Martina is a 42-year-old single mother who lives in Guatemala with her four children. To support her family, Martina cleans houses and wash clothes. Martina is 11 weeks pregnant and is currently experiencing serious bleeding and pain. According to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), "Martina has had a history of miscarriage, starting 21 years ago, when she had her first one that devastated her. She has had one more miscarriage and a still birth since then, with the most recent miscarriage happening six months ago." She was referred to Hospital de Chimeltenango by her local midwife to seek treatment for a first trimester hemorrhage. With funding of $977, Martina will receive interpretation, accompaniment, and transportation to the hospital that she needs to make sure her life is not in danger. This treatment will be life-saving to Martina, helping her to spend time with her children and provide for them. Martina shares, "I want to prevent the baby from dying. Thanks for the help that you are giving me, now I can go to the hospital and the doctors can examine me."

Meet Hla, a 43-year-old wife and mother from Burma. Early last year, Hla felt a mass in her abdomen gradually become bigger. At the time the pain did not bother her, so Hla used traditional medicine but with no noticeable improvement. This February, she decided to visit a clinic and an ultrasound identified a uterine mass. Hla lives with her husband and her niece’s family. Her children have all married and moved away. Her husband and niece’s family work as day laborers. Hla grows crops, including banana plants, coconut, and eggplant, and sells pigs to cover other expenses. Her family can sustain their food and other expenses, but do not have the ability to cover healthcare costs. Hla explains, “We are too poor to solve this health problem. It is very difficult in Burma because the health expenditures are so expensive.” Doctors with our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), have diagnosed the mass as non-cancerous. However, they have still recommended surgery to have the mass removed in order to avoid any other complications. $1,500 will cover the cost of the surgery Hla needs to remove the mass, the necessary medical supplies, and her hospital stay. BBP explains that, “following a successful surgery, Hla will be able to rejoin her family without having to worry about her health condition and the costs to her family. When she returns, she will also be able to contribute to the household income.” Hla shares, “I hope to get an operation as soon as possible. When I get well, I want to work and save money to help my family."

Meet Makara, a 37-year-old farmer from Cambodia. In his free time, he enjoys planting trees and listening to the radio. "When Makara was eight, he began having ear discharge and hearing loss in his left ear from otitis media," reports our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually referred to as an ear infection. These sort of infections are common in areas of Cambodia where hygiene can be poor. "Over time, this perforated his left tympanic membrane," CSC continues to explain. For the past almost 30 years, Makara has continued to experience recurrent ear discharge, hearing loss, and a ringing in his ear. "I am unhappy that I have ear pain and there is a bad smell," Makara shares. "It is difficult to communicate with other people." After hearing about CSC on the radio, Makara traveled to CSC with his cousin for proper treatment. For $399, doctors will perform a myringoplasty to repair the tear in Makara's tympanic membrane. This will improve his hearing and stop the discharge and pain. Makara is very excited to have his operation so that he can finally hear properly again. "I hope the ear discharge stops and I have good hearing," he shares.