Thokozani is a 23-year-old university student from Malawi. He is the fourth born in a family of ten children and the only child in his family who went on to study at the university level. Thokozani is completing a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management (Wildlife) and Eco-tourism. His higher education student loans support him, and he lives in a single-room hostel with two friends. In his free time, Thokozani enjoys watching wildlife programs and eating rice served with beef. Thokozani was born with a hernia condition, and in 2020, he started experiencing on-and-off episodes of discomfort. He visited a private hospital where they diagnosed his condition and recommended surgery, but he was unable to afford it and returned to school. In this last year, however, the pain has become too much to handle, causing him to miss classes. His worsening condition is impacting his ability to engage in daily activities and complete his education. Fortunately, Thokozani recently received a text from a friend regarding surgery support that is available with our medical partner. He immediately called the medical center and was able to see a surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis of a left inguinal hernia and the need for him to undergo surgery. A hernia is a condition in which soft tissue bulges through a weak point in the abdominal muscle. If the hernia is left untreated, the size of the protruding intestine might get bigger and become strangulated, leading to the reduction of blood flow to surrounding tissues, which may be life-threatening. Thokozani will undergo surgery on March 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $575 to fund the procedure. Thokozani is hopeful that this surgery will allow him to finally heal and return to school in good health. He is looking forward to his brighter future and making his family proud by being the first to complete university studies. He said, “I can’t wait to concentrate after surgery; kindly help me as I plan to finish the remaining part of my course.”

71-year-old Yean lives with his wife and their youngest daughter in Kandal province in Cambodia. He and his wife have a total of seven children, with six of them already married and living with their own families. In his free time, Yean likes to watch boxing and "Lakhaon Bassac", a Cambodian traditional theatre performance on TV. About two years ago, Yean began experiencing weight loss, fatigue and a chronic pain in his right knee. When he visited a local hospital, he was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), which was an hour's drive, for further care. Yean was diagnosed with Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST), a rare type of cancer that develops in the soft tissues that cover and protect peripheral nerves. If left untreated, MPNST can also spread to other parts of the body. Although the surgeons had hoped to remove the tumor and save his leg, it was determined that Yean needed to have his leg amputated. Our partner, CSC, is helping Yean receive treatment. On April 24th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a leg amputation surgery to relieve his symptoms and prevent the cancer from spreading. Yean and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $379 more to fund the procedure. Yean says: "After surgery, I hope to no longer be in pain, so that I can go home and spend time with my family."

Originally from Burma, Cherry is a 34-year-old woman who lives with her father's cousin and her two cousins in Tak Province, Thailand. Her two cousins are students, while Cherry is a homemaker. Her father's cousin runs her own small business, selling everything from makeup to food online or through her friends. They work hard to support their family. In the beginning of 2023, Cherry began to experience troubling symptoms, including swollen neck and discomfort when swallowing food. She was diagnosed with thyroid goiter. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Cherry receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 24th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. She and her family need help raising $1,500 for her treatment. Cherry said, "I feel stressed about my condition. Since I heard that my family who lives in Burma have now become displaced, I have felt more stressed and I am worried about them. I want to get treatment and recover soon so that I can look for a job and support my family back home. Thank you to all the donors and the organisation Burma Children Medical Fund for being willing to help me by paying for my treatment cost."