Two-year-old Jimmy is the last born child in a family of five children from Lilongwe District in Malawi. Jimmy's parents are small-scale farmers, growing maize for consumption and income for the family. Jimmy has for some time been experiencing on-and-off pain and swelling on the left side of his inguinal region. Worried, his mother brought him to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. Jimmy was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia, and surgery was recommended. However, his mother expressed that the family would not be able to afford the cost of surgery. If left untreated, Jimmy will continue experiencing pain and the condition might lead to a strangulated hernia, cutting off blood flow, which can be life-threatening. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jimmy receive treatment. On April 10th, surgeons at Nkhoma Hospital will perform a hernia repair surgery to alleviate Jimmy's pain, and prevent any potential risks and complications. Now, Jimmy's family needs help to fund this $421 procedure. Jimmy’s mother says, “It is my wish for my son to receive treatment and get well soon.”

Wishes is a 5-year-old who hails from a village in Lilongwe District. She is the last born in a family of 3 children and is a bright young student in primary school. Wishes’ parents depend on small-scale farming where they grow maize and groundnuts for their family to eat and for commercial purposes to support the family. Since she was born, Wishes has been experiencing a painful abdomen, vomiting, frequent diarrhea, and feeling weak. Her mother has been taking her to Nkhoma Hospital where she was advised to come back to meet a surgeon for assessment. Wishes was diagnosed with a periumbilical hernia, and she was scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. However, her parents cannot afford the surgery although they hope to have their daughter undergo surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Wishes’s life as she feels abdominal pain and cannot go to school when this happens, therefore, affecting her school performance. If the condition is left untreated, it may lead to strangulation which can be life-threatening. Wishes is scheduled for hernia repair surgery on February 13th. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $421 to fund surgery. After surgery, Wishes will be relived of pain and she will be able to attend school without any hindrances from the condition. Wishes’ mother says, “Thank you for this opportunity that has brought new hope to my daughter.”

Theam is a 52-year-old mother of two from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal province with her husband, who works in construction, and her two daughters, one of whom is married, and the other who is at school in Grade 11. Theam sells noodles near the local market and also raises chickens so she can sell eggs at the markets. Eleven years ago, Theam was in a motorbike accident and lost consciousness. Since that time, she has suffered from ear infections from a perforated ear drum, and she has regular discharge from her left ear. As a result, Theam experiences ear pain, ringing in the ears, and headaches, including chronic drainage from her ear. It is difficult for her to sleep, and her hearing suffers. Theam traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 15th, she will undergo a procedure to repair the hole in her left ear. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure which will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Theam's husband said: "We really hope for this treatment so Theam will have a healthy ear, stop ear discharge or infection, and can improve hearing as well."