U Than is a 60-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter, son in-law and his three grandchildren. Two of his grandchildren go to school while the youngest is still at home. His daughter works to maintain their home and her husband works in agriculture. Toward the end of September, 2026, U Than began to experience lower abdominal pain and constipation. He tried medications from the pharmacy with little relief. On October 1st, 2026, he went to a clinic where he received medication that alleviated his symptoms temporarily. However, on October 20th, 2026, his symptoms returned. A care provider completed an ultrasound and suspected a bowel obstruction, so U Than was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), for further evaluation. At MSH, a CT scan was completed, which revealed a mass in his colon that his doctor suspected was caused by colon or cecal cancer. The doctor recommended surgery to remove the mass and potentially the colon. Currently, U Than is experiencing severe pain which is preventing him from sitting, walking, or sleeping. U Than has sought support for his treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on October 28th and is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. U Than's daughter said, "I worry about where to look for money for my father's treatment. I cannot sleep due to this stress, and my father also cannot sleep due to his pain. We feel sad that we do not know where to look for money to borrow. Thank you for your support."

Ky is 78 years old and is a retired tailor from Cambodia. He lives with his wife and his third daughter, who sells food at the local market. He has two sons, three daughters, and ten grandchildren. In his daily life, he enjoys listening to the radio, hearing monks pray, and participating in religious ceremonies. Two years ago, Ky developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Ky learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 14th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. He can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund his procedure and care. Ky shared, "I hope that after surgery my eyesight will improve so I can easily go outside, recognize my relatives, and feel happy without worrying about my vision anymore."

Gutema is a 23-year-old man from Ethiopia, married with one daughter. He works as a day laborer, a physically demanding job that requires him to use his full strength and mobility every day, typically at construction sites. Recently, Gutema was diagnosed with a severe infection in his thighbone that causes painful swelling. This condition has left him unable to perform the physical tasks his work demands. Because his income depends entirely on his ability to work each day, his family is now in a challenging situation. Without his mobility, his livelihood and his family’s stability is now at serious risk. The bone infection also causes him intense pain. Following Gutema's review at our medical partner's care center Saglan Wajee General Hospital, doctors have recommended that he undergoes a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected dead bone or tissue. If not treated, it can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. Fortunately, on June 4th, Gutema will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $900 to fund Gutema's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate his symptoms and prevent serious long-term complications. "My family cannot afford to lose my ability to work, as I am responsible for everything in our home. The pain and the stress of not being able to provide for them is overwhelming. This surgery is the key to saving my livelihood," said Gutema.