Ester is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her parents, her younger brother, and two younger sisters in a village in Karen State, Burma. Ester and her three younger siblings go to school while their parents are small-scale farmers. They also raise chickens and pigs, and they forage for vegetables in the forest for their own consumption. They also have a small garden where they grow betel nut trees, and they sell some of the betel nuts to earn a small income. Sometimes, Ester’s father also finds work as an agricultural day laborer. In her free time, Ester loves to help her mother with household chores and also play with her friends at school. She wants to become a teacher when she grows up. Ester was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Ester is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 7th to correct her condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Ester's procedure and care. Ester's mother shared, "I would like to thank BCMF and your donors for your kindness and willingness to support my daughter. Without you, my daughter would not receive treatment as the cost is too high for us, and we cannot borrow such a large amount of money from our neighbours. On behalf of our family and our daughter, thank you to your donors and everyone willing to help my daughter.”

Savy is a 68-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and lives with her husband. They have two children: one works as a primary school teacher, and the other is a nurse. In her free time, she enjoys growing vegetables around her home and visiting the pagoda. In 1981, Savy suffered a gasoline burn on her right forearm. Although the wound healed after receiving dressing care, it left extensive scarring. Around 2004, she underwent surgery and skin grafting at Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) for a smaller lesion in the same area. About seven months ago, a new wound appeared on her right forearm and gradually grew larger. A biopsy on September 29, 2026, confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. The wound causes pain and makes it difficult for her to use her right hand comfortably for everyday activities. Savy traveled for eight hours so she could receive treatment. On October 27th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to remove the cancerous tissue and help the wound heal. It may also help reduce her discomfort and allow her to use her right hand more comfortably for daily activities, such as tending to her vegetables and caring for herself. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $483 more to fund her procedure and care. Savy said, “I hope the treatment will help my wound heal and reduce the pain in my arm. It has been difficult to use my hand for everyday tasks, and I wish to do more things on my own again. I hope I can feel more comfortable and return to my daily life with less difficulty.”

Punleu is a 17-year-old Grade 11 student from Cambodia. He lives in Kampot Province with his parents and younger brother, who is in Grade 8. His father works as a construction contractor, and his mother stays at home to manage household duties and take care of their orange farm. Punleu enjoys studying Khmer literature. In his free time, he likes listening to music and playing volleyball with his friends in the village. He hopes to become an agricultural specialist in the future. In December 2024, Punleu was in in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture in his right lower leg. He was treated at a provincial hospital where he underwent ORIF surgery with plate and screw fixation of the leg. Since the surgery, he has been experiencing pain when walking long distances and stiffness in his right leg during cold weather, which affects his daily activities and mobility. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 18th, Punleu will undergo a hardware removal procedure to reduce pain and stiffness and improve his walking ability and overall comfort. Punleu's family is contributing to his surgery, but they need to raise an additional $303 for the procedure. Punleu says, “After the surgery, I hope I will be able to walk better without pain, regain my strength and confidence, and return to my normal daily life, studies, and activities without any limitation.”