Char is a 28-year-old man who lives with his grandmother, wife, and daughter in a town in Tak Province, Thailand. Char moved to Thailand with this grandparents when he was eight years old, after his mother passed away. Char’s grandfather passed away eight years ago and now his grandmother is retired. Char used to sell fruits in the market but stopped working last year because of his condition. Char’s wife works as domestic worker and earns 4,500 baht (approx. $150) per month. His daughter is a student. Their monthly income is just enough to cover their daily expenses but they cannot save money or pay for basic health care. In April of 2019 Char was driving his motorcycle to work when suddenly a car driving on the wrong side of the road hit his motorcycle head on. He was flung from his motorcycle and knocked unconscious. The crowed who witnessed his accident called an ambulance, that brought him to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH). Soon after Char was brought to MSH, he received surgery to insert a metal rod into his right lower leg, as the doctor found that both his bones in that leg were fractured. During his follow-up appointment, he received an x-ray and was told that he would need to receive a bone graft. However, since Char has been unable to work since his accident, he had used up his savings to pay for his initial treatment and hospitalization. Unable to afford the surgery, Char refused treatment and returned home. Unfortunately, he recently fell through the wooden stairs in his home, causing the rod in his leg to bend. His doctors have shared that he needs surgery to replace the rod in his leg. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), can help. The surgery costs $1,500 and now, they are asking for your help to fund this life-changing surgery. Char shared, "I feel too uncomfortable to sleep [at night] and sometimes, I cry because of the pain. I want to get better soon so that I can help my family [financially].”

Angel is a 6-year-old student from Kenya. Our medical partner shared that they met Angel’s mother in the hospital corridors crying, she looked depressed and they drew in closer to inquire for more information. She showed our team her invoice and explained that she cannot raise the estimated bill. Angel is 6yrs old, the second and last born in her family. She is a nursery school pupil and likes the company of small kids. Their family hails from Gilgil in Nakuru county. Angel's mother is a single parent and she is a waitress at a small hotel. They live in a one-roomed rental house. Angel has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Angel traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,347 to fund Angel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily and hopefully enjoy a full, active life. “Any kind of support to make my daughter walk well is highly appreciated,” Angel’s mother told us.

Nancy is a small-scale farmer from Kenya and currently 54 years old. She is a widow who was left with a 4-year old child almost twenty years ago. She used to work as a part-time untrained teacher until 2016. Her income, though little, enabled her to bring up her daughter who is now at the University. However, she shared that the loss of her husband has still haunted Nancy for all those years. In 2016 she noticed a small lump on her neck. Nancy began to experience troubling symptoms, including fatigue and sometimes headaches. Due to this she stopped teaching and started working in her small piece of land. She was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Nancy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 30th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $625, and she and her family need help raising money. “I have no one to turn to and would like to be strong for my daughter. I kindly request for help so that I can be strong again, and I can take care of her and also get my normal life again,” said Nancy.

Joseph is a bodaboda taxi operator from Kenya. Joseph relies on his motorcycle to make a living. To supplement their limited income, his wife sells charcoal in a small makeshift kiosk. As a father of one, he is worried of not being able to meet his family’s needs. Joseph was involved in a road accident on 31st January 2020 in his hometown, few kilometers from Watsi Medical Partner Kijabe Hospital. The accident left him with multiple fractures on his face and lacerations. He cannot eat and is in constant pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 6th, Joseph will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. He will be able to chew his food again and no longer suffer pain. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Joseph says, “My hope is to recover quickly and resume my fatherly duties of provision.”

Colar is a 53-year-old woman who lives with her husband in Karen State in Burma. She has two sons who are students across the border in Mae Sot, Thailand. Both Colar and her husband are subsistence farmers but are no longer able to work on the farm due to their poor health. Their limited income comes from breeding and selling pigs and goats. In June 2018, Colar began to suffer from significant lower abdominal and back pain, constipation, headaches, frequent urination, blood in her urine and nausea. Her neighbor advised her to treat the pain with traditional medicine, initially believing this was caused by the fruit she was eating in the forest. However, after a week of severe pain, Colar lost consciousness and her neighbor called her brother who works as a medic at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). Her brother advised them to bring Colar to MTC for treatment. At MTC, Colar underwent a blood test, urine test and ultrasound afterwards, the doctor at MTC diagnosed her with a renal stone in her left kidney and advised her she would need surgery. Colar still suffers from constant pain and discomfort, she is very worried about the upcoming surgery, her health, and how she is going to support her husband and two sons who are still students. Colar said the constant worry for her health and her husband's is causing them significant anxiety and depression. When she feels well enough, she likes to forage in the forest for fruits and vegetables and tend to her garden. When Colar recovers from surgery and her health improves, she hopes to grow enough fruit and vegetables to feed her family and to sell.

