Meet Stedia, a young woman from Uganda. She and her husband have two kids (one in nursery school and one in primary class two) and are expecting their third child soon. Stedia's father passed away when she was young. Her mother could not afford her school fees alone, so Stedia left school after primary class seven. She works as a small-scale farmer and owns a small salon where she does hairdressing to supplement her income. Her husband is in the motorcycle business. During her free time, Stedia enjoys spending time with her family. Stedia is expecting her third child soon. Her doctors recommended that she deliver via a cesarean section because of two previous scars. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Stedia undergo a C-Section on September 5th. AMH is requesting $252 to fund this procedure. Stedia said, "Our income as a family has always been inconsistent, which created difficulties in paying for my previous deliveries, but we have hope that with your support, we will be able to have a successful delivery this time."

Veasna lives in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, with his single mom and younger brother. His mom sells spices from home to support her sons to attend school. In his free time, Veasna likes to play basketball with his friends. Currently, his best grades are in math, and he enjoys all subjects at school. At the age of two, Veasna had a seizure and was taken to a nearby hospital. Since then, his mom noticed a foot deformity getting progressively worse. He visited a nearby clinic to have splinting, but the condition has not improved, and it has become difficult to walk, play with his friends, and wear shoes. Veasna and his mom traveled one and a half hours to Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Doctors will perform an achilles tendon lengthening surgery. This will allow him to distribute weight across his whole foot, giving him greater balance and ease of walking. After a physiotherapy program, Veasna will be able to walk like any other kid. He told us, "I would be happy if I can walk more normally and be able to walk to school and play basketball without it hurting."

Mu Yeh, a 23-year-old woman, resides in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand, along with her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and sister. Her parents run a snack-selling business from their home, while her brother and sister-in-law are currently unemployed. Mu Yeh's sister attends school within the camp, and she herself is a homemaker. In her leisure time, Mu Yeh finds joy in weaving traditional Karen ethnic clothes and visiting her relatives in the refugee camp. Each month, they receive 1,303 baht (approximately 43 USD) on a cash card from an organization called The Border Consortium. Additionally, they raise pigs which they sell when in need of extra cash. Despite their modest monthly income, it barely covers their daily expenses. Fortunately, they receive essential healthcare from Malteser International (MI) Thailand, which is provided free of charge in the refugee camp. In October 2022, Mu Yeh noticed a mass in her left breast. Initially, she dismissed it as normal, but by May 2023, the mass had grown and began causing her pain. Currently, Mu Yeh experiences considerable pain and discomfort in her left breast due to the large mass. The pain radiates towards the left side of her torso, making it difficult for her to carry anything heavy with her left hand. Seeking medical attention, she visited the hospital in the refugee camp, where the doctor referred her to Mae Sariang Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. On July 4th, with the assistance of MI staff, Mu Yeh underwent an ultrasound of both breasts. The results revealed cysts in her right breast and confirmed the presence of a mass in her left breast. Subsequently, she underwent a biopsy. During her follow-up appointment on July 18th, the doctor diagnosed her with fibroadenoma in her left breast and fibrocystic changes in her right breast. The doctor recommended removing the benign mass from her left breast under general anesthesia. Her surgery was scheduled for August 2nd. However, unable to afford the procedure, MI staff referred her to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for financial assistance to access treatment. BCMF is now requesting $1500 to help fund the procedure Mu Yeh needs. Mu Yeh said, “In the future, I would like to become a medic. When there is training in the refugee camp, I will register because I would like to study medicine.”