Dany is 29-years-old. She is married and her husband is a farmer. Together they have one son. When Dany's not caring for her very active child, she likes to go through Facebook and watch TV. For the past ten years, she has had consistent right ear discharge and pain. When she was a child, she had surgery for an abscess near her right ear. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Dany experiences hearing loss and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to hear or communicate with others. Dany traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 14th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. "I really hope that after the operation my ear will be better, the hearing will be normal, the ear discharge and pain will all be gone," Dany said.

Sabel is a 5-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third born in a family of four children. Sabel’s father is a small scale farmer and his mother is a homemaker. They work hard to meet their family's basic needs. Sabel was born a healthy child, but when he was born, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his thigh and knee. As a result, he had to undergo a below-the-knee amputation, and the surgery was successful. However, the operation site is not closing properly. If not treated, Sabel could develop a severe infection in this area so the medical team wants to make sure he heals well. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sabel receive treatment. On February 9th, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure. This treatment will allow Sabel's wound to heal well and, once he is fully recovered, he will be able to be fitted for a prosthetic. Now, Sabel's family needs help to fund this $747 procedure. Sabel’s mother shared, “His wound has taken a long time to heal and the doctors have advised he needs a skin graft surgery which we can’t afford. Please help him."

Than is a 42-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, three daughters, three sons, son-in-law and granddaughter. Than and her family moved from Burma to Thailand ten years ago in search of better job opportunities. Her husband, her oldest daughter, one son, and her son-in-law work as day labourers on their employer’s farm, growing and harvesting tapioca, corn, and cabbage. Her two other sons go to school, while her youngest daughter and her granddaughter are too young to go to school. Than and her second oldest daughter are homemakers. On November 7th, 2020, Than discovered that she had an incisional hernia. Currently, Than experiences abdominal pain throughout the week and has to take pain medication to decrease her pain. She feels uncomfortable when she sits, and when she is in pain, she has to walk or lie down for the pain to ease. Fortunately, on January 28th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Than's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 28th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and go about her daily activities normally. Than shared, “I was so happy when I learned that I was to go to Mae Tao Clinic [and later Mae Sot Hospital] for treatment. My children are also happy that I will receive treatment with help from donors.”

Mom is a 27-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She and her husband have two sons together. Her husband works on local village farms making latex, and she helps take care of a rubber plantation near her home. She spends her time caring for her sons and cooking meals for their family, and in her free time she likes to watch TV and take walks around her home. Eight years ago, Mom had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her right ear ear to perforate. For this reason, Mom experiences hearing loss, tinnitus and ear discharge. She can't communicate clearly with other people, and often has headaches, making it difficult for her to work. Mom traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 9th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $464 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Mom said, "I want to work easily everyday to get money for my family, but I really want to hear my family talking with each other and calling to me."

Pauline is married and a mother of 5 children who are in school in Kenya. She and her husband do casual work in the neighboring flower and coffee farms. Two years ago, Pauline began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck, headache and chest pain. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Pauline receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 15th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $688, and she and her family need help raising money. “Nowadays this swelling is giving me a lot of pains and headache. I am not able to go for work and I kindly request assistance,” said Pauline.

Cheng is a 73-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has three sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Cheng's wife is also a farmer. When he is not farming, Cheng share that he likes to exercise, do housework, take care of his grandchildren, and spend time with his friends. Cheng was in an accident and his left knee was dislocated. He first went to a provincial hospital where a cast was applied and he stayed for one week. His knee is still destabilized so his neighbor advised him to come to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). He arrived at the hospital with a dislocated, swollen, and painful left knee. He cannot walk and uses a wheelchair to get around. When Cheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for eight hours seeking treatment. On November 18th, surgeons at CSC will perform a knee fusion procedure so he will be able to walk again without pain. Now, Cheng needs help to fund this $518 procedure. Cheng said, "I hope after this surgery my knee will be fixed and I can walk again like before."

