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.”

Phal is a 64-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He and his wife live in a rural village in Kampong Cham. He has five grown children, all of whom live in the surrounding area and work various jobs in factories and construction to support themselves and send a little bit of money home to their parents when they can. Phal and his wife enjoy gardening and cooking when their children and grandchildren come to visit. One week ago, while working at a construction site, Phal had an accident when a plank of wood fell, directly hitting and twisting his left ankle. He experiences swelling and chronic pain in his left ankle, which limits his movement and makes it difficult for him to walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 4th, Phal will undergo a fracture repair procedure that will help him walk easily again. Phal's family was able to contribute $100 towards his medical costs but needs help raising the remaining $383 to fund the procedure. After surgery, Phal hopes he will no longer be in pain and can return to work as soon as possible.

Louis is a 14-month-old infant from Haiti. He is much loved by his parents and older brother and is a very happy child. Louis has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain, increasing intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, the circumference of Louis' head has been increasing steadily. Without treatment, Louis will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Louis at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only facility in the country where this care is currently available. The procedure, which is scheduled to take place on August 16th, will drain the excess fluid from Louis's brain, to reduce intracranial pressure, and to greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment and care, Louis will hopefully develop into a strong and healthy young boy. Louis' parents shared, "We hope to see Louis grow up to be healthy and strong."