Eang is A 55-year-old female grocery seller from a small village in Kampong Cham Province. She is married and has two daughters and three grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who also sells groceries, and her oldest daughter, who works as a coffee seller. In her free time, Eang enjoys listening to the news on the radio. About one year ago, Eang developed a cataract in her left eye. This causes her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces. Eang is also worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Eang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On March 9th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, our medical partner is requesting $263 to help fund this procedure. Eang said, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve, the photophobia will stop, and I will be able to recognize things better so that I can return to selling groceries comfortably again."

Monny is a six-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal Province with her parents and siblings. Her father is a car repairer and her mother sells snacks in front of a local factory. She is the middle child of three siblings and is currently studying in Grade 1. She enjoys playing dolls with her friends. Her favorite meal is Tom Yum soup, and she hopes to become a teacher in the future. For the past two months, Monny has been experiencing difficulty in breathing, snoring at night, sore throat, cough, and occasional vomiting. The symptoms affect her sleep quality and daily comfort. She experiences discomfort especially at night, which affects her energy and school activities Monny was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Monny, which is scheduled to take place on May 19th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Monny of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Her mother said, “After the surgery, I hope my child will breathe and sleep better again, recover quickly, and be able to live happily and comfortably without pain or difficulty.”

Thein is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, husband, and 18-year-old daughter in refugee camp in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. Thein’s mother is retired, her daughter is a student, and her husband is a post-stroke disable person. Thein sells mohinga (Burmese noodles) in front of her home. However, her income is not enough to cover the family’s household expenses, and they have had to borrow 12,000 THB ($375 USD) from a neighbour to meet daily life expenses. For basic health care, the family usually visits the hospital in the refugee camp, which provides free health services. Since August 2023, Thein has been experiencing continuous bleeding, similar to menstruation, which has lasted for three months at a time. She also experiences tiredness and dizziness. Thein has been diagnosed with a myoma in her uterus and has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thein's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thein is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on April 20th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this treatment will help Thein be free from continuous bleeding and able to perform her daily tasks normally. Thein expressed her happiness by saying, “Thank you very much to this organisation [HFA-BCMF] and the donors for being willing to help with my treatment costs. I really want to recover from my health issue, which would not be possible without your assistance.” She also added, “I will work hard to repay my debt after I fully recover.”

Yohana is a five-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is in kindergarten and is an active member of her household, supported by her mother and her father, an electrician and electronics maintenance staff member. Having dealt with chronic tonsillitis since she was a toddler, Yohana has spent over half of her life navigating the difficult challenges of this condition. For three years now, Yohana has been experiencing snoring, fevers, and a painful throat. These recurring infections, filled with frequent fevers and intense pain, have often pulled her away from her first years of school. They have also disrupted the energetic play she should be enjoying with her brother. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Yohana, which is scheduled to take place on April 25th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Yohana of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Yohana's parents shared, "We hope the surgery will allow her to grow up to be active and energetic."

Sylivia is 31 years old and a nurse from Uganda. Her husband works as a security guard in a local town, and they have two children together. Sylvia carried her previous pregnancies to term and delivered both children by emergency caesarean section due to cephalopelvic disproportion. Her children are doing well and are all in school. She is currently expecting a new baby, and her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Sylivia undergo a C-Section on January 20th. This procedure will cost $241, and Sylivia needs your support. Sylivia says, "I hope to recover soon and resume my duties as a nurse so I can support my family."

Nwet is 41 years old and a mother of three from Burma. She and her husband live in a refugee village in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. They moved from Burma to Thailand in 2020 in search of better job opportunities. Nwet's daughter and two sons are studying in Burma and live with her mother-in-law. She and her husband are agricultural workers. Since January 2023, Nwet has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including swelling on her left neck. She was diagnosed with thyroid goiter. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Nwet receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 17th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Nwet said, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for helping me with my treatment cost.” Her husband added, “I am really grateful that my wife will receive support for her surgery costs. By ourselves, we cannot afford this. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”

Srey Nith is a 35-year-old woman from Cambodia. She lives with her husband, who works as a laborer. They have one son who is a kindergarten student and is cared for by her parents. She is the fourth of six siblings, and all of her siblings are married and live in nearby villages. In her free time, she cleans the yard and reads literature. Thirteen years ago, Srey Nith fell from a tree while picking fruit and injured her hip. She developed avascular necrosis of her right hip, a condition where the blood supply to the ball-shaped part of the thigh bone is disrupted, leading to bone death. She has undergone several surgeries, including a right hip replacement, but she continues to suffer from chronic infections in the hip prosthesis. She experiences pain and is unable to walk without support, and cannot sit comfortably for long periods. She now seeks further treatment to regain mobility and reduce pain. Srey Nith was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), by another hospital and traveled four hours to seek care. She will undergo surgery on January 23rd. She is able to contribute $12.50 toward the cost of treatment and needs help to raise $1,488 more. The costs include a special prosthesis, surgery, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Srey Nith said, “After the surgery, I want to be able to move and sit comfortably again so I can go back to my job and earn an income for my family.”