Collins is a young child from Kenya, who is the first born in a family of two children. His family hails from Mpuri village in Meru County. His mother is a housewife while his father is a mason. Collins has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Collins traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Collins's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. “I am pleading for help for my son to undergo surgery so that he can walk and play like other children. I don’t want to see him struggling to walk. I will be happy to if you consider my son. God bless you,” Collin’s mother said.

Rebecca is a two-week-old baby girl from Tanzania who was born with spina bifida. She was delivered in a local hospital and referred to the district hospital for better management. Rebecca 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, Rebecca has been experiencing a swell on her back. Without treatment, Rebecca will experience severe physical and developmental delays. She had surgery recommended but her family was not able to raise the money needed. Rebecca's parents were referred to our facility by a friend where she was enrolled in the program for surgical funding. Rebecca's parents are peasant farmers. Their reliance on small scale farming limits their ability to raise sufficient funds for her treatment. They appeal for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Rebecca that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure will drain the excess fluid from Rebecca's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Rebecca will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Rebecca’s mother says, “our daughter needs this surgery but the cost if very high for us to afford please help us.”

Aung is a 30-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, daughter and sister in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp which is close to the Chinese-Burma border town of Lweje in Momauk Township, Kachin State. Today, his wife works as a mathematics teacher at a middle school in the IDP camp. His sister is a student in the IDP camp while his daughter is still too young to go to school. He used to work as a English teacher. Later on, he stopped working in June 2019 due to his poor health. feels exhausted and he is not able to walk for longer than 30 minutes, or he feels tired. His heartbeat is rapid, he has blue lips and sometimes he feels like he is not able to get enough oxygen. He has no appetite and he is not able to sleep well, worrying over his health condition, the cost of his surgery and his inability to access it. Aung was born with ventricular septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving his sick and short of breath. Aung is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on September 15th to correct his condition and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Aung's procedure and care. Aung said, "Even if I could go someplace else, I wouldn’t be able to do any hard labour due to my condition. And I can’t go to China because I can only speak a little bit of Chinese.”

Due is a 26-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his family in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State. Due is a farmer while his wife looks after their four-month-old son. In 2018, Due noticed a lump by the size of the tip of a thumb on his right breast. He did not seek treatment until the lump slowly increased in size. He then went to a hospital in Hpa-An in early January 2019. At the hospital, he received an x-ray and was told that he would need surgery to remove the mass. Because he had no money to pay for the surgery, he just went home. With the help of a medic near his area, he was connected with BCMF who sent him to Mae Sot Hospital for a CT scan. The result confirmed the mass and the need to remove it. Currently, there is redness and swelling at his breast mass. It is also itchy and painful sometimes. Due sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. he is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on September 23. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Due said, “I look ugly with my breast mass. It is itchy and painful sometimes. The symptoms of my breast mass put me in stress. I want it to go away from me as soon as possible”.

Shin is a 15-year-old novice monk from Burma. He lives and studies with his brother in Aung Damar Zinyone Learning Centre Monastery in Insein Township, Yangon Division. His father is a government officer for the ministry of religious affairs and culture and his mother is a shopkeeper and sells rice and curry. Although his parents send them pocket money, they cannot always do so. Instead, Shin and his brother are supported by the monks, and he collects donations of food from the community with the other monks, during morning alms collections. In his free time Shin like to play football with his friends. Sometimes, he likes to read books and study to learn new things. Shin was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Shin has difficulty breathing, is unable to sleep at night and sometimes he has a fever during the night. He cannot walk long distances and he has difficulty walking up stairs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Shin. The treatment is scheduled to take place on August 21 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “When I grow up, I want to become a monk to help those in need as well as children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school,” said Shin. “This has been my dream since I was a child.”

Chabenta is a girl from Haiti. Chabenta lives in an orphanage in a mountainous area south of Port-au-Prince; she enjoys her classes in school and would like to become a doctor one day. She has a cardiac condition called severe mitral regurgitation, in which one of the four valves of her heart has been damaged by rheumatic fever and can no longer open and close properly. As a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body, leaving her sick and short of breath. Chabenta will fly to Boston to undergo surgery on September 5. During surgery, the medical team will first attempt to repair her damaged valve; if this is not possible, they will implant an artificial replacement. Boston Childrens Hospital is providing $28,000 to fund surgery. Chabenta's family also needs help to fund costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to support these costs. She says, "I am looking forward to this surgery so that I can walk to and from school without having to rest."

Salman is a child from Kenya. He was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Salman is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 21. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “We are unable to raise the funds needed yet we wish to see our son doing well. Please help us,” says Salman’s father.