Him is a 40-year-old woman who used to work in the market near her home. She is married to a rice farmer and has two sons and one daughter. Her sons are 15 and 12 years old, her daughter is 6 years old. Him enjoys cooking for her family, walking her daughter to and from school, and watching Khmer movies. She was a clothes seller at the market, but stopped after her injury. Last August, Him was in a traffic accident and fractured the bone in her right upper arm. She went to a government hospital for surgery to repair the bone. She left soon after the operation because they couldn't afford the cost to stay, even though her fracture had not yet healed well. Now she has an open wound, feels poorly, and cannot use her arm. A neighbor suggested Him visit Children's Surgical Centre for further treatment. She and her family traveled two hours to the hospital, where surgeons diagnosed a Volkmann contracture, which occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the forearm. There is increased pressure due to swelling, a condition called compartment syndrome. Surgeons have determined they are not able to save her arm and plan to do an above-the-elbow amputation. The total cost of his procedure is $446, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. The procedure is scheduled for March 10th and Him needs help to pay for this procedure. Him shared, "I hope after surgery I won't have pain or infection anymore. This treatment will help me in the future to work to support my family."

Kananura is a 73-year-old man. He lost his wife last year and since then, his closest family has been his five children and his grandchildren. He is a farmer with a coffee and banana plantation. He also rears cows and enjoys milking them. However, the farm output is only able to sustain his day to day needs. Since some months ago, Kananura has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. The swell started off small but has over time increased and is very uncomfortable. He is not able to milk his cows with ease nor walk freely. He came to Nyakibale Hospital, where he was diagnosed. Kananura needs surgery but is not able to raise the funds needed and so appeals for help. Fortunately, on September 22nd, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $146 to fund Kananura's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Kananura says, “I hope to get relieved from pain after surgery. I will continue taking care of my family and enjoy company with my grandchildren who I live with.”

Plork is an 18-year-old ice driver from Cambodia. He has 7 siblings - 3 brothers and 4 sisters. Plork is the youngest in the family. He lives with his parents who are farmers. In December 2020, Plork was electrocuted in an electrical accident, which burned his hand. Electrical burns occur most commonly on the hands and feet. His family took him to a provincial hospital for wound care, and he spent 3 days in the hospital. When Plork returned home, his right hand got infected and did not heal. He went and had a surgical debridement of the dead skin, which healed well. Now, however, Plork cannot use this hand and is constantly in pain. He is feeling very unwell and describes his health as poor. When Plork learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On February 5th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft to help his hand to heal properly so that he can use his hand again. Now, he needs help to fund this $787 procedure. Plork shared, "After surgery, I hope my right hand will be get better and have no more pain and wound infection. I hope I can return to work soon and support my family again."

Godwin is a toddler from Kenya. His single mother of two children is employed casually as a retail shop attendant. Godwin and his elder brother are both enrolled in learning institutions and doing well. Her daily average pay is $2, which can barely sustain their basic needs. Godwin was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Godwin is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 3rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I want to be an engineer in future,” says Godwin

Sokny is a 21-year-old administrator from Cambodia. She is the youngest of four siblings, and in her free time she likes to read books and listen to music. Two years ago, Sokny had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Sokny experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, and itchiness. She is unable to hear and communicate with others clearly, causing difficulty at work. Sokny traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 12th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. "I hope that my hearing will improve and the infection will heal," she shared.

Heang is a 21-year-old air condition repairman from Cambodia. He is the youngest of four siblings, and enjoys listening to music in his free time. Heang has strabismus in his right eye. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. It is difficult for Heang to see straight and he often cannot see clearly. Heang traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 9, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align his eyes. Now, Heang needs help to raise $292 to fund this procedure. He says, "I hope that my surgery will be successful so I can see clearly and return to my work."

Akatwijuka is a young student from Uganda. He is the top of his class and likes to study. Akatwijuka has one sibling. His mother is a small-scale farmer. For one years, Akatwijuka has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. He often cries due to pain and discomfort caused by the hydrocele. If not treated, this may affect this performance in school. Fortunately, on May 11, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $139 to fund Akatwijuka's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Akatwijuka’s mother says, “I hope my son will get better quality of life after surgery and I continue with cultivation to earn a living."

Franceska is a 15-year-old young woman who lives with her older brother and mother in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She is in eight grade, and her favorite subject is physics because she finds it easy to understand. In the future, Franceska would like to become a pediatrician. She loves kids and would love to work with them and take care of people. In October of 2016, Franceska noticed a small mass in her right breast that was causing her discomfort. A few weeks later, she went to the hospital and had a mammogram. Because Franceska is so young, her aunt did not agree with having the mass removed. In the meantime, the mass continued to increase in size and itch. If left untreated, the mass could develop malignancy and cause extensive harm. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is requesting $1,085 to cover the cost of having the tumor removed from Franceska's breast. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 29 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Franceska to return to the activities that she greatly enjoys.

Baluku is a 46 years old married man from Uganda. He had two children but, unfortunately, both of them passed on due to malaria. Baluku is a fisherman, but usually doesn’t catch enough fish to sell because the lake is small and the fishermen are many. He would like to be a farmer, but he doesn’t have a piece of land. Baluku developed a painful swelling that is on and off in his inguinal (groin) area three months ago. He feels pain in that area, which sometimes spreads to his back as well. Due to the pain, he is unable to lift heavy objects. This worries him because his work involves lifting items. Baluku had never reported his condition to any hospital because of lack of money. If not treated, the inguinal hernia (part of the intestine protrudes the inner groin) could become stuck, leading to damage to the intestine or even the stomach. $249 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Baluku needs. After surgery he hopes to look for a job or at least work as a casual laborer so that he can get money to support himself and his wife.

Dorothy is a 31-year-old trained secretary who was working in a law firm in the Middle East until January 2016 when she felt a lump on her breast. Dorothy moved home to Kenya to live with her retired parents and receive treatment. Dorothy returned to Kenya because she was not able to access medical care in the Middle East. Dorothy stopped working to return home and have a mammogram and biopsy done. These procedures revealed that she had cancer of the right breast; she was recommended a mastectomy. Dorothy suffers psychological distress due to the thought of having cancer. If not treated, the cancer metastasize and could result into pre-mature death. Dorothy is not able to meet the full cost needed to access medical care, but with $740 she will receive the mastectomy she needs to remove the cancerous cells. “I want to be treated and engage in cancer awareness and continue working," Dorothy shares.