Meet Kyakwera, a 32-year-old woman from Uganda. Kyakwera is married with six children. Kyakwera has a goiter, an abnormally large swelling of the thyroid gland. The pain from the condition has forced her to stop working, and “today, Kyakwera has severe pain while swallowing saliva or any kind of food. She cannot eat properly,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Goiters are often caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. While usually harmless, if they grow too large, they can impede swallowing, as is the case for Kyakwera. Kyakwera and her husband have a very small income. "She used to work on her garden but no longer has the strength to work due to this condition," her doctor says. Kyakwera and her husband are unable to support their large family and afford the treatment that Kyakwera needs. $170 can fund a thyroidectomy to remove her thyroid gland. “After the surgery, Kyakwera will stop having the severe pain and she will be able to eat," AMHF explains. "Kyakwera will be able to work and take care of her children." Kyakwera shares, “I am hoping to go back home without any pain.”

Four-month-old Bijaya "was crawling around on the roof when he leaned over and fell down, fracturing his left leg. The area of injury has swollen considerably and he has been in a lot of pain,” shares our medical partner, Possible Bijaya's mother looks after the family and tends to the farm, while his father works as a construction worker in India. In the area of Nepal where Possible works, getting proper care outside of a hospital is difficult for patients with fractures. In these areas, there are not enough people or equipment to provide immediate first aid. For $224, we can fund a treatment to heal Bijaya’s fracture. The treatment will ensure that Bijaya’s bones are aligned correctly, and a plaster cast will allow the fracture to heal properly. Within a month’s time, he will be able to do all the activities he was doing before. The success rates for this treatment are nearly 100%. Let’s help Bijaya get back to good health and fund this treatment. "My son keeps crying out of pain. It is very difficult to see him in this condition," shares Bijaya's mother.

Savy is a 48-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. “Savy is married with a son and granddaughter. She likes to watch Thai dramas when she isn’t working," our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), shares. She has had painful pterygiums for three years. "They give her constant burning sensations and tearing from her eye,” adds CSC. Ptergyiums are corneal growths that develop as a result of prolonged sun exposure. They also cause blurred vision and make it difficult for Savy to spend time outdoors and go to work. $150 will fund the procedure Savy needs to treat the pterygiums. The surgery will remove the conjunctiva from Savy's cornea that is causing her pain and will replace it with a graft which will restore her vision. After this procedure, Savy’s vision will be restored and she will be free of pain and discomfort.

This is Sreng, a 70-year-old woman from Cambodia. Sreng has a hypermature cataract in her left eye. This means that the lens of her eye has become very clouded, obstructing her vision. "Sreng's cataracts in her eye worry her greatly because she has no children to help take care of her and her vision is very bad. She can't go to the pagoda or anywhere and she feels very bored and lonely," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Cataracts are treated in a simple procedure. Doctors surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial lens that is clear and will allow the patient to see clearly. The entire process takes only 45 minutes to on hour to complete, and patients typically only need 1-2 days to heal after the surgery before they experience clear vision again. For $150, Sreng will receive surgery to restore her eyesight. Funds will cover surgical costs, medicine, and her two-day hospital stay. Sreng is looking forward to having the surgery completed so that she can have her independence back and once again do things she enjoys, like going to the pagoda.

Meet Anayely, a 15-month-old girl from Guatemala. Anayely "likes ducks and toys that make noise," shares our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "She has a stuffed lamb. Her favorite fruit is papausa, a fruit found in Central America that tastes similar to a mango." Anayely is acutely malnourished. “Her mother is worried because she can see that he is hitting developmental milestones later than her peers and is not growing well. Acute malnutrition can be lethal. The combination of insufficient intake due to lack of access and availability of food and excessive output due to parasitic disease or bacterial infection can lead to extreme dehydration, a destroyed immune system, and death,” says WK. They continue, “the long-term effects of acute malnutrition can be devastating as well; decreased ability to learn and succeed in school, a weakened immune system thus increasing susceptibility to other illness and diseases, increased risk of complication during pregnancy and chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension, and eventually decreased economic productivity and having children whom also suffer from malnutrition.” For $535, we can fund a multifaceted treatment for Anayely. “This treatment will supply Anayely with the growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to recoup some of the weight and height she has lost, and increase her overall caloric intake," WK says. They continue, "Her parents will receive intensive nutrition education thus building their confidence and ability to care for Anayely throughout her childhood. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Anayely the chance to live a healthy productive life.” Anayely's mother says, “I hope she will be able to study as much as she wants, so that she can decide and achieve her own dream.” Let's help Anayely get on the right track and fund this treatment!

Say hi to Claudia. She is one-year-old, and lives in Guatemala with her family. She is the only girl amongst her siblings, as she has four older brothers. Claudia is malnourished. Recently, this has triggered a series of illnesses, which have affected her development and caused respiratory infections and weight loss. Her mom told our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, that all she wants is for her daughter to “grow up healthy” and “start to develop well.” Claudia’s mother is doing her best to make ends meet, but even so, on some days Claudia’s whole family goes hungry. Her mom cannot afford any medical expenses, and if Claudia doesn’t seek help soon, her health issues could persist and ultimately pose very serious threats to her growth and overall health. Let’s work together to raise the $535 needed to treat Claudia. It might just give her a chance to grow into a happy and healthy child.

Say hello to Piseth, a 22-year-old student from Cambodia! According to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), “Piseth is in his second year at university. In his free time, he really likes playing soccer with his friends." Unfortunately, “Piseth has had chronic discharge in his right ear for the last twelve years, and reduced hearing in the same year. His studies are disrupted because of the discomfort,” explains CSC. If this chronic ear infection is left untreated, Piseth will continue to have discomfort in his ear affect his studies and well-being. For $400, Piseth will receive the necessary surgery to repair damaged tissue in his ear, preventing future discharge and possibly restoring his hearing. Let’s help Piseth live pain-free again!

"Phors has very blurry vision due to cataracts in both eyes," Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) tells us of this 50-year-old woman from Cambodia. "She can't see anything well and doesn't go outside for safety reasons." $150 will cover the cost of surgery to remove the cataracts and restore Phors' vision. "Phors has four children," CSC continues. "After surgery, she wants to visit friends in far away provinces and keep her house clean." With our help, Phors can be off traveling in no time. Let's fund her care and help her see clearly again!

Roeun lives in Cambodia. She is 52 years old, and is a mother of two. She works in a garment factory. “Since she was a child Roeun has had hearing loss, chronic ear infections, and discharge from her right ear,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, describes. “People have to speak very loudly for her to hear them, and she has ear pain every day.” Roeun has been diagnosed with chronic otitis media, a condition which can result in permanent hearing loss, but she doesn't earn enough to afford treatment. Let’s work together to raise $220 for a myringoplasty, which will stop the discharge from her ear and greatly reduce her pain.