Kyaw is a three-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and uncle in a village in Karen State, Burma. Kyaw’s mother looks after him and his grandmother while his uncle is a cow farmer. The family also raises chickens and pigs and sells them when they need money. In September 2023, Kyaw accidentally fell on a tree stump while he was playing with his friends. Kyaw was in pain and was brought to a nearby hospital where they found that he sustained an injury to his right kidney. However, due to insufficient equipment at the hospital, Kyaw could not be treated there. Kyaw is not comfortable sitting, so mostly he lies down. He has difficulty passing urine, his stomach is painful, and he cries a lot. Doctors want Kyaw 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 his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $693 to cover the cost of Kyaw's CT scan and care, scheduled for April 4th. Kyaw’s mother said, “I felt hopeless when I learned that Kyaw needed further treatment in Chiang Mai because I have no money to afford his treatment. However, when I heard that there are donors and an organisation who will support my son’s treatment, I was very happy. Thank you so much for your support even though you have never seen us.”

Two-month-old Dayana is the first child of her mother, who is a food vendor, and her father, who works in construction. She battles a condition called coarctation of the aorta. One of Dayana's major blood vessels connected to her heart is too narrow, this causes blood to back up into her heart, which can lead to heart failure. Fortunately there is a treatment than can cure her condition. During surgery, doctors will expand the aorta to allow blood to flow normally. She is scheduled for treatment on February 8th and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is helping her family to raise $1,500 to support the cost of care. Dayana's mother says, "We have been very afraid for our daughter's life ever since she was born, and so we are so glad to have this opportunity!"

Gasper is a thirteen-year-old resilient boy from Tanzania. He hails from Igwamadete village in the Singida region. Gasper is the eighth child in a family of nine. His parents, both farmers, work tirelessly cultivating food crops to make ends meet to help provide for the family. In June 2023, tragedy struck when Gasper was bitten by a snake on his right arm while he was asleep. His parents rushed him to the Igwamadete dispensary for immediate treatment, but unfortunately, the facility was not equipped to provide the specialized care he needed. Gasper was referred to the General Hospital in Dodoma and admitted for eight days. Following his stay at the hospital, Gasper was then taken to the Katavi region for local treatment, where he remained for four months. Despite their efforts, Gasper returned home to Singida with a developing contracture in his right elbow. This condition significantly limits his ability to engage in daily activities comfortably, including his studies. In their search for treatment, Gasper’s parents encountered another mother who had experienced a similar ordeal with her child. This compassionate woman directed them to Kafika House Center. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is now helping Gasper receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On December 13th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to help release the skin limiting the extension and flexing of his elbow. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Gasper says: “I can’t write comfortably because of my hand; I hope my hand will get back to normal.”