Ko Tin is a 34-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his parents and his younger brother in a village in Yangon Division, Burma. He used to be a driver before his condition got worse but now he has stopped. Currently, Ko Tin is living with his parents who are farmers and support him. The whole family’s income is just enough for their basic expenses and basic health care. Ko Tin has a wife who went to Thailand for work about four months ago but he has lost contact with her. When he has the energy and free time, Ko Tin likes playing football with friends. Ko Tin was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires replacement of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. In mid October, Ko Tin experienced fever, cough, body pain, difficult breathing, and severe fatigue when he walks a short distance. After he visited the cardiologist in Yangon Hospital, he was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation and doctor recommend that he should receive surgery. Currently, Ko Tin feels tired, coughs often, and is experiencing difficult breathing. Sometimes, he feels pain from his legs and his arms, and he cannot sleep well at night. He will feel extremely fatigued with shortness of breath when he lays down on the floor. He also cannot walk long distances. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Ko Tin. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Pun Hlaing Hospital on December 3rd and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Ko Tin said, “I would like to recover as soon as possible. My parents are worried about me, and they have difficulty earning enough money to pay for my treatment. I hope my wife to return, and I would like to live as a happy family.”

36-year-old Brenda lives with her family in Uganda. She had hoped to become a nurse, but due to financial constraints, her parents were unable to afford the schooling she would have needed. Today Brenda is engaged in farming - primarily for home consumption - although she sells any surplus she produces to generate income for her family. Brenda is currently pregnant with twins. Except for the malaria that she contracted in her first trimester, Brenda's pregnancy has been healthy. However, doctors have determined that one of the twins is in a breech position, and in order to ensure the safety of both Brenda and her babies, they are recommending that Brenda deliver via a Caesarean section. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Brenda undergo a C-section on December 28th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. This procedure will cost $252, and Brenda needs your support. Brenda says: “I expect the best of my delivery and I am hoping to be given a chance to deliver under your support.”

23-year-old Roth lives with his parents and three younger siblings in Kampong Thom province in Cambodia. His parents are rice farmers, while his two sisters and one brother are all in school. On August 5, Roth fell off his motorbike and injured his left knee. He went to the local provincial hospital, where the wound on his knee was stitched up. However, Roth is unable to put weight on or to extend his knee. He is in pain, and cannot work in the rice fields with his parents. After reading about our medical partner on their Facebook page, Roth consulted with their doctors. They determined that Roth has a completely torn patellar (knee) tendon, which requires surgery. If left untreated, this injury could result in other foot and leg problems, such as inflammation and pain in the ligaments in the soles of his foot, and tendinitis in other parts of his foot. He might also develop arthritis. Surgeons from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, are scheduled to perform patellar tendon repair surgery on December 5th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Roth needs your help to fund the $572 cost of the procedure, hospitalization and rehabilitation. Roth said: "I hope I can walk more easily with no pain or swelling after this operation, so I can return to help my family with the rice crop."