Chanla is a 40-year-old who is married and has one son and one daughter, both of whom are students in a public school. He and his wife run a small grocery shop in front of their house, where they sell snacks and drinks. When not managing their store, Chanla likes to listen to the news on the radio. One year ago, Chanla developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision and photophobia. He has difficulty working in his store because he is unable to assist customers due his declining vision. When Chanla learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Chanla shared, "I hope after surgery I will see well. It is important for me to see well to change money so I can help my wife to sell groceries."

Nay is a 65-year-old retired rice farmer with three sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Nay lives with her husband and with her eldest daughter, who is a coffee seller. In her free time, Nay likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Nay developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Nay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 29th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She says, "I hope after surgery I can see clearly. I would like to easily see my family’s faces and get around better with my husband."

Tin is a 45-year-old man. Originally from Burma, he fled to Thailand over 20 years ago due to civil war. He currently lives with his wife, who works as a street vendor selling various snacks and vegetable, and one of his daughters, who is currently in school. His family also raises chickens, which they sell when they need cash. Tin previously worked as a farmer and a construction worker, but he has recently been unable to work due to his condition. In the future, he hopes to go back to work and help support his family. After an incident that occurred this past April that caused him to be hit in the left eye by a mango, Tin lost his vision in that eye and began to experience headaches, swelling, severe eye pain, and dizziness when attempting to stand. Tin eventually sought medical attention at a clinic. There, a medic checked his left eye, gave him a bottle of eye drops, and told him to seek treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) since they could not treat him there. However, he did not go to MTC right away due to financial constraints. He instead hoped that his eye would recover over time with the help of eye drops. Although his pain was temporarily reduced, the bruising disappeared, and the swelling went down over time, he never regained his vision. The pain in his eye eventually returned, and he noticed that he had a white spot on his left pupil. As the white spot increased in size, his eye progressively became more painful and began to itch. He now experiences discharge and watering in his eye, as well as difficulty sleeping. At the beginning of this month, a small lump appeared near the white spot on his left pupil. The lump gradually increased in size until it bursted on August 13th. After the discharge and bleeding from the lump stopped, he asked his friend to take him to MTC right away. When he arrived at the clinic, he was told to come back on Monday since there were not any eye specialist medics working on the weekend. When Tin returned on Monday, a medic examined his left eye, and he was diagnosed with corneal perforation, a condition resulting from the cornea being penetrated and damaged. Tin was also told that his eye is infected. He now must undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to remove his left eye as quickly as possible before the infection spreads to his right eye. Fortunately, Tin was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for financial assistance accessing treatment. On August 17th, surgeons at our medical partner's care center will perform an enucleation to remove his left eye. Now, BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Tin's life-changing procedure. Tin shares, “I feel very depressed and worried about my eye. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I lost vision in both of my eyes. I want to receive surgery quickly to prevent my right eye from becoming infected. Without your help, I don’t think I would be able to receive further treatment. Therefore, I want to say thank you to the donors and the organization for agreeing to support my treatment costs.”

Chhanun is a playful five-year-old preschool student from Cambodia who has four older sisters. He currently lives with his grandmother because his parents are migrant workers in Thailand. They have not been able to visit him in two years. At home, Chhanun loves to play football and with his toys. When he was three-years-old, Chhanun had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his left ear to perforate. He now experiences ear pain, discharge, and hearing loss. His condition also makes it difficult to communicate clearly with others. Fortunately, Chhanun and his family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 13th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers supplies, treatment, and inpatient care. Chhanun's grandmother says, "I hope his hearing improves and his pain goes away after this surgery."

Krib is a 48-year-old farmer who is married with two sons and one daughter. When not outside on the farm with her husband, Krib likes to keep her house clean and cook for her family. On and off since she was young, Krib has experienced ear infections. These infections caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left side ear to perforate. Krib now feels ear and face pain with uncomfortable discharge and hearing loss. Krib has spent a lot of money at pharmacies for medications, but her symptoms have persisted. Krib now struggles to communicate with her family and shared that she feels embarrassed about her hearing loss. Krib traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 6th, Krib will undergo a procedure in her ear where surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is raising $487 to fund this procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Krib's husband shared, "I hope she stops having ear infections and her hearing will improve."

Lucas is a teenage boy and the third born out of seven children born to his mother. He is currently in the fifth grade in primary school and shared that his best subjects are social studies, Mathematics and Swahili. He likes playing football with his friends, but he has difficulty playing freely. When Lucas was a baby, he fell into an open fireplace and his left leg was burned severely. Although he had surgery then, burns scars (contractures) developed on his leg at the knee joint. They cause tightening around the joint making it hard for him to walk. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lucas receive treatment. On May 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him walk easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Lucas says, "I will be very happy if I get this treatment since I will be able to play football with my friends and also walk well."

