Chit Htun is a 21-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his mother and two younger sisters and a younger brother. His father is deceased and his mother is a homemaker. She takes care of the household and her children. All of his younger siblings are students, while Chit Htun and his eldest sister are doing an online general education diploma. Chit Htun has two aunts who help the family financially as they can. He also has a former teacher who is able to contribute some money consistently to the family. This normally has been enough to cover the family’s basic necessities but since the February 2021 coup, prices have increased significantly and there is not always enough money to pay for food. Sometimes the family has free meals at the local monastery. Chit Htun was born with spina bifida as well as hydrocephalus at the Maternal and Child Hospital in Myawaddy in Burma and when he was just over a month old, he had a stent inserted in his brain to control hydrocephalus. He has multiple conditions arising from the spina bifida, including bilateral atrophy to his lower legs with club feet, a neurogenic bladder requiring a suprapubic catheter, a neurogenic bowel requiring a colostomy, along with scoliosis. Despite the number of surgeries he has undergone, and the pain he endures, he is a pleasant and engaging young man, thoughtful and independent. In Oct 2021, Chit Htun fell down from some stairs at his home. Though there was no loss of consciousness at the time, he hit his head with the fall. Since that time, he has been experiencing headaches and dizziness with occasional loss of consciousness. His mother brought him to the hospital in Yangon and a scan showed that the original shunt was in place. A second shunt was inserted, and it appeared to help with the loss of consciousness, but headaches and dizziness continued to be a problem. After the second shunt was cleared of partial blockage, Chit Htun still continued to have headaches and dizziness and then in October, he had a seizure, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. His family cannot afford to go for further investigation and treatment so that they came to Mae Tao Clinic across the border in Mae Sot, Thailand. Doctors want Chit Htun to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Chit Htun's CT scan and care, scheduled for November 28th. Chit Htun said, “My condition is interrupting my education and my future. When I always have to stop my studies for treatment, it makes it difficult to continue.”

Yean is a mother of five sons, and eleven grandchildren. She lives in Kandal province in Cambodia with her retired husband and their youngest son, a farmer. She enjoys going to the pagoda with villagers on holy days. Six months ago, Yean developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision. She shared that it is difficult to cook for the family because her vision is so bad. When Yean learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping for treatment. On December 8th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Yean said: "I hope after surgery I can see more clearly, so I can recognize faces and join ceremonies at our pagoda."

Sat is an 80-year-old retired bean farmer. She has two sons, four daughters, and 11 grandchildren, and lives with her youngest daughter in Kampong Cham province in Cambodia. Sadly, her husband passed away four years ago. Two years ago, Sat developed a cataract in her right eye, resulting in sensitivity to light and blurry vision. These symptoms make it difficult for Sat to see clearly, and to live completely independently. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sat access the treatment she needs. On February 7th, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in her right eye. After recovery, Sat will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs your help to fund this $253 procedure. Sat said: "I hope my eye will see better. I want to make Khmer cakes to sell to improve our living."