Chantha is a 42-year-old mother from Cambodia. She has two sons whoa re both in primary school. She and her husband sell drinks and snacks to travelers on a corner along a busy road in Prey Veng province. In her free time, she helps her children with their homework. Since birth, Chantha has had a rare, slow-growing, non-cancerous tumor called a chondroma that developed on the end portion of her right thigh bone. In rare cases, a chondroma can turn into cancer. Three weeks ago, she was in a road traffic collision, injuring her right leg. Her leg is swollen, she is unable to walk, and she is in pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 5th, Chantha will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will allow the surgeons to remove the chondroma, stabilize the bone, and restore her mobility. This will decrease her pain and help her walk easily again. Chantha's family was able to contribute $100 towards her medical care but need help raising the remaining $383 to fund the procedure. Chantha said: "I hope to return home soon to care for my children and be free from pain."

Setta is a 17-year-old student from Cambodia who lives with her mother, who works as a hairdresser from home. Setta is in the 11th grade and wants to be a teacher when she gets older. When she is at home, she enjoys eating bitter melon fried with rice, and often helps her mother with housework. Setta was born with idiopathic scoliosis, or an abnormal sideways "S" curvature of the spine. Her mom brought her to a public hospital, where she underwent a number of treatments for her condition. However, over the past five years, she has experienced back pain when walking for more than 20 minutes and the pain makes it difficult for her to sit comfortably in class. More recently, she has noticed difficulty breathing due to her rib cage pressing on her lungs. She also occasionally feels numbness in her legs from her vertebrae pressing on nerves. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Setta receive treatment. On September 3rd, specialty surgeons at CSC will perform a scoliosis spinal fusion surgery to correct Setta's spinal curvature and improve her health and quality of life. This surgery will relieve her chronic pain and allow her to breathe better, walk, sit, and study at school comfortably. Setta's mother can afford to contribute $100 toward her daughter's care. Now, she and her mother need help raising the remaining $1,400 to fund the surgery, hospitalization, implants, medication, and physiotherapy. Setta shared, "I hope after my operation, my spine will be straight. I want to walk with my friends and not have a hard time breathing, work to support myself when I am done with school, and not be ashamed of my back."

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.”