Dah is a 71-year-old grandmother. She lives with her two daughters and their husbands, two granddaughters and two grandsons in the refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Dah is originally from Karen State, Burma, but she relocated to a camp with her family in 1997 due to conflict in their region. Her husband passed away two years ago while in the camp. Now retired, Dah assists her daughters with household chores and cares for her grandchildren, all of whom are students in the camp, except for the youngest, who is just two years old. One daughter works as a day laborer, while the other is eight months pregnant. Dah’s sons-in-law are currently unemployed but help around the house. She also has a daughter in the USA who sends $200 every three months. Additionally, Dah receives 2240 THB (approximately $67.88) monthly from The Border Consortium. Despite this support, her family struggles to make ends meet, often relying on taking rice from the store in advance and repaying when they have the cash. Two years ago, Dah started experiencing abdominal pain and bloating. Upon review, she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Dah's surgery. On January 15th, she will undergo gynaecological surgery at Mae Sariang Hospital. Once recovered, Dah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Dah said: "Initially, I was concerned about the operation, but when I spoke with others in the camp who had undergone similar surgery, I felt reassured. Now, I'm eager to move forward and receive the treatment I need."

47-year-old Allen is a mother to four boys and three girls. The family lives in Uganda, where Allen and her husband are small scale farmers. Allen developed a lump in the upper back region, which has been increasing in size over the past four years. Initially, Allen did not seek treatment, as she did not experience any symptoms. As the lump has increased in size, however, it has begun to cause pain in Allen's chest and neck, making it difficult for her to sleep. Allen sought medical treatment from our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, where doctors advised her to undergo surgery to remove the mass. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Allen receive treatment. On January 6th, she will undergo mass removal surgery to relieve her discomfort. Now, Allen needs your help to fund this $145 procedure. Allen says: “I pray and hope to get well through surgery. I wish to live a normal life once again so that I can comfortably take good care of my family like I used to before.”

Six-year-old Darika lives with her parents and older brother in Kampong Speu province in Cambodia. Her parents work long hours as rice farmers to support the family. Darika is currently in grade one and loves studying Khmer and playing with her friends at recess. Darika was born with a condition called torticollis, which has caused the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the left side of her neck to be shortened and tight. This condition limits her neck's movement and causes her head to tilt, due to the muscle imbalance. It also makes everyday activities more challenging. Although Darika began conservative treatment with physical therapy when she was two years old, there has been no improvement, and surgical intervention is needed to correct the condition. On December 11th, Darika will undergo torticollis release surgery at our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. This procedure will help correct her head positioning, improve her neck movement, and prevent future complications. Her family has already contributed $100 toward the surgery, but our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is seeking $387 to help cover the remaining expenses, which include the surgery, post-operative care, and physical therapy. Darika’s father shared: “I hope this surgery will improve her condition and our family can stop our worrying."

Khun is a truck driver who works for a construction company in Phnom Penh. He is 63 years old, married, and has four sons, one daughter, and nine grandchildren. He lives with his wife and their youngest daughter, who collects aluminum cans to sell. He enjoys listening to the news or playing with his grandchildren. Several years ago, Khun developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and an increased sensitivity to light, causing discomfort when he is exposed to bright light. He can no longer drive his truck well and is afraid he will not be able to earn a living if he cannot drive. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Khun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Khun's family can contribute $100 but needs your help to raise $153 more to fund his procedure and care. Khun said, "I hope it is easier to go out and return to work driving after my operation."

Chheng Huong is a five-year-old kindergartener from Cambodia. She lives with her parents in a rural area where her parents and grandparents work as rice farmers. In her free time, she enjoys watching cartoons on her father's phone and eating egg-fried rice. In December 2023, she was burned when a fire broke out in the local market, injuring Chheng Huong, her mother, and a merchant. She was treated at a clinic near her home for one month. Now, her burns have healed, but she has severe contractures of her fingers on both hands. This makes it difficult for her to perform everyday activities such as writing and drawing at school, and feeding herself. When Chheng Huong's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform burn contracture release surgery to improve the function of her dominant left hand. At a later stage, surgeons will consider a similar surgery on her right hand. Her family is able to contribute $100 but needs help to raise $395 more to fund this procedure. Chheng Huong's father hopes she will be able to use her hands to write, feed herself, and perform her daily activities more easily.

