Sha is a 56-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Sha and one of his sons are day laborers in a village near the camp. His wife and one of his daughters are homemakers, while his other daughter is a teacher in the camp. His other son is still a student in the camp. The family has a vegetable garden around their home, and they raise chickens and pigs to sell and for their own consumption. Their combined monthly income of 5,000 THB is often not enough to cover their daily needs. They currently have a loan of 3,000 THB, money borrowed due to Sha's illness. A few days ago, Sha began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain with the pain radiating to his back and a fever. He has been diagnosed with appendicitis, and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Sha receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on May 14th at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Sha and his family need your support. Sha says, “I never experienced pain like this before. When the pain is very severe, I can’t breathe easily. I would like for this pain to stop.”

Mey Ching is six years old and a first-grader from Cambodia. She is the youngest of three children and lives with her parents and siblings in Koh Kong. Her father is a fisherman, while her mother sells groceries. She enjoys reading and writing Khmer and playing hide-and-seek with her friends in the village. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried vegetables. For the past three years, Mey Ching has been experiencing a persistent daily cough, episodes of fever and throat pain, frequent snoring at night, and difficulty swallowing. Her ongoing throat problems make swallowing uncomfortable and disturb her sleep because of frequent snoring. The recurring symptoms can also make it harder for her to feel comfortable and fully enjoy school and activities with her friends. Mey Ching was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Mey Ching, which is scheduled to take place on September 8th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Mey Ching of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Mey Ching's mother said, “I hope the surgery will help my daughter breathe, swallow, and sleep better. I want her to feel healthy and free from these ongoing throat problems.”

Alejandro is an 11-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is a smart, kind, and very friendly boy who enjoys spending time with the people around him. He dreams of becoming a veterinarian when he grows up, as he has a deep love for animals and wishes to help and protect them. His infectious energy, positive attitude, and kindness leave a special impression on everyone who has the chance to meet him. A year ago, Alejandro developed an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. Alejandro has been experiencing pain and discomfort especially when coughing or doing any strenuous activities. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, on August 14th, Alejandro will undergo repair surgery at Clínica Noel. Alejandro's family is requesting support to raise $1,005 to fund Alejandro's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live healthier. Alejandro's mother says, "I am very grateful for your support to my son. It is a tremendous blessing for our family. May God bless you abundantly and multiply all the help and love you give to those who need it most."