Crispin is a 65-year-old father of three from the Philippines. He lives with his wife and daughter. He has two other children who already have their own families. Crispin is currently unemployed and depends on his daughter’s modest income, which only covers their daily needs. He explained that he could only undergo surgery if financial assistance were provided. Despite these challenges, Crispin takes care of himself by avoiding heavy lifting and eating healthier foods. Five months ago, Crispin was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. The condition has been causing him pain and difficulty in moving around. Crispin needs to undergo surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, on May 15th, Crispin will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Crispin's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will ease his suffering, and lift the financial burden on his family, giving them a chance to move forward with dignity and hope. Crispin says, "I am deeply grateful to the Almighty and the Foundation for this surgery, which saves me from falling into debt and gives me hope that more people like me will continue to receive help."

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.”

Chan is 54 years old and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, a grocery seller. They have three grown children: one works for a private company, one is a construction worker, and the youngest is a rice farmer. In addition to farming rice, he often works as a day laborer to earn extra income and support his family. Approximately eight months ago, Chan was involved in a car accident while traveling as a passenger. During the collision, he was thrown against the interior of the vehicle and sustained a fracture of his right upper arm. He initially sought treatment from a traditional healer, but the fracture failed to heal properly and developed into a non-union. He experiences ongoing pain, weakness, and limited function in his right arm. The injury makes it difficult for him to lift, carry, and perform physical work, affecting both his farming activities and his ability to earn income for his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 3rd, Chan will undergo a fracture repair procedure, where surgeons will perform open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using a plate and screws to stabilize the fracture and promote healing. This procedure is expected to reduce pain, restore strength and function to his arm, and help him return to work and daily activities more comfortably. Chan can contribute $100, but needs help raising an additional $500 to fund his procedure and care. Chan said, “I have lived with this injury for many months. I hope the surgery will help my arm heal properly so I can work again, support my family, and live without pain.”