Zaw, who is 29 years old, lives with his wife and extended family members in Karen State, Burma. He and his wife are currently unemployed, although Zaw hopes to work as a second-hand motorbike seller. Zaw has had an irregular heartbeat since he was 10 years old. Although he visited a local clinic as a child, he was never provided a definitive diagnosis. By January 2022, he began to experience fatigue. His back and neck were stiff, and he lost his appetite. He also had difficulty sleeping, experienced a persistent cough and body aches, and his lips turned blue. After multiple hospital visits, Zaw was told he had a heart condition that required surgery. Unable to afford surgery in Burma, Zaw sought affordable care at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Thailand. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, he received a free echocardiogram, which revealed he had mitral valve regurgitation, atrial valve regurgitation, pulmonary valve regurgitation, and patent ductus arteriosus. He is now scheduled for a procedure at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital in Bangkok on April 18th to repair or replace three of his valves and address any other issues with his heart. Currently, Zaw continues to experience fatigue, thus he is unable to work. He experiences shortness of breath and a racing heartbeat, for which he requires oxygen therapy three times a day. He needs your help to raise the $1,500 to fund his life-changing surgery. Zaw said: “I want to be free from this disease as soon as possible. Thank you all for helping with my treatment cost.”

Phat is a 44-year-old hospital janitor living in Cambodia. She was widowed ten years ago after her husband died in a motorbike accident. Since his death, Phat has focused on working and caring for their three children. Six years ago, Phat developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her to experience itchiness, tearing, and impaired vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur because of excessive exposure to the sun, which damages the conjunctiva, causing cells to grow abnormally over the pupil. Phat came to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for help. On May 2nd, she will undergo a surgical procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, during which the abnormal conjunctiva will be removed and replaced with a conjunctival graft, which should prevent a recurrence of this condition. The total cost of her procedure- including medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days- is $225, and Phat needs your help to fund this money. Phat said: "I hope after surgery I [will] feel happy and I don’t worry anymore, and I can go back to my job."

Chana is a curious 15-month-old toddler from Cambodia. She is an only child who lives with her parents in Takeo province. Her mother is a homemaker, while her father manages a farm. In 2022, when Channa was about a year old and learning to walk, she grabbed a handle from a pan of boiling water on the stove and severely burned her left arm. She was treated for the burn at a local clinic, but she has developed burn scar contractures on her left elbow and axilla. These scars make it difficult for her to raise her arm or to use her hand. She cries when her mother tries to stretch the skin to massage it. Chana's parents sought care from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 4th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform burn contracture release surgery, which should enable Chana to use her arm fully as she explores the world. Now, Chana and her family need your help to fund this $495 procedure. Chana's mother said: "I hope Chana will feel comfortable and use her hand and arm again when she goes to school. We cannot afford to go to the local clinic, and hope that the doctors at CSC can help her."