Win is a 43-year-old man from Burma. He is married and has four children. His wife sells fruits and vegetables at a morning market. Win worked as a factory worker outside Bangkok, Thailand, but he had to stop working one month ago due to his medical condition. Win 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. Win is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on September 21st at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, to correct his heart condition and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund Win's procedure and care. Win said, “For my whole life, I felt I was healthy. I did not believe it when I was told the diagnosis. I am looking forward to receiving the surgery so I can return to work soon. My children rely on me for their school fees. Even though we are in debt, I do not want them to know and worry. Without your help, I would not have the chance to receive this expensive surgery. Thank you for supporting us.”

Yirga is a 72-year-old man from Ethiopia. He is a retired gas station worker and lives with his wife. Together, they have four adult children who remain actively involved in their lives. Ten years ago, Yirga underwent cataract surgery on his right eye, which restored his eyesight. Three years ago, doctors found another cataract in his left eye. At first, Yirga could manage his daily responsibilities despite the cataract. However, the cataract continued to grow and affect his sight. Yirga began experiencing challenges with reading, recognizing faces, and performing daily chores. Additionally, he had depth perception issues, making it difficult for him to walk independently. Eventually, Yirga became completely reliant on his children to guide him safely through each day. Fortunately, on November 4th, Yirga will undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the clouded lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Yirga hopes to regain his independence and dignity and return to an active life.

Gay is a 37-year-old man from Burma. He lives with extended family in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Gay used to work at a shop loading and unloading supplies, but now he is unemployed. On June 12th, 2026, while he was standing suddenly, he heard a crack from his lower back close to his hip. The next day, he woke up with pain, stiffness, and leg weakness. He could only walk two or three steps before he could no longer stand. He is unable to walk or stand, and experiences persistent lower back pain, affecting his sleep. Gay was diagnosed with spinal cord compression with cauda equina syndrome, a neurosurgical emergency that occurs when the nerve roots at the very base of your lower spine are crushed or heavily squeezed. If left untreated, this compression can cause permanent neurological damage. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Gay will undergo surgery on June 25th. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund his treatment and care. This procedure will help Gay to be able to walk and be free from pain so that he can return to his work and earn an income. Gay said, “I could not sleep at night due to the pain, and I worried and thought about where to borrow money from, which made me very stressed. The amount of money that is required is such a burden for me, and I can never borrow that much money from anyone."