Meet eight-year-old Komuhangi, a third grade student who lives in Uganda with her single mother. She loves flowers, and her favorite subject in school is English. She dreams of one day becoming a nurse so that she can help people. Komuhangi has an umbilical hernia--causing a loop of her intestines to abnormally protrude in her abdomen. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains, "After birth, Komuhangi's umbilical cord took long to heal. The belly button was bigger than normal but her mother thought it was ok." A year ago, Komuhangi began experiencing on and off again abdominal pain. Sometimes the pain was so severe that she was even unable to eat her meals. Komuhangi also developed painless umbilical swelling. Komuhangi’s condition puts her at risk of further health complications. "If not treated, Komuhangi is at a high risk of getting intestinal obstruction." Komuhangi’s mother works as a store assistant at the hospital and "is unable to fund her daughter's surgery because her salary is their sole source of income and it cannot cover all their needs." For $220, doctors will perform surgery to treat her umbilical hernia. This operation will reposition the displaced loop of Komuhangi's intestine and repair the damaged section of her abdominal wall. By closing off the site of the defect, Komuhangi will be pain-free and without risk of obstruction. AMHF states that after her recovery, “Komuhangi will be able to concentrate on her studies and hopefully achieve her dreams." "Thank you for the help," Komuhangi says. "I wish I could see you and give you flowers."

“I am unable to sell at my shop and even to cook for the child who is at home,” says Margaret, a 46-year-old shopkeeper from Kenya is who raising two children on her own. “Margaret is experiencing heavy menses, excessive bleeding, and pain,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. Margaret has been experiencing this for about five years, but noticed increased bleeding last month which has not stopped. "Margaret received a pelvic scan, which confirmed she has multiple fibroids." Fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the muscle tissue of the uterus and are very common. They can be very small (invisible to the naked eye) or very large (melon-sized) and can be a single mass or a cluster of masses. AMHF continues, “If not treated, Margaret will continue to bleed, which may lead to anemia. The fibroids will also continue to grow, affecting surrounding organs.” Doctors recommend that Margaret have a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix. Margaret’s income from her shop is not enough to support her family and pay for the surgery that she needs. $790 covers the cost of surgery, medicine, and a five-day hospital stay. “Margaret will be free from the pain, bleeding, and risk of anemia," AMHF expects. "She will be strong again to care for her children and improve her business.” “I pray that Watsi will come to my aid and that my operation will be successful," Margaret shares. "If I get well, I hope to expand my small business.”