Nwe Ni is a 43-year-old woman who lives with her mother, her two sisters, and her older brother in Karen State, Burma. Nwe Ni used to work as a homemaker, but stopped once the goiter in her neck became enlarged. Her discomfort began in November 2019, when Nwe Ni started to experience neck stiffness and swelling. Currently, she also has trouble with insomnia, leaving her tired and prompting her to rest during the day. At the same time, she has lost her appetite and, with her neck swollen, at times it feels constricted. In February 2023, Nwe Ni was referred to the Mae Sot General Hospital for further investigation. The doctor there diagnosed her with a multinodular goiter and told her that she would require surgery. Nwe Ni’s mother told the doctor that they could not cover the cost of surgery, and they were referred to Burma Children Medical Fund, which is seeking $1,500 to fund Nwe Ni's thyroidectomy, which is scheduled for March 8th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. She and her family are looking to you to help cover the costs of her life-changing procedure. Nwe Ni said: “I am so delighted when I heard that I could have this mass removed. It feels so heavy, and I am not comfortable living like this. I would like to say thank you so much [to the donors] and you will always be in my prayers for your assistance.”

Silvanus is a 2-month-old baby boy who has brought much joy to his family. His father is a boda-boda (motorcycle for hire) driver, and his mother is a local food vendor. Silvanus was born with clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Silvanus's parents did not seek treatment when he was born because the doctor who delivered him told his parents that the condition usually corrects with time. They have been waiting for his legs to improve as he gets older, but they see no improvement and are worried. They started talking to people in their community about how they can help their child, and were advised to take Silvanus to another hospital for diagnosis. They have tried their best to save money for their son’s treatment, but meeting the family's basic needs make it challenging. Fortunately, Silvanus traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Silvanus's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will heal and be able to walk normally and wear shoes as he grows up. Silvanus's mother says, “I wish my son's feet will be like other babies’ feet and he will grow up to have a normal life."

Noeun is a 67 year-old retired nurse from Prey Veng province. Neoun is a widow; sadly her husband passed away two years ago from diabetes. Noeun has one son, three daughters, and eight grandchildren who keep her busy. Currently, Noeun lives with her second eldest daughter who works at home as a tailor. At home, Noeun enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. About two years ago, Noeun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision. Noeun has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Noeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and half hours seeking treatment. On January 13th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, CSC is requesting help to fund this $253 procedure. Noeun shared, "I hope after the operation I can recognize faces clearly and get around easily by myself. I want to be able to help my daughter care for my grandchildren and do housework."