Rathanak is a 10-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and older brother. His father is a primary school teacher, while his mother works as a rice farmer. Rathanak is currently in fifth grade and enjoys Khmer and math classes. He dreams of becoming a nurse when he grows up. He likes to eat apples and oranges and enjoys drawing and coloring pictures. When Rathanak was four years old, he had a fever and received several injections in his right thigh. By the age of eight, Rathanak's parents noticed that he couldn’t fully bend his right knee. His parents took him to a local hospital and he was diagnosed with quadriceps fibrosis, a condition characterized by the thickening and scarring of the quadriceps muscle, which leads to limitations in knee movement. This condition causes difficulty in bending the knee fully and impacts his ability to walk normally, making it hard for him to run and play soccer with his friends at school. When Rathanak's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 8th, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure on his right leg. This procedure will allow him to bend his knee more fully and regain the ability to walk and run like other young boys. His family was able to contribute $100 towards his medical costs but needs help to raise the remaining $382. Rathanak's father said: "I hope after his operation he can play with his friends at school and be happy in the future."

Daw Khin is a 64 year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and her daughter in Yangon, Burma. She is a homemaker and her husband is retired. Daw Khin and her husband rely on their daughter for their daily needs. Daw Khin was born with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). PDA is a persistent opening between two major blood vessels leading from the heart. When a baby is growing in the womb the opening is necessary to provide adequate blood and oxygen, but this typically closes after birth. When it remains open, it can weaken the heart and cause other complications. because of this condition, Daw Khin experiences shortness of breath, palpitations, and chest pain. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a surgery that will close off the patent ductus arteriosis for Daw Khin. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Pun Hlaing Hospital on May 18th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Daw Khin said, “I am very thankful to BCMF for helping my surgery. I wish the operation would be successful and I want to recover soon. When I am healthy again, I would like to go to the monastery daily.”

Rhona Kristine is a hardworking 23-year-old from the Philippines. She works as an office staff at a private school. Her mother and older sister are unable to work due to sickness, so her income and her father's income must sustain their family, but they shared they are barely able to cover their expenses. Since Rhona Kristine's condition was diagnosed, she has been persistently seeking medical treatment so that she can heal and continue to work to support her family. Two years ago, her neighbor noticed a growing lump on her neck. Aside from the mass continuing to grow, Rhona Kristine did not experience symptoms relating to her condition. Upon visiting the hospital, she was diagnosed with nodular non-toxic goiter and informed she needed surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Rhona Kristine receive treatment. She will undergo a thyroidectomy on August 28th. During the procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of her treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Rhona Kristine's procedure and care. Rhona Kristine said, "The possibility of a free operation will make me and my family really happy, so I am grateful to the people and donors who will make this possible for me. This will not only help me, but also my family, especially since my father and I are the only ones working. Thank you very much."