Angelina is a 78-year-old widow from the Philippines. She currently lives with her children and their families in a single household, which makes their financial resources limited to cover basic living expenses. Despite her age, Angelina remains active in her home and believes in the importance of self-care through healthy eating and habits. She takes pleasure in doing household chores and cares for her grandchildren while her children are at work. Angelina has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. She needs to undergo a mastectomy, surgery to remove breast tissue, to remove the breast cancer from her body and prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Angelina's family has been deeply affected by her diagnosis, both emotionally and financially, and are worried about how to fund her operation. In hopes of receiving help, Angelina contacted our medical partner's hospital to request assistance for her surgery. Despite the challenges she has faced, Angelina remains optimistic and resilient. Her story highlights the challenges faced by many older women in the Philippines who continue to support their families while battling serious health conditions. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), can help Angelina receive treatment. On June 28th, she will undergo a mastectomy that will hopefully allow her to return to a cancer-free life after treatment.  The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of her treatment, and WSFP is raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. Angelina said, "I am hopeful and thankful for the good hearts that will help me through these challenging times so I can recover and return to my normal life."

Jane is 57 years old and a farmer from Malawi. She is a widow who lives with her son, a journalist, and a grandchild from her son who had passed away. Jane is a retired teacher who now farms to support her family. She likes chatting with her son and grandchild and enjoys eating rice with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. In 2019, Jane noticed a small lump on her right breast. She went to a hospital where she was prescribed painkillers. As the lump did not resolve on its own, she went back and was told she needed a biopsy. However, Jane could not afford it. The lump grew bigger, causing discomfort and pain. A few months ago, Jane started experiencing itchiness and pain around the affected breast, interfering with her daily activities. Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent several cycles of chemotherapy. She was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she was told she needed a mastectomy, a surgery to remove the breast tissue to prevent the cancer from spreading from other parts of her body. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,194 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Jane. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 18th and will hopefully, remove the cancer from her body. Jane says, "I wish to get better for me to fully resume my farm work in order to boost my income for upkeep and to continue supporting my child and grandchild as I am the only parent left."