Nan Maw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her friends in Bangkok in an apartment rented by their employer. She works as a waitress, while her brother and mother still live in their village in Karen State, Burma. When Nan Maw was healthy and working full-time, she would send half of her salary home to support her mother. She dreams of building a concrete house back home for her family. Nan Maw was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Due to her condition, she can only engage in part-time work as she gets tired too easily. Nan Maw is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on August 31st at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, to correct her atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Nan Maw's procedure and care. Nan Maw said, “I would like to thank your organization, BCMF, and your donors for your help. If you do not help me, I would have had to give up on my treatment because I know that I could not afford it by myself. I am very happy and thankful to all the donors. You have helped me feel that I can dream again. Before I developed these symptoms, I dreamed of working hard, saving money, building a house back home, and opening my own restaurant. Since I first noticed my symptoms, it felt like my dreams were lost. But now, I can dream again.”

Mercy is a 34-year-old mother from Uganda. She and her husband are small-scale farmers who work hard to support their four children. However, their limited income is often dedicated to daily necessities, leaving little room for unexpected expenses, such as medical care. In her free time, Mercy enjoys weaving baskets, which she hopes to eventually sell to help support her family. Mercy is pregnant, and doctors recommend she deliver via a C-section due to previous complications and a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of Mercy and her baby. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Mercy undergo a C-Section on November 2nd. This procedure will cost $214, and Mercy needs your support. Having experienced previous miscarriages, she deeply values the opportunity to have a safe delivery and return home with her baby. Mercy says, “I have gone through many challenges during my journey to motherhood, including the painful loss of my first two babies. Today, I am hopeful that I will safely welcome this baby, but I am worried because my husband and I depend on small-scale farming and cannot afford the hospital bills for my operation. I humbly appeal to the donors to support me during this difficult time. Your kindness would give me hope, help me receive the care I need, and allow me to return home with my baby in my arms. May God bless everyone willing to help me and my family.”

Say is a 68-year-old woman from Kampong Thom, Cambodia. She used to work as a farmer, but she has now stopped due to her age. She is a widow; her husband passed away from malaria about 30 years ago. Say has three sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren. She currently lives with her youngest daughter, who is a farmer and grows rice. In her free time, Say enjoys listening to the radio and hearing monks' prayers. About two years ago, Say developed a cataract in her left 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 she is not able to go places on her own. When Say learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 25th, 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, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Say said, "I hope that after my surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can recognize my relatives more easily, participate in ceremonies, and carry out my household chores more effectively."