Ly is a 21-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and three siblings in Kampong Chhnang province. His parents are rice farmers, and Ly and his older sister farm to help support the family, including their younger siblings that are still in school. In his free time, Ly likes playing soccer and checking his social media. When he was one year old, Ly suffered burns on his left fingers from an open cooking fire at home. He was treated by a traditional healer in his village. Ly has developed burn scar contractures on all four fingers, tightening the skin around the burns. This experience makes him unable to use his hand easily and impacts his daily life and ability to work. When Ly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 24th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve the function and appearance of his hand. Ly and his family contributed $150 to his care and are requesting assistance to raise $345 to fund his surgery. Ly said, "After surgery, I hope I can use my hand more easily and get a better job."

Joselito, a 59-year-old father from the Philippines, works as a taxi driver and earns minimum wage. His income is insufficient to provide for his family of five, prompting him to take on extra jobs to make ends meet. Twenty years ago, Joselito began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe pain on the left side of his stomach, which radiated to his back. Initially, he tried drinking a lot of water to ease the pain, and it subsided. When he consulted with a doctor he was asked to take an ultrasound, but could not due to financial constraints. At the onset of an extremely painful episode, Joselito was rushed to a nearby hospital and was diagnosed with gallstones. He was advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. He was informed that if left untreated, his symptoms would continue to worsen and put him at risk of further health complications in the future. Unable to cover the cost of the necessary surgery, he was prescribed pain medication instead. Fortunately, Joselito then sought treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). He is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on March 27th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Jose is seeking support for the remaining $1,128. Joselito says, "Since I started to feel the symptoms attack more often, I had to reduce my work hours and this took a toll on the family's income and expenses. While my family worries about my health, I am worried that I will not be able to give them what they need because of my condition, so I deeply appreciate the assistance I am receiving for my medical care."

Young is a 62-year-old farmer. She has two sons, five daughters, and many grandchildren. Young shared that her husband passed away, and she now lives with her oldest daughter, who is a rice farmer. Young likes to plant vegetables around the house to help feed her family, and she enjoys listening to the monk pray on the radio. Two years ago, Young developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and discoloration in her eye. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, the mucous layer that lubricates the eye. When Young learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 2nd, she will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. CSC is requesting $225 to fund her procedure, which includes medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Young says, "After surgery, I hope my eye can see better. I want to plant crops again to help feed my family."

Lovence is a soft-spoken 30-year-old woman. She and her husband practice small-scale farming. Lovence's husband also makes a traditional beer, called tonto, to help supplement their income. However, she shared that their banana crop was affected by a disease, limiting their income while working to clear the land. For about two years, Lovence has had an epigastric hernia. Her symptoms worsen when she does strenuous work, which is challenging since farming is physically demanding. She visited Nyakibale Hospital for review, and the doctors determined she would need to undergo surgery to heal. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Lovence receive treatment. On April 12th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery to help her live more comfortably and confidently upon recovery. AMH is requesting $230 to fund Lovence's surgery. Lovence says, “I expect to get well once given your support to undergo my surgery and hope to continue with farming to sustain my family.”

Em is a 61-year-old woman who is married to a farmer and has two sons, three daughters, and several grandchildren. Em enjoys exercising, cooking for her family, and playing with her grandchildren. In December 2019, Em slipped and fell fracturing her left wrist. Em went to a government hospital where doctors fixated hardware to heal the fracture. This hardware still causes Em pain and can be removed now that the bone is healed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. CSC is helping Em raise $230 to cover the cost of the hardware removal on February 18th. This treatment will limit her risk of infection and allow her to fully use her hand again. Em shared, "I hope I can recover quickly and return home soon."

SreyLean is a 15-year-old student in the tenth grade. She has one younger brother in grade seven. Her parents are rainy day rice farmers. SreyLean enjoys reading, cooking, and exercising with her friends. She likes math in school and would like to be a lawyer when she grows up. A month ago, SreyLean was involved in a motorcycle collision on her way home from school and fractured her left knee. Her parents took her to a government hospital to repair the fracture, but because they couldn't pay for her treatment, they left the hospital early. Her wound remains open and is not healing well. It is painful and she is unable to walk. When SreyLean's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On March 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a muscle skin flap to to heal the open wound on her left leg. Now, she needs help to fund this $657 procedure. "I hope that my leg will be quickly healed and this infection will go away. I want to be able to walk again," SreyLean shared.

Kabagonza is a farmer from Uganda. He is married and a father of nine children. Since 2016, Kabagonza has had a swelling on his right buttock that is growing in size gradually. This causes him pain and discomfort. Kabagonza traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 11, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Kabagonza needs help to raise $196 to fund this procedure. He says, "I will resume with farming after the treatment."