Taung is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter, son, and two grandsons. He is retired and helps with household chores to support his family. His daughter is divorced and raises chickens and pigs for their own consumption, selling the surplus to buy additional food and cover their basic needs. Each of his grandsons goes to middle school, while Taung's son has a mental illness and stays home. He also has another daughter who helps support him. His family has enough income for their basic needs and healthcare, but they have struggled to meet the financial obligations of Taung's needs. Currently, Taung is experiencing upper abdominal pain, and he feels discomfort when walking for long periods or sitting down. Eating to fill his stomach can also lead to discomfort, so he eats only in small quantities. After seeking medical help at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, the doctor has diagnosed Taung with a bile duct stone and has recommended surgery. Taung has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Taung's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Taung is scheduled to undergo his cholecystectomy on August 13th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Taung said, "Due to my condition, I experience severe pain sometimes. I could not help much with household chores. When the pain is severe, I could not eat and could not sleep well. I want to recover, and then I would like to plant banana trees and other vegetables to sell and make income to support my family. Thank you to all the donors for helping me."

Rabecca is 26 years old and a mother of one from Malawi. Her husband is a cook, while she runs a small business. A year ago, Rabecca began to experience troubling symptoms, including a hoarse voice, frequent coughs, and painful swallowing. Her symptoms have gotten worse, affecting her ability to do daily tasks. She went to a hospital and was diagnosed with a goiter, the swelling of the thyroid gland. 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, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rabecca receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 19th at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Rabecca shared, "I wish I could get better to enable me to continue doing my business in good health and concentrating on family support rather than spending on hospital visits."

U Sanda is a 32-year-old monk from Burma. He has been a monk for over 15 years, and lives with other monks at a monastery. He does not earn an income, and relies on food donated at the monastery by local people. When he becomes ill, his best friend helps cover the cost of his basic medical treatment. U Sanda 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. U Sanda is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on September 21st at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital to correct his atrial septal defect, and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of U Sanda's procedure and care. U Sanda said, “All of the costs of my previous investigations were covered by my best friend. If BCMF and the donors do not help me, I would choose to suffer rather than continue receiving treatment, because I know the cost is very expensive.”