La Min is a 21-year-old young woman from Burma. She lives with her aunt in Bangkok, Thailand. She moved to Bangkok from her village in Karen State, Burma, in 2023 in search of better job opportunities. She worked as a waitress, but had to stop because of her health. La Min has a heart condition that requires replacement of two heart valves -the aortic and mitral valves - and repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, La Min experiences fatigue and a rapid heartbeat while walking even short distances, poor appetite, and chest pain. Even though she has lived with her condition almost all her life, she still experiences anxiety and stress during her episodes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this complex surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on April 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and have a more active and healthy life ahead. In the future, La Min hopes to continue to work in Bangkok and save enough money to return to her village in Burma. There she dreams of opening a restaurant and selling Thai food. She said, “When I lie down at night, I hear my rapid heartbeat and have trouble falling asleep. When I am very tired and experience heart palpitations, I worry that my heartbeat will stop suddenly. I want to know what the world is like without my heart disease.”

Ly Hor is a four-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. He lives in a rural area of Kampong Cham Province with his parents and two siblings. His father is a rice farmer, and his mother sells vegetables. Ly Hor is the middle child, with an older brother in grade six and a younger sister who is two years old. He enjoys writing and reading Khmer and dreams of becoming a doctor when he grows up. In his free time, he likes playing with toy cars with his sister. Ly Hor's favorite meal is fish sour soup. For the past two years, Ly Hor has been experiencing a sore throat three to four times per month, fever, snoring at night, and difficulty swallowing. The frequent illness is uncomfortable, affects his eating, sleeping, and daily activities, and occasionally prevents him from going to school. Ly Hor was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Ly Hor. On April 3rd, surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Ly Hor of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Ly Hor's father said, “My son has been sick again and again for the past year, and it has been very difficult for him to eat, sleep, and live normally. The doctor has recommended surgery, and although I feel worried, I believe this is the best way to help him recover and have a healthier life. I truly hope this treatment will free him from his pain and allow him to grow strong like other children.”

Joshua is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania, the youngest of three children in his family. His parents rely on farming and livestock keeping for their livelihood, working hard each day to provide for their children. Joshua has clubfoot on left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. The condition has affected Joshua's mobility and could limit his future independence if left untreated. Despite the challenges, his parents never lost hope. They believed that their son could be treated and patiently waited until he was old enough to begin care. When Joshua turned one year old, they started seeking treatment and traveled to a hospital where a corrective cast was placed. Fortunately, they met one of the former patients of our medical partner's care center, Kafika Hospital, who referred them for treatment support. Joshua requires multiple castings, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) for five years to ensure lasting correction and prevent recurrence of the condition. Joshua is scheduled to begin clubfoot treatment on June 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Joshua's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his mobility will significantly improve. Joshua’s father said, “We have always believed that Joshua can be treated. Our dream is to see him walk, run, and grow up without limitations.”