Two-year-old Jimmy is the last born child in a family of five children from Lilongwe District in Malawi. Jimmy's parents are small-scale farmers, growing maize for consumption and income for the family. Jimmy has for some time been experiencing on-and-off pain and swelling on the left side of his inguinal region. Worried, his mother brought him to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. Jimmy was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia, and surgery was recommended. However, his mother expressed that the family would not be able to afford the cost of surgery. If left untreated, Jimmy will continue experiencing pain and the condition might lead to a strangulated hernia, cutting off blood flow, which can be life-threatening. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jimmy receive treatment. On April 10th, surgeons at Nkhoma Hospital will perform a hernia repair surgery to alleviate Jimmy's pain, and prevent any potential risks and complications. Now, Jimmy's family needs help to fund this $421 procedure. Jimmy’s mother says, “It is my wish for my son to receive treatment and get well soon.”

Khin is a 48-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband and their four daughters in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. Khin is a homemaker and her husband works as an agricultural day labourer. Since 2018, Khin has been experiencing troubling symptoms including difficulty breathing and swallowing, stiffness in her neck, and fatigue. In addition, her voice turns hoarse when she speaks for extended periods. Khin was diagnosed with goiter or the irregular growth of the thyroid. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Khin receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 7th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Khin said “I have had stress and depression since I learned I needed surgery because I cannot afford to pay for my treatment. I worried I would not be able to support my daughters. Currently, we only have my husband's income to support the family and that is not enough to cover the costs of the surgery."

Hok Ly is a 6-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his mother, grandparents, and uncle in Kandal province. His mother works in a nearby clothing factory and his grandparents stay home to care for him. Hok Ly is in a local kindergarten, where he loves puzzles and recess. His hobbies are playing with his friends and eating local fruit. Hok Ly was born with syndactyly of both hands, a condition where some of his fingers are fused together. It is difficult for him to use his hand to grasp objects, or write letters. Fortunately, on May 2nd, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused fingers. Hok Ly and his family are able to contribute $100 but need to raise $344 more to fund this procedure. After surgery, he should feel more comfortable and will be able to use his hand easily. Hok Ly's mother hopes he will be able to use his hands more easily, especially in school and when eating.