Thein is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, husband, and 18-year-old daughter in refugee camp in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. Thein’s mother is retired, her daughter is a student, and her husband is a post-stroke disable person. Thein sells mohinga (Burmese noodles) in front of her home. However, her income is not enough to cover the family’s household expenses, and they have had to borrow 12,000 THB ($375 USD) from a neighbour to meet daily life expenses. For basic health care, the family usually visits the hospital in the refugee camp, which provides free health services. Since August 2023, Thein has been experiencing continuous bleeding, similar to menstruation, which has lasted for three months at a time. She also experiences tiredness and dizziness. Thein has been diagnosed with a myoma in her uterus and has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thein's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thein is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on April 20th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this treatment will help Thein be free from continuous bleeding and able to perform her daily tasks normally. Thein expressed her happiness by saying, “Thank you very much to this organisation [HFA-BCMF] and the donors for being willing to help with my treatment costs. I really want to recover from my health issue, which would not be possible without your assistance.” She also added, “I will work hard to repay my debt after I fully recover.”

Michelsa is a young student from Haiti. She is in the first grade and likes art and music. Michelsa lives with her mother, grandmother, and two siblings in a city on the west coast of Haiti. Her mother sews school uniforms for a living. Michelsa has a cardiac condition called pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in Michelsa's heart is too narrow, making it difficult for blood to flow through it and leading to heart failure. Michelsa will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 11th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a balloon on the end of a catheter to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Michelsa's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Michelsa's family overseas. Michelsa's mother shares, "Our family is very hopeful that after this surgery, we can let my daughter run and play without worrying about her health."

Martha is 46 years old and a mother of four from Ethiopia. Martha and her family are refugees who have been granted asylum by the Government of Kenya. Martha’s husband recounts how he narrowly escaped death and walked long distances to reach the border. Although he holds a master’s degree, securing formal employment has been extremely difficult. Currently, he earns a living through small-scale hawking within the neighborhood, while Martha works informally as a cook at a roadside kiosk. Six years ago, Martha began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on her neck that gradually continued to grow. Initially, it was painless, but over time she began experiencing headaches, eye pain, and sensations such as a rapid heartbeat. She sought medical care at a hospital, where tests were conducted, but she was informed that the results were inconclusive. She was diagnosed with multinodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Martha receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 24th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $633, and she and her family need help raising money. “We are refugees with no family members who can support us. We are praying for help so that I can undergo surgery, return to my normal life, and continue supporting my family,” said Martha.