Thin is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She resides in a village in Myawaddy Township which is in Karen State on the border of Burma and Thailand. She lives with her mother and elder brother. She is a fourth grader but due to her health deteriorating, she stopped attending school one month ago. Thin enjoys dancing and watching Burmese traditional dance videos whenever she has free time. In 2019, Thin began to experience troubling symptoms, including dull pain on the right side of her abdomen accompanied by occasional vomiting, fever, and other worrying symptoms. Following an MRI scan, the doctor diagnosed her with multiple cysts and a common bile duct (CBD) obstruction. Thin has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Thin is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on February 13th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Thin's procedure and care. Thin said, "I am working hard to excel in my studies and regain my health. Once I am back on my feet, I aspire to become a schoolteacher."

Naw Wah is a 22-year-old living in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province in Thailand. Naw Wah lives with her husband, grandmother, two sons and a daughter. Her grandmother is retired, while her husband is a day laborer. The family receives some financial support from The Border Consortium, and free basic health care in the refugee camp through Malteser International Thailand. During Naw Wah's third pregnancy, she had to undergo an emergency Caesarean section when her amniotic sac ruptured prematurely. Nah Wah discovered that she is pregnant with her fourth child in May 2023, and during one of her antenatal visits, the doctors informed her that would have to deliver via a C-section again, in order to protect the health of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Naw Wah undergo a C-section on January 9th, at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Naw Wah's family needs your support. “I feel tired sometimes looking after two of my children with disabilities. My husband has to earn more money for our living expenses, and he cannot stay with us at home a lot,” she said.

Kenneth is a 63-year-old small-scale farmer from Malawi, married with four children aged between 18 and 35 years. All his three children have moved out of home except the last born child, who currently in secondary school and stays with an aunt in Blantyre. Kenneth practices small-scale farming together with his wife. He enjoys a meal of nsima served with local chicken and vegetables. One year ago, Kenneth started experiencing on-and-off swelling in a sensitive area. He visited two different hospitals and received the same diagnosis of right inguinal hernia. His surgery, which was originally planned for March of this year, was postponed because of high blood pressure. Currently, he is having frequent episodes of swelling and pain, and he is mostly confined to lying down as he is unable to engage in other activities. This has affected his role as a provider for his family. Kenneth's brother advised him to seek help at our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Kenneth traveled over 300km from Blantyre to the facility in Lilongwe, and his brother's wife accompanied him to hospital. Surgery was recommended to treat his condition, but Kenneth is unable to raise the full amount needed. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kenneth receive treatment. On April 24th, surgeons at PIH will perform a hernia repair surgery to treat his condition, ease his pain and help him live more comfortably. Now, Kenneth needs help to fund this $575 procedure. Kenneth says, “I cannot wait to receive treatment, I wish to no longer have to lay down because of my condition.”