Nay is a 35-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband in Mae Pa Village in Tak Province. One and half year ago, they moved from Shwegyin Township, Bago Division in Burma for a better job opportunities. Nay stopped working as a day laborer because her health deteriorated. Now, her husband is the only earner and he is also a day laborer making limited income. Around eight months ago, Nay had a high fever and stomachache. She was also vomited a few times so her employer took her to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). When she arrived, she received an IV as well as oral medications. She was admitted for one day and then she felt better and returned home. Two days later after she got home, she felt stomachache again in the right side and also vomited. Again, her employer took her back to MTC and she was admitted again. She received oral medications as well as an ultrasound test. After an ultrasound, the medic informed her that she has a stone in her common bile duct as well as in the intrahepatic duct. She was then referred to Watsi Medical Partner Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. At MSH she received another ultrasound as well as a blood test and an X-ray. She was given oral medications to take home and she was asked to return to the hospital once a month for follow up. She went to MSH several times for follow-up appointments and she kept receiving oral medications for her stomachache problem. On February 11th, she went back to MSH as usual and she received another blood test. After that she was told that she has stone in her common bile duct and she needs to be admitted for surgery to remove the stone. Nay has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Nay's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Nay is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on March 24th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Nay's procedure and care. Nay said, “I want to work after my surgery so that our family will have enough income and now I am very sad that because of my condition we may have to borrow money from our neighbor.”

Nat is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has five sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Five months ago, Nat developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Nat learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 16th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. "I hope I am able to see more clearly so I can recognize my relatives' faces and go outside on my own again," Nat said.

Sharon is a shy eighth grade student from Kenya. Sharon was born and raised in a village in the highlands of Elgeyo Marakwet County. Sharon is the firstborn child in a family of five. She is partially orphaned after her mother died due to a short illness. Sharon was raised by her aunt as they shared that her father is unable to provide for them due to poverty and alcoholism. Her aunt is a farmer depending mostly on maize farming as their main source of income. Being the firstborn child and the only girl, her roles have been defined at an early age. She took care of her siblings when her father could not. Her aunt says that she plays the role of the mother because she acts so maturely and responsible. On Friday September 25th, Sharon sustained a severe injury to her right lower limb after she fell from a high place while she was carrying firewood on her back. She is in pain and is not able to walk on her own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 30th, Sharon will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal and walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,016 to fund this procedure. Sharon says, “I want to receive treatment to walk again so that I can continue helping my aunt and go to school when it resumes.”

Joan is a one-year-old from Tanzania. Joan is a beautiful girl and the youngest child in a family of four children. Joan’s father works as a motorcycle driver commonly known as “bodaboda” driver while the mother does tailoring in their neighborhood. Joan 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, Joan has been experiencing fevers, vomiting and her head is increasing in size. Without treatment, Joan will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Joan that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 24 and will drain the excess fluid from Joan's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Joan will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Joan’s mother says, “We have struggled so much to make sure our daughter gets all her disabilities corrected, something that has left us with no savings of any kind and only debts. She needs another surgery as soon as possible and we have nowhere to get the money from, please help us.”

Philaris is a farmer from Uganda. She is a wife and mother of three. Phalaris performs different kinds of jobs across her village, such as laundry and working in other people’s farms, to meet her family’s daily needs. On July 18th, Philaris sustained a severe injury to her right leg when she fell from a tree while she was fetching firewood. She is in pain and cannot walk on her own. She has been diagnosed with a right tibia fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 22nd, Philaris will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her walk easily again and no longer be in pain Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $968 to fund this procedure. Philaris says, “I want to get treated because I don’t want these circumstances to determine my future and that of my family. I want to see my children happy and get their daily needs.”

Thoeun is a 37-year-old monk from Cambodia. He is the oldest of eight siblings who are all married and live elsewhere. He normally lives with other monks, but his parents are taking care of him while he is injured. He reads books every day, prays and does house work. Two months ago, Thoeun fell from a hammock, resulting in a compression of his spine. He soon began to feel weakness and numbness in his legs. Now he cannot stand or walk, and occasionally feels acute pain in his lower back. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. Doctors will perform a laminectomy, a surgical procedure that removes a portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina in order to relieve pressure on his spine. Once he has recovered from the procedure, his nerves will function normally and he will be able to walk. Our medical partner is now asking for $1,500 to help cover the cost of his surgery. Thoeun shared, "I hope that I can soon return to my duties as a monk. I can't stay with my parents and make them take care of me anymore. When I get better I want to thank them and take care of them in return."