Kyi is a 57-year-old woman, living with her husband in Burma. They shared that together they do not have children and they love to dedicate their time to helping others in their community. Kyi's husband volunteers with the Karen Forestry Department, helps with household chores, and grows rice and vegetables, while also raising chickens for them to eat. Kyi works in a medical clinic helping patients and is training in emergency obstetric care in Thailand. Kyi experiences back and abdominal pain, fatigue and weakness, and other symptoms. Doctors determined that Kyi suffers from gallstones; she has been advised to have her gallbladder removed to heal her symptoms and prevent further complications with her health in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyi is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 7th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Kyi's procedure and care. Kyi is determined to have a big impact in her community and shared: "I want to be healthy so that I can devote my mind, body, and work to fully serving my people until my last breath.”

Blessings is a beautiful 5-month-old girl and the only child in her young family. Her mother hopes to return to finishing school once Blessings is stronger and healthier. Blessings’s grandmother has stopped working to help take care of her grandchild and their family relies on Blessings’s grandfather who is employed as a gardener. Blessings has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Blessings has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Her mother gathered some funds with the help of Blessing’s grandmother and took her to a hospital. She was examined and the doctor requested a scan. At that moment their family did not have any money for the scan and they had to go home without knowing the way forward. While at home, they gathered more funds and went to another facility. Blessings was examined again and a scan was done. This center then referred their family to another facility in Nairobi for treatment. They shared that they went back home with the hopes of Blessings getting treated crushed as they could not afford the treatment that she needed. Thankfully, our medical partner's mobile clinic team visited the area where a relative referred them to their clinic. Blessings was examined and referred to BethanyKids Hospital, where she can finally undergo surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Blessings that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 6th and will drain the excess fluid from Blessings's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Blessings will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Blessings’s mother says, “I would like my child to be treated so that she is healthy and I can go back to school."

Jolly is 53-year-old farmer and a married mother of five children. She has three sons and two daughters. Jolly's daughters are teachers while two of her sons are drivers and the youngest son still in school. Jolly earns a living from small-scale farming while her husband is a fisherman. Their shared income helps meet their family's daily needs. For the last two years, Jolly has suffered swelling in her left foot from an injury she sustained. The swelling continues to grow in size and becomes increasingly painful when Jolly is walking. Doctors at Nyakibale Hospital diagnosed Jolly with a lipoma that requires removal to help her heal. On March 3rd, surgeons will remove the mass and our medical partners at African Mission Healthcare are helping Jolly raise $137 to fund this procedure. Jolly shared, "I believe that I'll get better and be able to resume my farm activities to support my family once I've fully recovered."

Naw Eh is a 18-year-old woman from who lives with her family in a refugee camp in Thailand. Naw Eh moved to the refugee camp in 2019 from across the Burma border with hope to continue her education as her village only offered primary school. In 2020, Naw Eh met and married her husband in the refugee camp. Unable to work currently, every month, Naw Eh's household receives 770 baht (approx. 26 USD) to meet their daily needs. In her free time, Naw Eh likes to embroider traditional Karen clothes which she sells to earn more for their family. Naw Eh is currently expecting her second child, and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section (C-section) as Naw Eh was diagnosed with eclampsia. Eclampsia is a rare, but serious condition where high blood pressure results in seizures during pregnancy. The doctors at Mae Sariang Hospital believe a C-section will ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Naw Eh undergo a C-section on February 10th. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Naw Eh is seeking support to fund this potentially life saving surgery for her and her baby. Naw Eh said: “I stopped weaving and embroidering clothes because my stomach is getting bigger making it hard to do. I am excited to have my second baby.”

Benzaqueen is a 4-month-old baby and the second born in a family of two children. Her parents work hard to make ends meet for their family. Before she was caring for Benzaqueen, her mother used to do jobs like plowing and house chores for people to earn a living. Her father mostly works in construction sites when he can find jobs to provide for their family. Benzaqueen has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Benzaqueen has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Benzaqueen will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Benzaqueen that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 24th and will drain the excess fluid from Benzaqueen's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Benzaqueen will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl! Benzaqueen’s mother says, “We just cannot wait for our child to be fully out of the hospital and treated. We hope for the best.”

Rebecca is a very talkative and friendly woman. In September 2020, she noticed that her belly had started to increase in size and she thought she was pregnant. During one of the clinic visits, the doctor wanted to listen to the baby’s heartbeat but found there was nothing to listen to so they sent her for an ultrasound. The results revealed an ovarian cyst and her doctor advised her to seek for urgent review in a different facility. At the time, Rebecca did not have money to go for checkup. Her belly grew bigger as time went by and in August, her brother offered her help to support some of her hospital visits. She started visiting different hospitals but could afford them. Her brother recommended she try visiting Kijabe Hospital and upon arrival, she was examined and later was scheduled for surgery. Rebecca was employed as a tailor, but lost her job due to her health last April. Since loosing her job, she works doing casual jobs, like laundry work and cleaning houses and shops for people. In her new line of work, it is still hard to make ends meet and she shared that she now relies on her friends for connections to put food on the table. Learning that she might be able to have financial support for her surgery, Rebecca has new hope for the future. She said, "I’m very happy that at least there is some hope that I can get treated.”

Soy is a 44-year-old rice and vegetable farmer. She is married and has one son, two daughters, and two grandchildren. Soy's husband is a construction worker. Last September, Soy fell and fractured her right patella. It is still difficult for her to walk and she is in chronic pain. After the accident she went to a provincial hospital for an x-ray but she could not afford surgery there. Her cousin told her to come to our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) to see if the doctors there could help her. Fortunately, surgeons at CSC can help. On February 4th, Soy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will help her walk easily again. Soy says, "I hope my pain will stop and I can return to working and walking easily."

Yoeng is a 72-year-old retired rice farmer. She has four younger siblings including one brother and three sisters. She lives with her disabled sister, and is supported by her niece and the kindness of her neighbors. She likes to visit her local pagoda to wash dishes and chop vegetables for the monks. At home, she and her sister listen to the monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Yoeng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her tearing, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Yoeng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 9th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Yoeng shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see clearly. I can recognize faces and go outside more. I want to take care of myself and my sister well."