Myo is a 14-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents in a village in Karen State. His mother is a homemaker who is currently eight months pregnant. His father is a subsistence farmer, but he also works as a day laborer to earn money. Myo is in grade six and he enjoys playing football in his free time. Two years ago, Myo developed a pain in his arm which he noticed while playing football with his friends. Right away he was in a lot of pain, but his arm did not look broken. At first, the pain lessened, but gradually the pain worsened and his upper left forearm became swollen. Myo could also feel a mass under the swollen area of his left forearm. Myo and his father went to Chiang Mai Hospital, where he received a MRI and other tests, as well as a biopsy which confirmed that the tumor in his forearm was cancer. Now he needs surgery to remove the tumor, and he will need a chemo after surgery. The enlarged mass in Myo's left forearm has not increased in size, and only causes him pain when he lifts something heavy or when he does any physical activity with that arm such as washing his clothes or cleaning. Although he can take a shower by himself, using only his right arm makes it challenging. When he plays with his friends, he needs to protect his left forearm to prevent getting hurt. Myo's family sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 8th, and his family needs help funding the $1,500 cost to cover his procedure and care. He said, “I feel sorry for my mother and I pity her that she has to stay alone with the new baby. I also feel sad that I cannot go to school this year. I want to recover quickly and go back to see my brother and mother.”

Jardel is a preschool student and an only child. His father sadly passed on early last year. Jardel is under the care of his mother who does not have a source of income. Jardel and his mother live at their elderly grandmother’s home. The family does not have the financial capability to cover medical bills and relies on relatives for support. For over two years, Jardel has been experiencing nasal blockage, pain and difficulty swallowing. Jardel is unable to eat well and his mother reports that he also struggles to sleep. Jardel was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which are the soft tissue behind the nasal cavity. Without treatment, this condition will cause Jardel's symptoms to persist and possibly even intensify. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $818 to fund an adenotonsillectomy for Jardel, which is scheduled to take place on January 12th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, relieving Jardel of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Jardel's mother shared, “Jardel sleeps with a lot of difficulties. He snores a lot and struggles to breathe. He also has difficulties in eating, particularly solid foods.”

Malaika lives on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince in Haiti with her parents and four siblings; she is in the third grade and likes her science and reading classes. She was both with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery she needs is not available in Haiti, but fortunately for Malaika, doctors at the Clinica Corominas in the Dominican Republic will be able to perform an interventional heart catherization procedure to fix her condition. During the procedure, doctors will insert a catheter into her heart to plug the hole with a device. Now, her family needs $1,500 to help pay the costs of the procedure and travel. Another organization Gift of Life International is also contributing to her life-saving care. Malaika's mother says: "Our family is very hopeful that our daughter will be healthier and happier after her heart is fixed."