Michael Angelo is an active, playful two-year-old boy from the Philippines. His mother shared that Michael Angelo loves watching nursery videos on the phone and has shown interest in books at home. His father earns a minimum wage working as a sprinter delivery driver, while his mother is a homemaker. In February 2024, Michael Angelo had pneumonia. The attending physician had a suspicion about the child's medical condition, but to confirm, they were directed to a pediatric surgeon. Michael Angelo was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and a further diagnosis of bilateral undescended testes was made. His mother was advised that Michael Angelo would need to undergo orchidopexy procedure to move the undescended testes into the scrotum. This would reduce the risks of infertility and development of cancer. Michael Angelo's condition has already placed financial constraints on his family due to ongoing treatment, lab works and prescribed medications of the new diagnosis. It has also taken an emotional toll on his mother, who wishes that she would be the one experiencing the illness on behalf of her baby. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Michael Angelo receive treatment. On May 9th, surgeons at Our Lady of Peace Hospital will perform an orchidopexy procedure, to relocate the testes and improve his quality of life. A portion of the cost of Michael Angelo's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, but his family still needs help raising $1,212 to fund the procedure. Michael Angelo's mother says: "Despite having an income, we came to a point of financial breakdown when illness struck our baby. There are so many challenges, we prayed every day that someone would come and help us, especially since we do not receive so much help from our families and relatives. We were surprised to receive support from people that did not know us, it was very unexpected. We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who have come to our aid."

Sok Neng, who is 18 years old, lives with his parents near the Vietnamese border. His parents have been spice sellers in the local market for several years. Sok Neng enjoys growing fruits and vegetables around his home, while also working at the market stall with his parents. In August 2023, Sok Neng was in a motorbike accident on a dark road, and broke his right femur. He traveled for three and a half hours to a major hospital in the capital city of Phnom Penh for treatment, but due to a lack of funds, he left after the doctors said that he needed surgery. Since then, Sok Neng has been receiving treatment from a traditional healer in the village. Unfortunately, the fracture has not healed, and he lives in chronic pain, unable to walk or to work. Sok Neng once again traveled three and a half hours to Phnom Penh to seek help, after a referral from another doctor. On February 7th, he will undergo an osteotomy and a bone plate procedure on his right femur, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is seeking $469 to fund this surgery, which will align the bone in Sok Neng's leg, enabling him to finally walk again. Sok Neng shared: "I hope I can walk on my own and go back to work to help my family."

Khin is a 48-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband and their four daughters in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. Khin is a homemaker and her husband works as an agricultural day labourer. Since 2018, Khin has been experiencing troubling symptoms including difficulty breathing and swallowing, stiffness in her neck, and fatigue. In addition, her voice turns hoarse when she speaks for extended periods. Khin was diagnosed with goiter or the irregular growth of the thyroid. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Khin receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 7th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Khin said “I have had stress and depression since I learned I needed surgery because I cannot afford to pay for my treatment. I worried I would not be able to support my daughters. Currently, we only have my husband's income to support the family and that is not enough to cover the costs of the surgery."