Joyce is a 14-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her parents and four siblings in a pastoralist Maasai community. She is currently in Standard Six at a local primary school and is known by her teachers as a determined and respectful student. Joyce has been living with a severe extensor tendon contracture and burn scar contracture affecting her right hand and wrist. Over the years, the condition has gradually limited her ability to open her hand, extend her wrist, and use her fingers effectively. Despite these challenges, Joyce remains committed to being productive. She has adapted by using her left hand for writing and most school activities, which has slowed her work and made classroom tasks more difficult. At home, she participates in household chores, but tasks that require gripping, lifting, or two-handed coordination are hard for her. Simple activities like carrying water, washing clothes, or holding tools can be painful and frustrating. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Joyce receive treatment. On February 18th, surgeons will perform contracture release surgery and a skin graft to significantly improve her ability to write, care for herself, and participate fully in school and home life. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Joyce says, “I try to do everything with my left hand, but it is slow and difficult. I would desire my right hand to work so I can write and do my schoolwork without struggle.”

Mar is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his sister, niece, five nephews, and a grandniece in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Mar is retired. His niece and sister are teachers at the camp school, while his nephews work as construction and carpentry day laborers. Their combined income is just enough to cover their daily living expenses. They received free basic health care at the camp clinic. During his free time, Mar volunteers to clean at the church. In the middle of September 2025, Mar began to experience pain in his lower back and noticed blood in his urine. He visited the camp hospital, where a doctor examined him and suspected he may have a benign mass in his prostate, and referred him to a bigger hospital for further investigation. Mar sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the mass on February 13th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “It is not comfortable to walk with this urine tube. Without it, I cannot pass urine. I hope I can have surgery soon,” said Mar. He also added, “Thank you, BCMF, for helping me with my treatment. I hope to live without this urine tube after the surgery.”

Hnin is a 31-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. Originally from Karen State, Burma, the family relocated to Thailand for better job opportunities. Hnin and her husband work as agricultural day labourers, but Hnin had to stop working in May 2025 due to health issues. In May 2025, Hnin began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain in her lower left abdomen. She was diagnosed with left kidney stones and was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. She was told she needed surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Currently, Hnin continues to suffer from pain in her lower left abdomen, a burning sensation during urination, and lower back pain when she walks for a long time. The back pain also makes it difficult for her to breathe, and she cannot sleep well at night due to the persistent pain. On March 12th, Hnin will undergo surgery with the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She needs help raising $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. Hnin said, “Many thanks to the donors for helping me. Without your support, I would not access treatment, because I cannot afford it on my own. I truly wish for this organization that helps me to last forever, and for all the team members, including the donors, to have good health and happiness in the years ahead.”