Norah is a 34-year-old mother from Uganda. She lives with her husband and their two young children, ages two and six. She and her husband operate a small-scale retail business, working hand in hand to provide for their children. During her free time, Norah enjoys spending time with her family. Norah is expecting her third child. She has been receiving antenatal care at a regional hospital near her village, which referred her to our partner's medical care center, Rushoroza Hospital. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Norah undergo a C-Section on December 23rd. This procedure will cost $214, and Norah needs your support. Norah says, "I really appeal for help because my financial situation is too low for me to stand on my own. I have a lot of hope that if I get a chance to be helped, I will undergo a successful surgery that has been recommended, and it will have a good outcome."

Victoria is nine years old and the youngest of three children from Malawi. Her mother is a farmer and has a small business selling potatoes. At birth, Victoria was diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia. She experiences painful swelling episodes that affect her sleep and ability to attend school. Victoria's mother thought the swelling would go away and heal on its own. Unfortunately, it has gotten worse over time. Victoria needs surgery to address her symptoms and allow her to live more comfortably. On December 9th, Victoria will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $667 to fund her procedure and care. Victoria’s mother is hopeful that the surgery will transform her daughter’s life, allowing her to return to school, concentrate on her studies, and enable the mother to carry out her daily work and business to support the family. Victoria's mother said, "I wish my child could get better to give me a chance to concentrate on my business and farm work as she concentrates on her education."

Alineti is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. She is 62 years old and lives alone as her seven children are all grown and married. Though they help her when they can, most days she depends on herself, farming a small piece of land to get by. Thirty-nine years ago, Alineti began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck. It started small when she was in her early twenties, and it didn’t cause too much trouble for many years. However, as time passed, especially from the early 2000s, the swelling became larger and more challenging to manage. In recent years, the goiter has made even the simplest tasks hard. She can no longer bend down to farm properly and often struggles to breathe, especially at night. For a long time, people thought she might have asthma. She didn’t get much medical help, not because she didn’t want it, but because getting proper care in her area wasn’t easy. Fortunately, a few weeks ago, our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, organized a surgical camp near her. She was finally seen by a doctor who diagnosed her with a right goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, located in the front of your neck, produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for various bodily functions, including metabolism and growth. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Alineti receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 3rd. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $491, and she and her family need assistance in raising the funds. Alineti said, "It’s hard for me to breathe, and I can’t do the work I used to. If I can get this operation, I believe I’ll feel better, and I’ll be able to take care of myself again.”