U Than is a 60-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter, son in-law and his three grandchildren. Two of his grandchildren go to school while the youngest is still at home. His daughter works to maintain their home and her husband works in agriculture. Toward the end of September, 2026, U Than began to experience lower abdominal pain and constipation. He tried medications from the pharmacy with little relief. On October 1st, 2026, he went to a clinic where he received medication that alleviated his symptoms temporarily. However, on October 20th, 2026, his symptoms returned. A care provider completed an ultrasound and suspected a bowel obstruction, so U Than was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), for further evaluation. At MSH, a CT scan was completed, which revealed a mass in his colon that his doctor suspected was caused by colon or cecal cancer. The doctor recommended surgery to remove the mass and potentially the colon. Currently, U Than is experiencing severe pain which is preventing him from sitting, walking, or sleeping. U Than has sought support for his treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on October 28th and is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. U Than's daughter said, "I worry about where to look for money for my father's treatment. I cannot sleep due to this stress, and my father also cannot sleep due to his pain. We feel sad that we do not know where to look for money to borrow. Thank you for your support."

Eab is a 76-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is a widow whose husband passed away during the Khmer Rouge era. She currently lives with her granddaughter, who works as a grocery seller. She has three children, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks chanting prayers and visiting the pagoda when possible. Eab developed swelling, pain, and redness of the right knee one week after undergoing a right total knee replacement in July 2025. Due to an infected knee implant, she subsequently underwent surgical debridement in September 2025. Despite treatment, the infection has recurred, and she is currently experiencing a recurrent right knee prosthetic joint infection. To address the infection and prevent further complications, the surgical team plans to remove the infected implant, perform knee fusion, and apply an external fixation frame as part of her treatment. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 9th, Eab will undergo surgery that will help control the infection, relieve pain, and improve the stability of her leg. This is expected to improve her ability to move more comfortably and reduce ongoing complications. Eab's family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $500 more to fund her procedure and care. Eab said, “After the surgery, I hope I can walk more comfortably without pain. I would like to be able to go to the pagoda more easily, participate in religious activities, and be more independent in my daily life.”

Thoeun is 75 years old and a loving grandmother from Cambodia. She plants rice and sells traditional Khmer desserts in her free time. She is married and has two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys attending ceremonies and visiting the pagoda. Five years ago, Thoeun developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind, or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Thoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 15th, Thoeun will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $273 more to fund her procedure and care. Thoeun shared, "I hope that after the surgery, the irritation and tearing in my eyes will stop and my vision will improve. I would like to go back and sell Khmer desserts."