La Min is a 21-year-old young woman from Burma. She lives with her aunt in Bangkok, Thailand. She moved to Bangkok from her village in Karen State, Burma, in 2023 in search of better job opportunities. She worked as a waitress, but had to stop because of her health. La Min has a heart condition that requires replacement of two heart valves -the aortic and mitral valves - and repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, La Min experiences fatigue and a rapid heartbeat while walking even short distances, poor appetite, and chest pain. Even though she has lived with her condition almost all her life, she still experiences anxiety and stress during her episodes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this complex surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on April 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and have a more active and healthy life ahead. In the future, La Min hopes to continue to work in Bangkok and save enough money to return to her village in Burma. There she dreams of opening a restaurant and selling Thai food. She said, “When I lie down at night, I hear my rapid heartbeat and have trouble falling asleep. When I am very tired and experience heart palpitations, I worry that my heartbeat will stop suddenly. I want to know what the world is like without my heart disease.”

Rabiya is a 19-year-old bright and determined university student from Ethiopia. Rabiya shares that being in university is a truly exciting chapter of her life. Between her university studies and being a rock for her two brothers, she stays incredibly busy. But lately, a cyst on her left wrist has been causing her much discomfort. Five months ago, Rabiya felt a sudden, distracting tingling and itchy sensation in the wrist. What started as minor swelling quickly took a turn for the worse; within just a month, the discomfort transitioned into severe, persistent pain. For a busy college student, the pain is affecting even the simplest tasks. Typing up a paper, scribbling notes during a lecture, or carrying heavy textbooks across campus became difficult, which has affected her studies. Rabiya traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 14th, surgeons will perform an excisional biopsy to remove the mass. Now, Rabiya needs help to raise $750 to fund this procedure. She says: "More than anything, I’m looking forward to the freedom of moving my wrist without a second thought. I can’t wait to dive back into my studies and my role as a sister, fully present and pain-free."

Eman is a five-year-old boy living in Kenya with his parents and younger brother. The family is originally from Ethiopia, where his father served as a missionary, but have relocated while his father is attending missionary college. As a student, Eman’s father does not have a work permit, and the family relies on a small income from the church. They have also been unable to obtain health insurance. Eman was originally referred to our medical partner for chronic tonsillitis, but during his evaluation, doctors identified a reducible left inguinal hernia. This type of hernia is present at birth, but symptoms can take some time to appear. Doctors advised that the hernia repair be postponed until after a tonsillectomy, as the tonsillitis was causing repeated hospital admissions, frequent infections, and continuous use of antibiotics. Eman’s tonsillitis surgery was successful, and his recovery has been remarkable. His father expresses immense joy and gratitude because Eman is sleeping better, is more active, and is able to enjoy his childhood without constant illness. With his recovery complete, Eman is now scheduled for hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $864 to fund Eman’s surgery, which will take place on May 15th. This surgery will give him the chance to grow up healthy, attend school without discomfort, and avoid future complications. Eman's father says, "This hospital has been a blessing and a healing to our family. My son has since improved after the first surgery, and we thank God for everything. Please help us so that my son can grow like other children, healthy, go to school, and we will testify to what the Lord does.”