Choeun is a 41-year-old construction worker. His wife and two sons also work in the same profession. Choeun enjoys watching the news on TV and looking at Facebook on his phone. Three years ago, Choeun developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him itchiness and tearing. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye, and occur due to excessive sun damage. Due to the abnormal growth, Choeun has difficulty seeing things clearly and working. When Choeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours with his wife seeking treatment. Choeun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva and prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $216, which will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for June 17th. Choeun expressed his hopes for the future: "I hope after surgery my eye feels comfortable so I can work well and go anywhere on my own."

Rosemarie is a 38-year-old woman with two children. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her children. Eleven years ago, Rosemarie began to experience uncomfortable symptoms. She had difficulty swallowing and felt tightness around her neck. When she worked, she experienced shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. Over time, her symptoms have worsened and grown more frequent. There are times when she cannot perform simple household chores. Rosemarie's husband is a construction worker. Recently, her oldest son left school to begin working. Despite his help, they do not earn enough to support the family. Though Rosemarie wanted to seek medical treatment, the family could not afford hospital expenses. Finally, Rosemarie visited our medical partner, International Care Ministries. She underwent a series of laboratory tests and was diagnosed with a thyroid condition. She will undergo a thyroidectomy surgery on December 9. Now, Rosemarie needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. She looks forward to recovery. She will return to work and spend time with her family. "I was praying fervently that I will be healed from this condition," says Rosemarie. "Now, it will be answered. Thank you, because you will help me for this surgery. My family and myself are grateful for this wonderful early Christmas gift to us. After the treatment, I will cook a very nice meal for my family and friends. Though we are not rich, we are thankful still that this life is worth living. Thank you so much."

Glendi is an 18-month-old girl from Guatemala who loves to play with her plastic tea set. She has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Glendi began malnutrition treatment on October 28, 2016. Glendi lives with her family in a cinderblock house with a tin roof. Her father works as a day laborer, earning only a couple dollars per day. Her mother stays home to care for the family and weaves textiles to sell. While Glendi's parents want the best for their daughter, their resources are already stretched thin. They cannot afford to pay for her $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Glendi recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Glendi a chance to grow healthy and strong. "I am excited to see my daughter grow better," says Glendi's mother. "I hope that one day she will be a good student, have better opportunities, and be in good health."

“I want him to grow well and learn all I can for him and for my next child,” says the mother of Carlos, an 18-month-old baby from Guatemala. According to our medical partner Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), “Carlos is the first child in his family. He likes to accompany his mother to sell things in the street and also likes to play at home…his mother says that she thinks he will be happy when his little sister or brother is born so that he will have a playmate.” Carlos is currently suffering from acute malnutrition, and his mother is five months pregnant with another child. According to WK, “This is an important detail, because once his little sister/brother is born his mother’s attention will be diverted away from Carlos and focused on the infant.” Fortunately, WK adds that “(Carlos’s) mother is really receptive to learning all she can to improve her son’s diet and she was excited to hear that she could actually impact his health in this way.” If Carlos does not receive intervention his health will continue to decline and he will be at risk for the long-term effects of malnutrition – he will face physical and mental stunting that will limit his ability to succeed in school and the workforce, as well as hinder his immune system to combat illnesses. For $512, Carlos can receive treatment for his acute malnourishment. Children enrolled in WK’s recuperative nutrition program receive several months of intensive intervention, which includes an evaluation for infections and weekly monitoring visits to the home by doctors. Carlos will also receive food supplements to reintroduce essential micronutrients into his diet. In addition, WK says that, “His mother will receive intensive nutrition education thus building her confidence and ability to care for Carlos and perhaps even preventing malnutrition from developing in her next child. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Carlos the chance to live a healthy productive life.”

Marina is a 37-year-old Guatemalan woman who is currently 36 weeks pregnant with her ninth child. Although she's never had any complications with her previous pregnancies, she was recently found to have high blood pressure during a visit to a government health center. During pregnancy, high blood pressure can be an early sign of preeclampsia, a condition which can lead to life-threatening complications for a pregnant woman and her fetus. "Marina was worried when she heard how high her blood pressure was and so she contacted her midwife, who immediately brought her to us," explains our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "Immediate care for Marina and her unborn child will save their lives." $377 funds Marina's hospital stay, including an induced labor, to ensure she safely delivers her healthy child. WK explains the importance of this care: "Constant monitoring from the moment she checks into the hospital and an eventual delivery in the hospital will prevent complications due to preeclampsia and keep Marina and her baby as safe as possible." "I am ready to do what I must for the health of my baby, and so I can continue to live for my family," Marina shares. "Thank you for caring for me and for supporting my husband and I in this." "When Marina left our office today, she seemed calm and strong – ready to take on anything," WK adds.

Meet Cho, a 42-year old woman from Burma. Cho lives with her mother, brother, husband and 12-year old adopted son. Until recently, Cho worked in a local tea shop to support her family but over the course of this year, Cho had to stop working due to increasing pain and discomfort from a uterine myoma. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), informs us that in addition to regular fevers, Cho “experiences back pain, stiffness in her legs and numbness in her abdomen." Upon seeking medical advice, Cho received an ultrasound and was diagnosed with uterine myoma, a condition in which fibroid masses develop within the uterus where they may continue to grow and multiply. The necessary treatment is too expensive for her family to afford at this time, due to her inability to work and a recent car accident that left her husband handicapped. “Cho worries about her son’s well-being," says BBP. "She wants to get better and return to work to help her husband recover from the injuries sustained in his accident." For $1,500, Cho will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix. This will prevent the uterine fibroids from redeveloping in the future. After surgery and recovery, Cho looks forward to being able to resume working to fulfill her hope of providing for her family without pain.