Linn is a 29-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his siblings and works at a store with his younger brother. In his leisure time, Linn enjoys expanding his knowledge through internet-based learning. Linn has been experiencing persistent back and chest pain, affecting his ability to perform daily tasks. After an ultrasound and x-ray, doctors diagnosed him with large renal stones and recommended the need for surgery. For the doctors to formulate an appropriate treatment plan, they want Linn to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which X-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. Our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $469 to cover the cost of Linn's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 4th. Lin said, "I am grateful for the opportunity to receive support from BCMF. Without their assistance and the generosity of donors, I would be unable to afford the necessary treatment."

Edina, a 41-year-old mother of seven, works as a vegetable seller, earning about $2.97 per day for her family's upkeep. She finds joy interacting with her customers and has a fondness for chicken and nsima, a Malawian staple porridge made from maize flour. Four years ago, Edina discovered a small, painless swelling on the right side of her neck. After seeking medical advice at a nearby hospital, she was diagnosed with goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She was instructed to wait for an opportunity for surgery, but her condition has worsened, causing breathlessness, neck pain, and difficulty lifting heavy objects. This has affected her work capacity and resulted in a decrease in income. Inspired by a fellow community member's journey to seek help, Edina visited our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre, where a surgeon reconfirmed the need for a thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Faced with financial hardships, Edina is seeking support for her surgery treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edina receive treatment. On March 20th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to relieve her symptoms and help her resume her vegetable business at full capacity. Now, Edina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Edina says, “I feel so fortunate to get the opportunity for support. Thank you so much, I believe surgery will help me get back to normal life."

Mpapa is a 61-year-old man from a village in Malawi. He has four married children and lives with his wife and grandchildren. When he was young, Mpapa needed to stop attending primary school making it hard for him to secure a job. He depends on farming where he grows maize and groundnuts for his family and for commercial purposes to support their day-to-day costs. Mpapa was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and scheduled for surgery with our medical partner at Nkhoma Hospital. However, he cannot afford the entire cost of the surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the balance payment for his surgery. Mpapa says, “I hope to receive treatment and resume life without this condition.”