Duo – A Journey to Overcome Nephrotic Syndrome

Age: 9 years old

Chugedo, a 9‑year‑old boy from Myanmar living near the Thailand–Myanmar border, has suffered from chronic constipation since birth, passing stool only every 4–5 days with pain and occasional soiling that causes social stigma. In August 2026, a Be Well Child Care Foundation clinic identified a large abdominal mass, later confirmed by CT at Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin as severe faecal impaction, with Hirschsprung disease suspected. Confirmation of diagnosis is needed. He now requires specialist tests — anorectal manometry or colonoscopy with rectal biopsy — costing about 200,000 THB before surgery can be planned. With support, Chugedo has the chance to move from pain and embarrassment toward a normal, healthy childhood.

Soso is a 9‑year‑old boy living along the Thailand–Myanmar border who suffered a traumatic left eye injury in 2021 when struck by a rock; surgery was advised but never carried out due to cost, lack of legal status, and family hardship, leaving him blind in that eye for two years. In August 2026, he was examined at a Be Well Child Care Foundation free clinic, where doctors found he still has light perception — a hopeful sign that vision may be restored. Subsequent evaluation confirmed partial corneal damage and a ruptured lens, and he is now scheduled for a retina specialist assessment on 25 September 2026 at Wat Reiking Eye Specialty Hospital. His treatment may involve a corneal transplant, lens replacement, and retina repair, with costs estimated at 150,000 THB. With support, Soso has a real chance to regain sight, confidence, and opportunity, making this case a powerful example of how timely compassion can transform a child’s future.

Age: 4 years old

A 4-year-old Fern’s story is one of resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Born in the Karen ethnic territory of Myanmar in January 2022, she entered a world marked by conflict and scarce healthcare. From infancy, her parents noticed her lips and nails turning purple, her energy fading quickly, and her inability to keep up with other children—early signs of a serious heart condition. With no resources, no knowledge and no legal status in Thailand, her family could not access proper care, and her fainting episodes became part of her fragile childhood. At age four, Fern was finally diagnosed at the Children’s Hospital in Bangkok with Tetralogy of Fallot, a life-threatening congenital heart defect. Stateless and uninsured, she now lives at Bilay House Orphanage in Ratchaburi, awaiting urgent surgery that could transform her future. Her journey reflects the vulnerability of children born into poverty and displacement, and the hope that collective compassion and support can give her a chance at a healthy, normal childhood.