Tumushabe is a 62-year-old mother of seven children. She lives in Uganda where she works as a peasant farmer and often walks up to 2 kilometers at a time to fetch water. Her husband has alcoholism and cannot work to support the family. Tumushabe has an enlarged thyroid, causing her to have severe pain, palpitations, and difficulty eating. “Tumushabe’s condition started in 2000,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “She developed a painless swelling on her neck. She sought medical help from a local herbalist, which did not help.” “Tumushabe’s condition got worse this past August when she developed severe pain and palpitations around her neck,” AMHF continues. “This makes Tumushabe unable to eat sometimes and she gets a fever at night. This has left Tumushabe unproductive, as her main economic activity is farming. She can no longer carry heavy items, like firewood, and her children have to help her with the household chores.” $170 will fund Tumushabe’s thyroidectomy, which will remove the enlarged thyroid and allow her to recover fully. She will be able to look after her family. However, if Tumushabe goes without treatment, the pain and palpitations will continue. “I can’t wait to be well again,” shares Tumushabe. “I have been going through a hard time.”

Turyamusiima, a 31-year-old woman living in Uganda with her husband and child, is 39 weeks pregnant. She and her husband work as peasant farmers and have just enough income to sustain their small family. “In 2009, Turyamusiima suffered from multiple uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains. “Her surgery left her with a scar and enough hospital bills that she and her husband had to sell the biggest part of their land. They survived by working on people’s farms.” “When she recently went to the hospital, she was informed that she would need a C-section,” AMHF continues. “She has been in a state of confusion, wondering how she will finance a safe delivery.” $160 covers the cost of Turyamusiima’s C-section, which will prevent uterine rupture during delivery. “My wish is to have a live baby and I hope that after the surgery, all will be fine,” Turyamusiima shares.

76-year-old Nam is married with seven daughters and 18 grandchildren. “She spends her free time doing house work, visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray, and meditating,” shares our medical partner in Cambodia, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Nam developed a cataract in each eye three years ago. This causes her blurred vision, irritation, tearing, and burning,” explains CSC. Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. This can ultimately result in total blindness, and is especially common in regions near the equator due to high ultraviolet light exposure. “I cannot see clearly and go outside by myself or do any work,” Nam says. For $225, we can fund surgery to cure Nam’s cataracts. In each eye, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial lens. Surgery will fully restore Nam's vision.