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.”

Rachana is a 5-year-old girl from Cambodia who lives in Phnom Penh with her parents. Her dad is a teacher, and her mom is a weaver. Rachana loves playing with her friends, and she recently learned to ride a bicycle. Her favorite food is stir-fried noodles. For the last year, Rachana's parents noticed a bump on the back of her head, which has grown in size. The mass has been diagnosed as a granuloma, a non-cancerous tumor. She experiences discomfort, and her parents are worried the mass will continue to grow in size. Rachana traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 2nd, surgeons at our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) will remove the mass. Rachana needs help raising $273 to fund this procedure. Her mother shared, "We hope after surgery our daughter won't be scared anymore and she can start school."

Vitou shared, "I hope I can open my eye more and feel better at school and be able to do my schoolwork more easily." Vitou lives in Phnom Penh with her parents and two siblings, ages 12 and 5. Her father is a rice farmer, and her mom stays home to help care for the children and extended family members. Vitou's favorite subject is Cambodian Studies, and she hopes to attend university one day to get a teaching degree. Vitou was born with Neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along your nerves. The tumors are usually non-cancerous but may cause a range of symptoms. For Vitou, she has difficulty seeing clearly and is embarrassed at school. Her family traveled to Children's Surgical Center (CSC) for consultation. In November, surgeons at CSC will perform a lateral canthopexy (correction of the eyelid) and partial removal of the tumor. After surgery, Vitou's vision will improve and she can keep going after her dreams!