Mok is a 61-year-old rice farmer with two sons, three daughters, and many grandchildren. She lives with her husband who is a farmer and her youngest daughter who is a worker at a rubber field. She likes to cook with her daughter and go for walks to the nearby pagoda. One year ago, Mok developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking. When Mok learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On February 21st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Mok said,"I hope to be able to work in the field again and want to play with my grandchildren when I visit them."

Federesi is a 70-year old Ugandan woman who enjoys making and selling mats. She is a mother of 10 children and lost her husband in 1996, leaving her as their sole provider. Federesi works hard to provide for her family and lives in a modest 2-roomed mud-built house. For about six months, Federesi has been experiencing lower abdominal pains and was diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain. She needs to undergo a total hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Due to the condition, Federesi is no longer able to sustain lengthy sitting and has been forced to stop making mats and farming. She was scheduled for surgery at our partner's medical care center, Rushoroza Hospital, but was not able to raise the funds needed and needs assistance. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $319 to fund Federesi's surgery. On February 4th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Federesi will be able to resume her daily activities, free of pain. Federesi says, “I hope to get relief through surgery to be able to live a normal life once again. I'm hoping to resume farming soon.”

Yan is a 60-year-old grandmother who is married with two sons, six daughters, and many grandchildren. Yan worked on a rice plantation for many years, but now she does not work due to her vision. She stays at home and looks after her grandchildren. Yan enjoys listening to the monks preach on the radio. Six years ago, Yan developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her tearing, irritation, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. When Yan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled across the country for seven hours seeking treatment. Yan needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for February 15th. Yan shared, "after surgery I hope my eye gets better so I can go to the rice field and help my husband."

Mitchele is a playful three-year-old girl who hails from Mafuta in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. She is the last born child in a family of five. On January 10th, Mitchele sustained a severe injury to her right upper limb after she fell on the ground while playing with her siblings. Her mother brought to the hospital to seek care. Doctors assessed her injury and conducted an x-ray, which revealed a fracture to her right supracondylar. Because she was in pain and could not move her hand, Mitchele was admitted to the hospital for skin traction to stabilize her fracture and realign the normal position of the bone. She will need a type of fracture repair surgery called an open reduction and external fixation to unite and heal her fracture. However, this procedure is costly for Mitchele and her family. Her mother earns wages from laundry and farm labour in their village, and her father is a boda boda taxi driver to complement her income. Mitchele and her family live in a rented two-roomed iron sheet house. Her family is in need of financial support, and appeals to anyone reading Mitchele's story to help their family raise the amount needed for her treatment. Mitchele will undergo a fracture repair procedure on her upper right arm on January 19th. Once recovered, her quality of life will significantly improve and she will be able to return to playing with her siblings. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $801 to fund this procedure. Mitchele's mother shared, “I hope my daughter gets treated and recovers well so that I can return to working and supporting our family.”

San is a 23-year-old fisherman from Cambodia. San has been married for two years and has a son who is one. His wife is a farmer. In his free time, San enjoys meeting friends, doing house work, taking care of his son, and taking his wife to their local market. San had an accident with a machine on a fishing boat that caused a fracture of his right arm and damaged the nerves. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm and he cannot work. San traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 21st, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. San said, "I hope after surgery I get back full arm function and can work again."

Yee is a 65-year-old grandmother from Thailand. She lives with her daughter, son-in-law, and five grandchildren. Yee is a homemaker and takes care of her youngest grandchildren. Her daughter and her eldest grandson are agricultural day labourers, and her son-in-law works as a carpenter. Yee has abdominal pain that becomes more severe after she eats. She is now longer able to do any household chores due to her condition. Doctors have advised Yee to undergo a cholecystectomy, a procedure where her gallbladder is surgically removed. If left untreated, Yee's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Yee is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on December 28th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Yee's procedure and care. Yee shared, "I am scared to have surgery but I will have to be strong and I hope that my pain will be gone after I receive surgery."

Phearin is a 24-year-old from Cambodia. He has three older brothers who are all married. When he is not working, Phearin enjoys playing football, listening to music, playing games on his phone, and meeting up with his friends in the evening. In August, Phearin was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a clavicle fracture and paralysis of his right arm. His family took him to a private clinic where the fracture was treated. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm and he cannot work. Phearin traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 9th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. Phearin said, "I really hope I can regain use of my arm so I can return to working as soon as possible."

Ngoy is a 28-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two sons and one daughter. When he has free time, his favorite activities include exercising, watching television, listening to the radio, doing housework, and playing games with his children. Three years ago, Ngoy was in a motorcycle accident where he fractured his left leg. He received initial treatment at a local hospital where doctors fit Ngoy with hardware that would help his injuries heal. Now, Ngoy is able to walk again and needs the hardware removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 21st, Ngoy will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This operation will remove the hardware from Ngoy's leg and allow him to feel comfortable again. I hope that the nail in my leg will be removed, and I will feel much better again," he said.

Heang is a 76-year-old mother of six from Cambodia. She is a rice farmer and has one son, five daughters, and twelve grandchildren. When she has free time, she enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Heang developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her tearing and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Heang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 4th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to help my family care for my grandchildren and be able to go outside and visit the pagoda," said Heang.

Nakweatoo is a five-year-old girl from Tanzania. Her father has two wives, the first wife has six children and the second wife, who is a Nakweatoo's mother, now has two children. Nakweatoo’s father is a small businessman selling food items like sugar, cooking oil, tealeaves, etc. in his small shop. Nakweatoo’s mother is a small-scale farmer with one-acre cultivating beans and maize for subsistence. Nakweatoo’s parents’ struggled a lot seeking their daughter’s treatment until they were able to get funding at our hospital three years ago where Nakweatoo received initial treatment for her right leg. Nakweatoo was diagnosed with left genu varus and right genu valgus, where her legs bend at the knee. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she has a difficult time walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Nakweatoo for her left leg. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 25th. Treatment will hopefully restore Nakweatoo's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Nakweatoo's father says, "We have nowhere to go and ask help for our daughter’s treatment. You helped her before, please help her again."

Sokorn is a 65-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one daughter, and enjoys looking after her grandchild and visiting the pagoda in her spare time. One year ago, Sokorn developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sokorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On January 6th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $425 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to see clearly again so I can help take care of my grandchild," Sokorn shared.

Keremensia is a peasant farmer and mother of 7 from Uganda who came to our facility with complaints of bleeding and lower abdominal pains that have persisted for the past one year. Due to the pain, she is not able to attend to her farming work often. She has been diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, which requires urgent surgery before it metastasizes. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. She, however, lacks money for the surgery. Keremensia is a peasant farmer while her husband is a catechist. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $208 to fund Keremensia's surgery. On January 9th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Keremensia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Keremensia says, “I only pray to God that I get a new life after my surgery.”