Gay is a 37-year-old man from Burma. He lives with extended family in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Gay used to work at a shop loading and unloading supplies, but now he is unemployed. On June 12th, 2026, while he was standing suddenly, he heard a crack from his lower back close to his hip. The next day, he woke up with pain, stiffness, and leg weakness. He could only walk two or three steps before he could no longer stand. He is unable to walk or stand, and experiences persistent lower back pain, affecting his sleep. Gay was diagnosed with spinal cord compression with cauda equina syndrome, a neurosurgical emergency that occurs when the nerve roots at the very base of your lower spine are crushed or heavily squeezed. If left untreated, this compression can cause permanent neurological damage. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Gay will undergo surgery on June 25th. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund his treatment and care. This procedure will help Gay to be able to walk and be free from pain so that he can return to his work and earn an income. Gay said, “I could not sleep at night due to the pain, and I worried and thought about where to borrow money from, which made me very stressed. The amount of money that is required is such a burden for me, and I can never borrow that much money from anyone."

Chhorn is a 64-year-old vegetable seller from Cambodia. She is married and lives with her husband and youngest child, who works as a chef. Her six children are all married and living with their own families in other provinces. To support her family, she sells vegetables at a local market. In her free time, she enjoys planting vegetables around her home. Ten months ago, Chhorn slipped and fell from a bed, causing a fracture of her right forearm. After the injury, she underwent surgery at a private hospital, where doctors inserted hardware into her right radius to stabilize the fracture and help it heal properly. Although the fracture has healed, she continues to experience pain when lifting, carrying, or grasping heavy objects. She also has occasional stiffness in her right arm, which makes it difficult to perform some daily activities and work comfortably as a vegetable seller. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 12th, Chhorn will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will help reduce her pain and stiffness, improve the function of her right arm, and allow her to lift and carry objects more comfortably. This treatment will help her return to her daily activities and work with greater ease. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $278 more to fund her procedure and care. Chhorn said, “I hope this surgery will relieve the pain and stiffness in my arm. I want to be able to lift and carry things comfortably again and return to my daily activities without discomfort. I am very grateful for the opportunity to receive this treatment.”

Nay is a 46-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Battambang Province with his wife and two children. His wife works as a construction worker, and their children are in grades 8 and 9. In his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home and chatting with his friends. On March 30, 2026, Nay sustained an electrical injury while working and fell from approximately three meters. He has burns on both hands and lower legs, causing pain and stiffness. The injury causes significant pain, stiffness, and difficulty performing daily activities, including working and caring for his family. When Nay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 3rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove damaged and infected tissue from the wound and help the wound heal properly. He can contribute $100, but needs help raising $317 more to fund his procedure and care. Nay said, “I hope this surgery will help me recover, relieve my pain, and allow me to return to work and take care of my family.”