Taung is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter, son, and two grandsons. He is retired and helps with household chores to support his family. His daughter is divorced and raises chickens and pigs for their own consumption, selling the surplus to buy additional food and cover their basic needs. Each of his grandsons goes to middle school, while Taung's son has a mental illness and stays home. He also has another daughter who helps support him. His family has enough income for their basic needs and healthcare, but they have struggled to meet the financial obligations of Taung's needs. Currently, Taung is experiencing upper abdominal pain, and he feels discomfort when walking for long periods or sitting down. Eating to fill his stomach can also lead to discomfort, so he eats only in small quantities. After seeking medical help at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, the doctor has diagnosed Taung with a bile duct stone and has recommended surgery. Taung has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Taung's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Taung is scheduled to undergo his cholecystectomy on August 13th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Taung said, "Due to my condition, I experience severe pain sometimes. I could not help much with household chores. When the pain is severe, I could not eat and could not sleep well. I want to recover, and then I would like to plant banana trees and other vegetables to sell and make income to support my family. Thank you to all the donors for helping me."

Myo is a 19-year-old young man from Burma. His father is a truck conductor, while his mother cares for the children and manages the household. Because of ongoing strife, Myo's family fled from their hometown in Kachin State to Mandalay in December of 2024. His family's displacement and an underlying heart condition interrupted Myo's education, ultimately leading him to leave school in the 11th grade. In addition, his younger sister's schooling was disrupted when Myo could no longer drive her to school. Myo has a heart condition that requires replacement of two heart valves (aortic and mitral) and repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control blood flow between the heart chambers and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Myo experiences shortness of breath when walking, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Additionally, he has lost weight and has difficulty carrying out normal daily activities due to his condition. His mother spends most of her time caring for him, leaving her with less time to attend to other family responsibilities. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this complex surgery. The surgery is scheduled for November 4th. Following the treatment, Myo will hopefully regain his health and resume his daily activities. Myo’s mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much to the organization and the donors for helping with my son’s treatment costs. I have no words to express how thankful I am. We cannot imagine how we would manage this treatment without your help. Thank you so much for giving our family hope. Thank you so much.”

Pon is a 61-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He is married with one son, one daughter and five grandchildren. He lives with his wife who is also a rice farmer. His daughter is a garment worker and his son is a construction worker. He likes to listen to the news and the monks praying on the radio. About two years ago, Pon developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Pon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 18th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Pon said: "I hope that after surgery my eye can see better, so I can easily go back to growing rice, and venture outside well."