Dorothy is a 68-year-old woman from a village in the Lilongwe District of Malawi with three married children. She depends on small-scale farming as she grows maize and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes to support herself. Dorothy started experiencing itching followed by a lump in her left breast which kept growing in size and became painful. She visited different health centers where she was unable to receive a diagnosis or treatment until she was seen by a surgeon from Nkhoma Hospital who conducted a free clinic at her nearby health center. Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer and she needs to undergo mastectomy surgery. She is willing to undergo the procedure but is unable to afford the surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Dorothy’s life as she feels pain in her breast and is worried that the cancer could spread. Treatment will relieve Dorothy of the pain and she will no longer be stressed. Dorothy is requesting $567 to fund treatment from our partner, African Mission Healthcare. Dorothy says, “I am looking forward to treatment and full recovery.”

Koem Long is a 21-year-old who works in construction - ever since his motorcycle accident he hasn't been able to work. He is an only child and lives with his elderly grandparents. Currently, he stays at home to assist his grandparents and enjoys watching TV in his free time. Two months ago, Koem Long collided with another motorbike on his way home from work. He fell on the pavement, fracturing his jaw and injuring his right shoulder. He went to a local government hospital to repair his fractured jaw but was told they could not repair his shoulder. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Two months later, his right arm is still non-functional. He cannot lift his shoulder or move his arm. Koem Long feels pain and is very disappointed that he cannot help his grandparents or find a job in his current condition. Koem Long traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment. This is the only center in Cambodia where this treatment is available. On February 20th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to have movement in his hand and be able to find work. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Koem Long said, "After surgery, I hope I will be able to move my hand easily, ride my motorbike, spend time with my friends, and find work."

Su is a 44-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, a gardener, and her son, a shop worker while Su is a homemaker. Their combined income is enough to cover basic expenses, and if they have any money extra, they send it to Su’s parents in Burma. Su noticed back pain in the beginning in August 2023 which affected her moving and sleeping but thought it nothing serious. As the pain gradually worsened, she came down with a fever in September and sought treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). At MTC she underwent an ultrasound, finding a mass on her right ovary, she was subsequently referred to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH). Su visited MSH a total of four times over the following months and in December at her visit to MSH she was told by doctors that she would have to go for a Computed Tomography (CT) scan to confirm her diagnosis. Doctors want Su to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Su's CT scan and care, scheduled for February 1st. Su said, "When I recover from my treatments, I hope to begin working with my husband in the flower garden.”