Ya is a 41-year-old woman from Burma. She currently lives with her father who is retired, her brother who is a student, and her son who works on the family rice farm with her. Their farming sustains their family, as they have no other source of income. They also forage for plants and vegetables from the forest. In her free time, Ya enjoys weaving traditional Karen (her ethnic community) bags. As a result of COVID-19 and the February 2021 coup, it is no longer feasible for Ya’s family to have traditional jobs. Her family faces extreme instability due to ongoing fighting in their area. Often, they must escape to nearby forests to avoid the conflict. They spend around a week at a time displaced in the forests. After the fighting has moved, they return to their village. Recently they had to sell their two cows to support themselves. In September 2020, Ya began experiencing back pain, and it was uncomfortable for her to walk and do regular activities because she cannot put pressure on her abdomen. She was diagnosed with myoma, or uterine fibroids. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ya's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ya is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on July 10th with the help of our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), who is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Ya will no longer be in pain and will be able to walk without discomfort and work on the farm with her son. Ya said, “I want to get the surgery and recover quickly so I can go back to my family and help with the farm.” She is not sure what the future will hold as the fighting in her village is still happening, but she said, “I just want to be happy and stay with my family for the rest of my life.”

Kiiza is a small-scale farmer and an elderly widow, who lost her spouse about 50 years ago. She has six children who are all married and now self-employed. She currently survives through farming in her local village, although her age and health condition limits her physical capacity to do so. She appeals for your support to improve her health in her old age and alleviate the financial burden that comes with medical treatment. Since last August, Kiiza has had a supra-umbilical hernia. She has been experiencing anterior abdominal pain and swelling which has significantly impacted her daily life. She can no longer engage in physical activities such as digging her field and washing her clothes, and even sleeping has become a challenge due to the discomfort she experiences. This condition has thus not only affected her health but also her ability to work and support herself financially. Without medical treatment, she faces the risk of intestinal obstruction, which could severely impact her quality of life. Fortunately, on April 12th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Kiiza's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Kiiza says, “I have lost the power to do my activities due to this condition. I hope after complete recovery with your support I'll be able to get back to my normal life.”

Win Khaing is a 5-month-old baby girl from Burma. She lives with her parents in a village in Karen State. Win Khaing’s father has a small farm, growing rice, and sometimes catching fish and frogs, for their family to eat. Win’s mother has a small shop selling vegetables at home. Win Khaing has two brothers who are monks and live at the monastery. After Win Khaing was delivered, the doctor noticed that her right hip was dislocated and that her right leg looked dislocated as well. Win Khaing’s mother also noticed right away that her right leg looked twisted. Currently, when Win Khaing’s parents touch her right knee and hip, she cries a lot and they think this is because of pain. Her right leg is twisted outward, but she is able to move her right leg and bend her knee. Doctors want Win Khaing to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is requesting $693 to cover the cost of Win Khaing's CT scan and care, which is scheduled for August 17th. Win Khaing’s mother said, “I am worried about my daughter’s condition because she is my first daughter. When I think about my daughter’s future, I cry."