Yin is a 65-year-old retired grandmother from Thailand. She lives with her husband, son, sister-in-law and granddaughter. She enjoys reading the Bible and visiting church during her free time. In February 2024, Yin noticed a small lump on the right side of her neck. She tried to treat it with traditional medicine, but the lump grew larger., Yin began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain in her neck, arm, and back, along with discomfort from the mass. She was diagnosed with goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Yin needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Yin receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 10th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Yin said, “I was worried about receiving surgery, but if I do not receive this treatment, I also worry that it will become cancer in the future. Now I am so happy to receive treatment for free, and I would like to say thank you to BCMF and Watsi. I want to be healthy because I am old, and I don’t want to cause any problems or add more work for my family.”

Winnie is a 50-year-old farmer and the seventh of thirteen children in her family, with five brothers and seven sisters. She grew up as an orphan and married at the age of 18. Together with her husband, she had three children. Unfortunately, her husband later passed away from cancer, leaving Winnie to struggle to provide for their three children and pay their school fees. Currently, her only source of income is farming. She has a banana and coffee farm from which she earns a living, however, her condition has impacted her health to the point that she no longer attends to her farm like she used to do before. For five years, Winnie has been experiencing lower abdominal pain, severe bleeding, dizziness, and persistent headaches. She sought medical help and was admitted for treatment to manage her bleeding, and a scan was performed. She has been diagnosed with multiple uterine fibroids, and the doctor recommended surgery for which she requires support. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which the surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Winnie receive treatment. On October 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital Nyakibale. Once recovered, Winnie will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Now, Winnie needs help to fund this $219 procedure. Winnie says, “Given my financial situation, I am concerned about being able to afford the cost of my surgery. I am experiencing a lot of pain and would greatly appreciate your support in this matter.”

Sary is a 57-year-old woman who lives with her husband and her 20-year-old son in Cambodia. Her husband works as a construction worker, while her son is currently studying in grade 12. In her free time, Sary enjoys making sweets for her husband and son. In late July this year, Sary unfortunately sustained a fall at home, which broke her right hip. She went to a local hospital for treatment but was unable to afford it, so she resorted to seeking care through Khmer traditional medicine in her village instead. Unfortunately, the hip fracture has not healed. She is unable to walk, and now relies on a wheelchair for getting around. Sary and her husband traveled for three hours to seek help from our medical partner, the Children’s Surgical Centre. On August 22nd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a joint replacement surgery on her right hip. This procedure will help restore her mobility, and relieve pain. Sary is able to contribute $100 towards the cost of her treatment and needs help raising $444 more to fund the procedure. Sary says, "I hope to have surgery soon so that I can return home and help take care of my family."