Nan Maw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her friends in Bangkok in an apartment rented by their employer. She works as a waitress, while her brother and mother still live in their village in Karen State, Burma. When Nan Maw was healthy and working full-time, she would send half of her salary home to support her mother. She dreams of building a concrete house back home for her family. Nan Maw 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. Due to her condition, she can only engage in part-time work as she gets tired too easily. Nan Maw is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on August 31st at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, to correct her atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Nan Maw's procedure and care. Nan Maw said, “I would like to thank your organization, BCMF, and your donors for your help. If you do not help me, I would have had to give up on my treatment because I know that I could not afford it by myself. I am very happy and thankful to all the donors. You have helped me feel that I can dream again. Before I developed these symptoms, I dreamed of working hard, saving money, building a house back home, and opening my own restaurant. Since I first noticed my symptoms, it felt like my dreams were lost. But now, I can dream again.”

Set is a 70-year-old woman from Kampong Chhnang province in Cambodia. A former rice farmer, she has five daughters, four sons, and 20 grandchildren. Set's husband passed away five years ago, and she currently lives with her youngest daughter, who sells vegetables. Set's favorite thing to do is visit the pagoda. About two years ago, Set developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Set has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go places on her own. When Set learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 10th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Set contributed a $25 co-pay toward her care and is requesting assistance to raise $238 more to fund her treatment. Set shared her hopes that, after surgery, her vision will improve so she can easily travel to distant places, visit the pagoda, and recognize her relatives clearly.

Ephraim is a 51-year-old man from Malawi. He is a father of five, and lives with his wife, three of his children, and three grandchildren. He depends on farming to provide for his family, growing maize and groundnuts. Although farming does not bring him much income, it usually provides enough food for the family and gives Ephraim a way to support those who depend on him. About a year ago, Ephraim started experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, prompting him to depend on medication and a catheter. Determined to find a lasting solution, he sought care from several hospitals but did not get the relief he needed. His family encouraged him to seek further treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Mission Hospital. Upon examination, he was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Physicians at Nkhoma Hospital have determined that Ephraim should undergo a prostatectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on September 9th and, once completed, it will hopefully improve Ephraim's quality of life. Ephraim said, "My hope is that this health problem will finally be resolved, so that I can return to living healthier again, and being there for my family."