Say Poe is a 6-year-old daughter of three from Burma. She lives with her family in a village in Karen State, Burma where her grandparents and stepfather are farmers while her mother runs a small shop and the rest of the family sells rice when able. Say Poe goes to school and likes to play with her doll in her free time. Currently, Say Poe’s vision out of her right eye is blurred and she has facial palsy on her left side. Her right ear also sometimes bleeds. Her condition does not cause her great pain, but it affects her vision and makes it difficult for her to see. Doctors recommend Say Poe undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Say Poe's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 9th. Say Poe's mother said, “I am so nervous and worry something will happen to my daughter severely. I hope she will be able to get proper treatment and has no complications [head injury post trauma]. I am worried and feel stress about her. I will try everything to help her get treatment. I want her grow up and live like other healthy children. I want her to become an educated person and helpful for the community."

Grace is a 29-year-old mother of three. She is from Southwestern Uganda and practices subsistence farming while her husband is a bodaboda taxi driver who is paid on commission. The family's financial situation makes it difficult to manage both day-to-day costs and medical expenses. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She is currently expecting a new baby. Her doctors recommended that she deliver via a cesarean section (C-Section). She has been attending the antenatal clinic at Nyakibale Hospital and was advised to undergo a C-Section to avoid a ruptured uterus. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Grace undergo a C-Section on January 19th. Grace needs help raising $252 to fund her procedure and, ultimately, safely deliver her newborn child. Grace says “I will be glad to deliver my baby safely under your support and thus able to continue with farming.”

Abel, who is 11 months old, lives with his parents in La Paz. He is his parents' first child. Abel was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. Because of this, a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through Abel's lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Abel's parents sought the help of our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, and now Abel is scheduled for surgery on January 16th, at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria. During surgery, doctors will sew the hole shut, so that blood will no longer leak out. This procedure should enable Abel to grow into a healthy young boy. Abel's mother said: "Our family is praying that our son will be strong and healthy after this surgery!"