Ann is a bright 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the firstborn in a family of six children and is a fourth-grade student. She dreams of becoming a doctor so that she can one day support vulnerable children in her community who often struggle to access healthcare services. Her father is a small-scale farmer who works hard to support his family. Ann has clubfoot in both feet, a condition that has significantly affected her mobility. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. She is unable to stand upright or walk long distances. Living in a hilly and rocky area has made everyday activities, including attending school, extremely challenging. To ensure that she does not miss classes, her father has often had to pay for motorcycle transport to take her to and from school despite the financial burden and the long distances involved. Ann experiences teasing from some of her peers, which has affected her confidence and social interactions. Ann is currently receiving treatment at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, and is scheduled to undergo serial casting followed by corrective surgery to address her condition. This treatment is expected to improve her mobility, restore her confidence, and allow her to walk, learn, and thrive like other children her age. On June 10th, Ann will undergo clubfoot repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Ann's treatment and care. After her recovery, she will be one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor and making a difference in the lives of children facing challenges similar to her own. “I would love to have feet just like my friends and other children,” Ann shared. “I want to recover fully, walk confidently, and live a normal life just like my friends,” she added.

Leiris is a friendly and intelligent seven-year-old girl from Colombia. She loves to play sports and dreams of being a flight attendant. Three years ago, Leiris developed an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. The condition has been causing her pain and discomfort, which prevents her from playing sports and participating in other school recreational activities. Following her diagnosis, surgery was recommended to correct it and prevent future complications. Unfortunately, her family is unable to raise the funding required for treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is helping Leiris receive treatment. On March 20th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery, which once completed, will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Now, Leiris's family needs help to fund this $786 procedure. Her family says, "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the people supporting her surgical procedure. Thank you for giving her the opportunity to achieve a better quality of life. Following the treatment, we sincerely hope for a speedy and satisfactory recovery, so that Leiris can resume her daily activities without discomfort and continue to brighten the lives of those around her with her joy."

Houy is an elderly housewife from Kampot province. She is a 76-year-old who is married and has one son and four grandchildren. She lives with her elderly husband, and their living expenses are supported by their son and grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and going to the pagoda. About ten years ago, due to her age, Houy developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her to experience tearing, irritation, and vision problems. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind, or dust, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Houy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Houy needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Our medical partner is requesting $298 to cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for March 9th. Houy said, "I hope that after surgery, the irritation will stop, my vision will improve, and I will be able to recognize things more easily without worrying about my eye problem anymore."

Kataleya is a sweet 13-year-old girl from Bolivia. Kataleya lives in the northern part of the country with her mother, who is a homemaker; her dad, who works in agriculture; and her younger sister. Kataleya was taken to the doctor with complaints of headaches, and it was during this visit that doctors heard a murmur and discovered her heart problem. Kataleya has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On May 20th, Kataleya will undergo heart surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Kataleya's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Kataleya's mother shared, "I'm grateful that my daughter is receiving her surgery. They told me the heart murmur was going to close with time, but recently we found out it didn't. I pray she will have a good surgery, and she can feel much better so she can exercise as she wishes."

Ruth is a 56-year-old woman from Kenya. She is married and a mother of three children, two of whom are still in school. Ruth runs a small green grocery business near her home, while her husband works as a motorcycle rider. The little income they earn helps sustain their basic needs. Ruth had lived a healthy life until about three months ago when she started to experience gynecological symptoms including severe lower back pain, lower abdominal pain and bleeding. During the December holidays, she was unable to socialize because of the symptoms, which made it difficult for her to engage with family and friends. Ruth has visited several health facilities in her area, but the problem persisted. This prompted her to seek care from a gynecologist from our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital, who diagnosed her with post-menopausal bleeding. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $657 to fund Ruth's surgery. On January 21st, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Ruth will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. "I really want to get back to my normal life and be able to take care of my family. I request for your assistance," said Ruth.