Alma is a 46-year-old woman, living with her sister and daughter in the Philippines. Their basic needs are sustained by her sister’s small business. In 2020, Alma developed a sore on the inside of her right cheek. The sore kept increasing in size, until her face became highly swollen. Because her family had insufficient financial resources, Alma was unable to seek help for her condition. Fortunately, Alma was referred to our partner care facility, the Our Lady of Peace Hospital. There, she was assessed, and diagnosed with a Buccal Mass. This condition begins when the cells that make up the inner cheek have abnormal growth, and form lesions or tumors. Alma needs to undergo surgery to remove the mass. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Alma to access the care that she needs. She is scheduled to undergo an excision of the mass on September 10th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. World Surgical Foundation Philippines is asking for your help to fund this procedure, for which they need $1,452. Alma shared: “I’ve lost my confidence since the lump is very visible on my face. This surgery is the answer to my prayers. Thank you so much WATSI and World Surgical Foundation Philippines for helping me!”

Roeuk is a 34-year-old farmer who is married and has two daughters. His 10-year-old daughter is in the fifth grade and his younger daughter is five years old. Roeuk's wife is also a farmer. Last month, Roeuk fell from the 3rd story and fractured his right humerus, left tibia, and left mandibular. After the accident he received treatment for the humerus fracture at another hospital. He arrived at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) with pain from the left mandibular fracture. It is difficult for him to drink and eat food. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 6th, Roeuk will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This will heal his fracture and relieve his pain. Roeuk is hopeful that after surgery he will be out of pain and be able to eat and drink more easily again so he can get healthy.

Biniayam is a musically-inclined 17-year-old from Ethiopia. Some of his favorite activities include playing football, the piano, and the keyboard, as well as eating his favorite dish: meat! He comes from a family of seven children. To support their family, his father works as a farmer, and his mother manages their home and cares for her children. Two of his siblings are currently working, and the rest attend school. Biniayam himself finalized his national grade eight examination last summer and passed well! Biniayam was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and be at risk of infertility. His parents sought medical care for him after he was born, but due to financial constraints, he was not able to receive any treatment. They have since visited other hospitals but have still been unable to receive any help. Biniayam shares that he is worried and concerned about his condition. He mentioned that it not only affects him physically, but also psychologically, causing him to experience stress in many situations. Fortunately, Biniayam is now scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 19th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Biniayam shares, “After the surgery, I hope this will be corrected and I will be confident to bathe in front of other members of the family without any fear. I also hope I won’t fear going to the restroom in public toilets. I hope I will be happy and have children in the future.”

Thi is a 37-year-old woman who lives and works at a garment factory in Tak Province near the Thai border with Burma. Through her work, she receives free meals and board in addition to 4,000 baht (approx. 133 USD) per month. In her free time, she likes to watch political news and read books. She is also learning Thai to help her communicate with others in Thailand. Since April 17, Thi has been experiencing severe pain due to a mass in her ovary. She feels very unwell and often has a headache. She has been diagnosed with an ovarian tumor and has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thi's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thi is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on June 14th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Thi will be no longer in pain and will be able to work without feeling pain. Thi said, "I want to receive surgery as soon as possible so that I can return to my work after I am fully recovered."

Hla is a 40-year-old woman living with her husband and adopted daughter in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Hla and her family fled their village in Burma, due to fighting in the area. In January, Hla learned that she was pregnant for the first time after ten years of marriage. Then in March, Hla had to flee with her husband and daughter due to the fighting near her village. They moved in with her uncle, who lives in a refugee camp. Once there, she sought prenatal care at a clinic in the camp, where she was told that she had a breech baby, which would require a Caesarean section in order for her baby to be delivered safely. The C-section is scheduled for May 11th at nearby Mae Sot Hospital (MSH). When Hla told a friend that she does not have the money to pay for her hospital stay, her friend referred her to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for help with paying for her care. Currently, Hla is eight months pregnant and is worried about her condition and the health of her baby. Burma Children Medical Fund is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs of Hla's treatment, and for the safe delivery of her baby. Hla said, "I was very worried when I heard that I will need an expensive C-section. I could not think of anyone to help pay for my surgery, and I felt stressed about giving birth through a C-section. After I heard from BCMF staff that donors could help pay for my surgery, I started to feel so much more relaxed and less worried. I still worry about my baby being born healthy."