Ye Min is a 19-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his parents, younger brother, and a younger sister. His father is unemployed due to a previous accident. His mother works as an agricultural day laborer, while his brother looks after their neighbor’s cows, and his sister helps with household chores. Ye Min is unemployed. Their family’s combined monthly income is not enough to cover their daily expenses, and with Ye Min’s medical condition, the family is now indebted to neighbours and friends for loans they've received to help them finance medical and living expenses. Ye Min was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Ye Min experiences significant limitations in his energy and physical capacity. He often has to rest after walking for not more than five minutes. His condition has prevented him from working, and he feels stressed about his health. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund a heart valve replacement for Ye Min. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 27th at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital. Once completed, Ye Min will hopefully live more comfortably. Ye Min said, “Without surgery, I will not live longer, and now I cannot walk far or work due to my fatigue, which makes me sad.” His mother said, “I leave my son’s life in your hands. I believe that he would have died in Burma if we had not come here to receive surgery with the help of your organization. When I came here, I felt like half of my burden had been lifted when I saw that your staff were kind and caring. I would like to thank you very much ahead of time for being willing to help us.”

Mary is a mother of four from Malawi. Originally from Blantyre, she moved to Lilongwe in search of employment and was fortunate to secure work as a housemaid and nanny. For three months, Mary has been experiencing persistent abdominal pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. She was brought to Partners in Hope (PIH) by her employer, where she was managed for anemia and reviewed by a gynecologist. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and surgery is recommended. Mary remains hopeful that the surgery will restore her health, enable her to return to work with renewed strength and concentration, and allow her to continue supporting her children and family back home. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1363 to fund Mary's surgery. On October 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Mary will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. "Your support will make me happy again and help me concentrate on my job again," she shared.

Sina is a loving 63-year-old retired rice farmer from Prey Veng province. She has one son, who provides her support, and lives near her niece who sells groceries. Her favorite hobby is listening to monks give spiritual education. About three years ago, Sina developed a cataract in her right eye, causing 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, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Sina learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 13th, 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. Sina and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but need help raising $238 more to fund the procedure. She says: "I hope that after surgery my vision will improve, so I can easily go out, take care of myself, and plant vegetables around my house."