Saw Myo is a 14-year-old from Burma. He lives with his grandparents, parents, two sisters, and brother. His grandparents are retired. His father farms paddy and rubber trees on their land, while his mother is a homemaker. Saw Myo and his siblings are all in school, but Saw Myo recently had to stop attending due to a medical condition. Saw Myo has had a lump on his lower spinal cord since he was nine years old due to an injury from a slingshot. He received medicinal ointment from a traditional healer that helped with the stiffness and prevented further growth. However, Saw Myo fell off his bicycle a few years later, and the lump grew in size. His family took him to several clinics, and an X-ray indicated a potential spinal cord problem. The doctors recommended a computerized tomography (CT) scan, but due to COVID-19 policies, Saw Myo could not receive the scan. His parents continued to try and help Saw Myo receive treatment but learned that his condition could not be treated locally. Saw Myo's mother then contacted a neighbor who worked as a medic at a clinic in Burma and began raising money for his care. The doctors want Saw Myo to undergo an MRI, which is an imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of bodily organs. This scan will help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is helping Saw Myo receive this treatment. On November 15th, he will undergo an MRI. BCMF requests $814 to cover the cost of Saw Myo's MRI procedure and care. Saw Myo's mother said: “We have been so worried since we saw the mass increasing in size. It was tiring to seek treatment in Burma, and we now have borrowed a lot of money without Saw Myo having received treatment."

Htwe is a 12-year-old student from Thailand. He lives with his uncle's family, while his parents work in Bangkok. He enjoys playing football with his friends. Two years ago, Htwe's right eyelid became swollen and red, and by July 2021, the swelling worsened. He was able to feel a small mass in his right eyelid and developed double vision. Htwe was diagnosed with a cyst in his right eyelid. The doctor planned to surgically remove the cyst in early February, but he decided to postpone the surgery because he was worried about what was causing Htwe's symptoms. Doctors want Htwe to undergo a CT scan so that they can diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Htwe's CT scan and care, scheduled for February 20th. Htwe said, “I have difficulty studying and doing my homework because I cannot see clearly."

Scovia is a mother of four. She shared that she separated from her husband three months ago due to domestic violence and is now living alone with two of her children. The other two are with their father, but she pays school fees for all of them. She does so through farming and selling Irish potatoes. Her firstborn is 18 years old and in primary school class seven while her youngest is 11 years old and in the fifth grade. Since three years ago, Scovia has been experiencing recurring lower abdominal pains accompanied by other challenging symptoms. She has been on medication since then but her condition has not improved. She is at risk of getting anemia and needs surgery which she cannot afford. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $319 to fund Scovia's surgery. On March 4th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Scovia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Scovia says, “I have suffered in this condition for a while and need medical intervention. I pray that I may have a successful surgery so that I may be able to live a normal life once again. I will continue with farming for my children’s survival.”