Ester is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her parents, her younger brother, and two younger sisters in a village in Karen State, Burma. Ester and her three younger siblings go to school while their parents are small-scale farmers. They also raise chickens and pigs, and they forage for vegetables in the forest for their own consumption. They also have a small garden where they grow betel nut trees, and they sell some of the betel nuts to earn a small income. Sometimes, Ester’s father also finds work as an agricultural day laborer. In her free time, Ester loves to help her mother with household chores and also play with her friends at school. She wants to become a teacher when she grows up. Ester 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. Ester is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 7th to correct her condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Ester's procedure and care. Ester's mother shared, "I would like to thank BCMF and your donors for your kindness and willingness to support my daughter. Without you, my daughter would not receive treatment as the cost is too high for us, and we cannot borrow such a large amount of money from our neighbours. On behalf of our family and our daughter, thank you to your donors and everyone willing to help my daughter.”

Bunrong is a 13-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is in Grade 6 and is the only child in his family. His father works as a rice farmer, and his mother runs a small grocery business to support the household. He enjoys studying English, playing football with his friends, and dreams of becoming a police officer in the future. About one year ago, Bunrong developed a mass over his right wrist after sustaining an injury while playing volleyball. At that time, he received treatment with an X-ray examination and wrist immobilization in a cast for 21 days. Although the initial treatment was completed, he continued to experience pain in his wrist. Over time, the mass gradually increased in size, causing ongoing discomfort and making it difficult for him to write his lessons and complete schoolwork comfortably. After being referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled three hours with his family to seek specialized care. Doctors diagnosed him with a right wrist tumor and scheduled an en bloc resection procedure to remove the tumor on May 20th. This surgery is expected to relieve pain, restore wrist function, and allow him to return to school and daily activities without discomfort. Now, Bunrong needs help to raise $841 to fund this procedure. Bunrong's grandmother said, “I have been worried watching him live with pain and discomfort in his wrist. I pray this surgery will remove the problem, relieve his pain, and help him use his hand normally again so he can study, play volleyball, and enjoy life without difficulty.”

Francis is a 49-year-old married man with 4 children from Malawi. He orders raw cassava from farms and sells it in town. However, due to his health, he is unable to work. Eleven years ago, Francis noticed a swelling in a sensitive part of his body. The swelling would be intense and cause pain and discomfort, affecting his ability to work and perform daily tasks. He was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia is a condition where tissue, such as part of the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. If left untreated, inguinal hernias can lead to complications, such as strangulation, which cuts off the blood flow to the protruding intestine and can be life-threatening. Surgery is the only recommended treatment. Fortunately, on July 1st, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Francis's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Francis shared, "I am afraid of losing my life; the swelling terrifies me; I need your support to help me get better again, for me to resume my business and continue supporting my family."