Oo is a 46-year-old widow from Thailand. She works on a farm and diligently sends money to support her son, who is studying as a monk in a Dhama School in Burma. She enjoys reading during her free time. For several months, Oo has been experiencing intense pain in her back and right lower abdomen, accompanied by other worrying symptoms. She has been diagnosed with leiomyoma, a smooth muscle tumor of the uterus. Oo has been advised to undergo a hysterectomy where the surgeon will remove her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Oo's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Oo is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on February 27th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain. Oo shared, "I'm feeling stressed and anxious about my upcoming treatment. Thankfully, I have a supportive friend who stays by my side and provides me with much-needed assistance. I am also truly grateful to BCMF and donors for covering my surgery cost."

Michael Angelo is an active, playful two-year-old boy from the Philippines. His mother shared that Michael Angelo loves watching nursery videos on the phone and has shown interest in books at home. His father earns a minimum wage working as a sprinter delivery driver, while his mother is a homemaker. In February 2024, Michael Angelo had pneumonia. The attending physician had a suspicion about the child's medical condition, but to confirm, they were directed to a pediatric surgeon. Michael Angelo was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and a further diagnosis of bilateral undescended testes was made. His mother was advised that Michael Angelo would need to undergo orchidopexy procedure to move the undescended testes into the scrotum. This would reduce the risks of infertility and development of cancer. Michael Angelo's condition has already placed financial constraints on his family due to ongoing treatment, lab works and prescribed medications of the new diagnosis. It has also taken an emotional toll on his mother, who wishes that she would be the one experiencing the illness on behalf of her baby. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Michael Angelo receive treatment. On May 9th, surgeons at Our Lady of Peace Hospital will perform an orchidopexy procedure, to relocate the testes and improve his quality of life. A portion of the cost of Michael Angelo's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, but his family still needs help raising $1,212 to fund the procedure. Michael Angelo's mother says: "Despite having an income, we came to a point of financial breakdown when illness struck our baby. There are so many challenges, we prayed every day that someone would come and help us, especially since we do not receive so much help from our families and relatives. We were surprised to receive support from people that did not know us, it was very unexpected. We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who have come to our aid."

Oun is a 58-year-old grandmother. She and her husband are farmers in a rural area about two and a half hours from the capital Phnom Penh. They are parents to two sons and one daughter and proud grandparents of three grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to watch Khmer dramas on TV. Oun has spent the majority of her life outside, which has exposed her to sunny, dusty, sandy, and windy conditions which has contributed to her condition. Seven years ago, Oun developed a pterygium in her right eye, which is a non-cancerous growth of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind or dust and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. This causes her irritation and burning. The condition has significantly impacted her vision. It is difficult for her to engage in social activities, read, watch television, or even recognize faces. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Oun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for March 8th. Oun said, "I hope after surgery my eye will not be red or irritated. I hope to have no worry and go back to planting rice."