right shoulder and recommend immediate surgery. Channarith needs help with the $485 cost of closed reduction surgery on his shoulder, which will include the operation, medications, and post-operative care. Channarith shared: "I hope, after surgery, I will have full function of my shoulder, no pain, and can return to work soon."

Tin is a 45-year-old man. Originally from Burma, he fled to Thailand over 20 years ago due to civil war. He currently lives with his wife, who works as a street vendor selling various snacks and vegetable, and one of his daughters, who is currently in school. His family also raises chickens, which they sell when they need cash. Tin previously worked as a farmer and a construction worker, but he has recently been unable to work due to his condition. In the future, he hopes to go back to work and help support his family. After an incident that occurred this past April that caused him to be hit in the left eye by a mango, Tin lost his vision in that eye and began to experience headaches, swelling, severe eye pain, and dizziness when attempting to stand. Tin eventually sought medical attention at a clinic. There, a medic checked his left eye, gave him a bottle of eye drops, and told him to seek treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) since they could not treat him there. However, he did not go to MTC right away due to financial constraints. He instead hoped that his eye would recover over time with the help of eye drops. Although his pain was temporarily reduced, the bruising disappeared, and the swelling went down over time, he never regained his vision. The pain in his eye eventually returned, and he noticed that he had a white spot on his left pupil. As the white spot increased in size, his eye progressively became more painful and began to itch. He now experiences discharge and watering in his eye, as well as difficulty sleeping. At the beginning of this month, a small lump appeared near the white spot on his left pupil. The lump gradually increased in size until it bursted on August 13th. After the discharge and bleeding from the lump stopped, he asked his friend to take him to MTC right away. When he arrived at the clinic, he was told to come back on Monday since there were not any eye specialist medics working on the weekend. When Tin returned on Monday, a medic examined his left eye, and he was diagnosed with corneal perforation, a condition resulting from the cornea being penetrated and damaged. Tin was also told that his eye is infected. He now must undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to remove his left eye as quickly as possible before the infection spreads to his right eye. Fortunately, Tin was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for financial assistance accessing treatment. On August 17th, surgeons at our medical partner's care center will perform an enucleation to remove his left eye. Now, BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Tin's life-changing procedure. Tin shares, “I feel very depressed and worried about my eye. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I lost vision in both of my eyes. I want to receive surgery quickly to prevent my right eye from becoming infected. Without your help, I don’t think I would be able to receive further treatment. Therefore, I want to say thank you to the donors and the organization for agreeing to support my treatment costs.”

Itzael lives in the mountains above La Paz, Bolivia with her parents, who are farmers, and her older brother. She was born with Down's syndrome and a cardiac condition called atrioventricular septal defect, in which a large hole exists in the center of the heart, causing blood to leak between all four chambers. This condition leaves her sick, short of breath, and unable to gain weight as her body needs to grow. Fortunately for Itzael, surgeons at our partner hospital will perform heart surgery to fix her condition. During the surgery, doctors will close the hole using a patch so that blood can flow normally through her heart. Her family needs to raise $1,500 for her surgery. Itzael's mother says: "Our family is very happy and thankful to have this chance to help our daughter."

Krib is a 48-year-old farmer who is married with two sons and one daughter. When not outside on the farm with her husband, Krib likes to keep her house clean and cook for her family. On and off since she was young, Krib has experienced ear infections. These infections caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left side ear to perforate. Krib now feels ear and face pain with uncomfortable discharge and hearing loss. Krib has spent a lot of money at pharmacies for medications, but her symptoms have persisted. Krib now struggles to communicate with her family and shared that she feels embarrassed about her hearing loss. Krib traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 6th, Krib will undergo a procedure in her ear where surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is raising $487 to fund this procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Krib's husband shared, "I hope she stops having ear infections and her hearing will improve."

Sok Heng is a 37-year-old homemaker. She is married and her husband works as a taxi driver. Together, the couple has one son and one daughter, who are both in public school. When she is not caring for her family, Sok Heng enjoys listening to the news on her phone. Last month, Sok Heng developed a chalazion, or an inflamed cyst of the tear gland, in her right eye. She experiences burning, itchiness, and irritation, and her eyelid is red and swollen. It is also difficult for her to see clearly. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Sok Heng receive treatment. On June 2nd, surgeons at CSC's care center will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Sok Heng's symptoms should improve. Now, she needs help raising $210 to fund her procedure and care. Sok Heng shared, "I hope after surgery my eyelid not be red and itchy. I want to feel better and able to do my housework."

Hassan is a hardworking 37-year-old from Kenya who works as a casual laborer. He lives in a single-room rental house that costs about $10 per month. On July 25th, Hassan was working as a night guard when he was attacked by unknown people. During the attack, his left leg was hit with a sharp object. He was eventually taken to a nearby health facility for emergency treatment, where he received stitches and was discharged with pain medication. However, his condition did not improve, and he was still unable to walk. Community health workers in the area took Hassan to a nearby hospital, where an X-ray revealed a transverse patella fracture with some displacement. A doctor at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, recommends that he undergo fracture repair surgery. Hassan shares that income from casual labor jobs in Kenya is inconsistent and is not enough to pay for the proposed procedure. He also does not have medical insurance and would need to pay for the surgery in cash. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 26th, Hassan will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $979 to fund this procedure. Hassan says, “I am struggling to walk as a result of the fracture. I am unable to get any manual work to earn a living because I cannot use my legs. Surviving without a job is an issue. I need this surgery to be able to work.”

Ezekiel is a 4-year-old young boy and the second born in a family of four children. He is a charming, playful, and friendly boy. He has not joined school yet though his mother says he never stops telling his father that he wants to go to school like his older brother! In 2019, Ezekiel accidentally stepped into an open fire and sustained severe burns on both of his feet and hands. He was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted for over eight months receiving treatment and therapy. Given the long period he stayed at the hospital, his parents spent every savings they had and had to ask for support from friends and relatives. Despite the treatment, his feet have been severely deformed due to burn contractures, and Ezekiel has difficulty wearing shoes and walking. He has been scheduled for surgery to start correcting his right foot, but his parents cannot afford the treatment cost. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ezekiel receive treatment. On May 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him be able to wear shoes and walk easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Ezekiel's mother says “Wearing shoes is difficult and he complains of pain when he plays. Please help treat him."

Man is a 59-year-old grocery seller. He and his wife have one daughter, four sons, and ten grandchildren. In his free time, Man enjoys listening to the news on his phone. One year ago, Man developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him photophobia and blurry vision. As a result, he has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he cannot go places independently. When Man learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for six and half hours seeking treatment. On April 22nd, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure. Man says, "After surgery, I hope I can see clearly again so I can sell my groceries well."