Naw Ree is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, husband, sister, and brother in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She is a homemaker who also weaves traditional Karen clothes for sale. Her husband is not formerly employed, but looks after their vegetable garden, chickens, and two pigs. Her brother is a student, and her sister also weaves traditional Karen clothing. Together they earn 1,000 THB per month, which is often not enough to cover their daily expenses. The family receives free basic health care in the refugee camp provided by Malteser International (MI) Thailand. Naw Ree is currently expecting her first child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Naw Ree undergo a C-Section on May 14th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Naw Ree needs your support. Naw Ree said, “I wish to work as a healthcare worker in the future. If given the opportunity, I will apply to study as a midwife or a nurse at the camp hospital when my child is older.”

Cloryn is a 43-year-old woman from the Philippines. She is a hardworking wife who contributes to her family's needs by working at a small shake store, while her husband works as a fisherman. She stays active through her work and household responsibilities, and enjoys watching videos on her cellphone during her free time. About three months ago, Cloryn began to experience troubling symptoms, including a lump on the base of her throat. She was diagnosed with a multinodular colloid goiter, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She was advised that surgery would be needed, but financial limitations made it difficult for her to continue with the recommended follow-up care. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Cloryn receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 17th at Our Lady of Peace Hospital, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Cloryn's procedure and care. Cloryn says, "I am very grateful to the donor program which has been a great help to us. Thank you very much to WSFP and Our Lady of Peace Hospital."

Chanthy is a 34-year-old garment factory worker from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Phnom Penh with his wife, who also works in a garment factory, and their three children. Their children are in Grade 5, Grade 2, and preschool, and are cared for by their grandmother while both parents are at work. Despite his disability, he continues working hard to support his family. In his free time, he enjoys designing and tailoring new styles of clothing. Chanthy developed polio during childhood, which caused permanent damage to his left leg. Over the years, his left knee became permanently bent, and his left foot developed a severe deformity. The leg is now nonfunctional, so he has chosen amputation to prepare for a prosthetic leg that will give him a better chance of walking independently again. The condition has greatly limited his mobility and independence. He relies on crutches to move around because his left leg is no longer functional, making it difficult to stand, walk long distances, continue working comfortably, and care for his family. Every day tasks require extra effort, and his quality of life has been significantly affected. Chanthy has been experiencing severe muscle wasting, weakness, a fixed deformity of the left foot, difficulty walking, and limited mobility. His doctors recommend an amputation of his left leg (through-knee amputation) to prevent symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $588 to fund Chanthy's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Chanthy said, “I hope this surgery will allow me to receive a prosthetic leg so I can walk more easily without relying on crutches. I want to become more independent, continue working, and improve my quality of life.”