Nan Maw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her friends in Bangkok in an apartment rented by their employer. She works as a waitress, while her brother and mother still live in their village in Karen State, Burma. When Nan Maw was healthy and working full-time, she would send half of her salary home to support her mother. She dreams of building a concrete house back home for her family. Nan Maw 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. Due to her condition, she can only engage in part-time work as she gets tired too easily. Nan Maw is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on August 31st at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, to correct her atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Nan Maw's procedure and care. Nan Maw said, “I would like to thank your organization, BCMF, and your donors for your help. If you do not help me, I would have had to give up on my treatment because I know that I could not afford it by myself. I am very happy and thankful to all the donors. You have helped me feel that I can dream again. Before I developed these symptoms, I dreamed of working hard, saving money, building a house back home, and opening my own restaurant. Since I first noticed my symptoms, it felt like my dreams were lost. But now, I can dream again.”

Wabi is a young KG 2 student from Ethiopia. He is an only child who always tries to hide his pain behind a warm, sweet smile. Even when he is hurting due to a medical conditon, he does his best to stay brave and cheerful, doing everything he can to comfort the people around him. His mother is a loving stay-at-home mom, who looks after him, and his father works hard as a broker and mediator to support the family on a single income. Three years ago, Wabi started to experience difficulty in breathing and fever. The constant discomfort makes it hard for him to enjoy normal childhood days. He gets sick often and frequently misses school, falls behind in his lessons, and misses out on playing with other children. The condition has gotten his parents worried, as his recurring health issues have disrupted their daily routine as well. Wabi was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Wabi, which is scheduled to take place on July 20th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Wabi of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. "We hope to replace our constant worry with a renewed sense of stability and peace, knowing our son is finally free to thrive," said Wabi's parents.

Amriya is a seven-year-old girl from Ethiopia. Being the youngest of five children, this young student grew up in a lively home, surrounded by her three older brothers and her sister. With her mother managing the household and her father working as a driver, she was raised in a busy, loving environment. Since she was just one year old, Amriya has suffered from chronic tonsillitis. This persistent health struggle has become a major roadblock to her early education. Because the illness brings frequent, painful episodes, she often misses precious days in the classroom. When she is in school, the lingering discomfort makes it incredibly hard for her to concentrate on her lessons. Just as she should be building her academic foundation, she is forced to fight this constant, exhausting battle with her health. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Amriya, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Amriya of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Amriya's parents shared, "Our greatest hope is for our youngest daughter to finally enjoy a healthy, normal childhood where she can focus on learning without the constant shadow of illness holding her back."