Chrissie is a 50-year-old single mother and primary school teacher. She enjoys spending time with her three adult children who live with her. Chrissie has been experiencing abdominal pain, back pain, and other worrying symptoms. After an ultrasound, she was found to have uterine fibroids or abnormal growths that develop in the uterus. Her condition has affected her daily activities and her work as a teacher. Chrissie needs to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy to address the pain, other symptoms, and future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, will perform the surgery at Partners in Hope (PIH) Medical Center on March 2nd. They are requesting $1,363 for the treatment. After the surgery, it is expected that Chrissie will no longer be in pain, enabling her to perform her daily functions and go back to teaching. Chrissie said, “I am very happy to be seen at PIH and hope that the surgery will help me get better.”

Margaret is a shopkeeper and a single mother of three. Her kids are all adults. She used to work at a small shop selling exam papers. However, she has not been able to go to work since December because of her pain. She is currently at home without a source of income and does not have medical coverage. She lives in a three-room house which her family shares with her elderly mother. Margaret has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Margaret. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 23rd. After treatment, Margaret will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Margaret says, “I am currently experiencing a lot of pain. This condition has caused me not to be able to work at all. I need this surgery to stop the disease from spreading.”

Veneranda is an elderly lady who is married and practices small-scale farming together with her husband. She shared that she had ten children but only six are alive. One of her late children left three children whom she is currently taking care of. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Eight months ago, Veneranda began to experience troubling symptoms, including right upper abdominal pains. She visited a nearby health centre and was given medication which only assisted her for a short while. She later reported to Rushoroza Hospital where the doctor ordered some tests including a scan. She was diagnosed with choledochal cystitis and the doctor recommended a cholecystectomy, gallbladder surgery. She is currently unable to work on her small farm to get food for her family and cannot raise the required funds for the surgery. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Veneranda receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove her gallbladder on November 24th at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $284, and Veneranda and her family need your support. Veneranda says, “I am praying for my surgery and being able to return to my farming soon."