Su is a 44-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, a gardener, and her son, a shop worker while Su is a homemaker. Their combined income is enough to cover basic expenses, and if they have any money extra, they send it to Su’s parents in Burma. Su noticed back pain in the beginning in August 2023 which affected her moving and sleeping but thought it nothing serious. As the pain gradually worsened, she came down with a fever in September and sought treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). At MTC she underwent an ultrasound, finding a mass on her right ovary, she was subsequently referred to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH). Su visited MSH a total of four times over the following months and in December at her visit to MSH she was told by doctors that she would have to go for a Computed Tomography (CT) scan to confirm her diagnosis. Doctors want Su to 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 Su's CT scan and care, scheduled for February 1st. Su said, "When I recover from my treatments, I hope to begin working with my husband in the flower garden.”

Sokly lives in Battambang province with her husband, younger sister, and her two sons. Her husband works in a tire repair shop and Sokly is a teacher in a primary school. The two sons work in a local shop to help support the family. In her free time, Sokly likes trying new recipes and shopping with her sister in the local market. Sokly has been experiencing tinnitus and discomfort in her left ear for several weeks. Tinnitus is a noise or ringing in the ears, even though no external sound is present. She has been taking sick days and is having difficulty teaching due to this condition. Sokly traveled around five and a half hours from Battambang province with her younger sister to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, seeking treatment. During her examination, doctors found a small growth in her left ear. On April 1st, Sokly is scheduled for surgery to remove the growth and some of the bone in her ear canal to widen the channel from the outside of the ear to the eardrum. Sokly can contribute $100 for her surgery but needs an additional $726 to fund the cost of this procedure. Sokly said, "I hope I don't have to worry about this anymore and I can continue my work as a teacher."

Sokneang lives with her husband and her two children. Her husband is a construction worker, and her son and daughter both attend local schools. She works in the home, cleaning, and cooking, and in her free time she enjoys watching Khmer dramas. Since 2019, Sokneang has had discharge from a small hole in front of her ear, called a pre-auricular sinus. These are common congenital abnormalities adjacent to the external ear. However, this condition makes her prone to chronic ear infections. Germs can enter the ear canal and cause an infection, resulting in swelling, soreness, and redness. For the past three months, Sokneang has had ear pain and discharge on both sides. Medications from the local pharmacy haven't helped. Frequent infections prevent her from being able to care for her family. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Sokneang and her family need $297 to cover the cost of the surgery, which will take place on February 20th. This will cover surgery, medications, and post-operative care. Sokneang says, "I hope that my ear will stop discharge, and I will not have any infections."