Lydia is a 49-year-old woman from Uganda and a proud mom of five. She and her husband practice subsistence farming to provide for their family. Recently, Lydia has been experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, backaches, and other worrisome symptoms. She visited the hospital, where the surgeons determined she need to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Lydia receive the treatment she needs to heal! On February 9th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at AMH's care center. Once recovered, Lydia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. AMH is requesting $219 to fund Lydia's surgery. Lydia says: "My hope is entirely in you, and I implore you to save my life so that I can resume farming to provide for my family."

Obvious is a 12-year-old student from southwestern Uganda. She has one brother and two sisters. She and her siblings are all in school, with Obvious studying in grade four this year. Her parents are peasant farmers, and most of their income pays for their children’s school fees. During her free time, Obvious loves to play and sing with other children. For three months, Obvious has had a supra umbilical hernia that causes her pain, especially when she is walking or playing. She visited our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for review, and the doctors recommended surgery. On December 13th, Obvious will undergo hernia repair surgery that will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. AMH is requesting $230 to fund this procedure. Obvious’s mother says, “My daughter requires surgery, but we do not have money for it. Please help us.”

Chanthol is a 34-year-old vegetable farmer. He lives outside of Phnom Penh and has two sisters and two brothers. He is not yet married and lives with his parents. His father has retired from being a tuk-tuk driver and his mother helps him sell his vegetables at a local market. In his spare time, he likes to play football with his friends. Three years ago, Chanthol had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his right ear to perforate. For this reason, Chanthol experiences ringing in the ear with purulent ear discharge. He has tried medicine from the pharmacy but it has not helped. He cannot hear well anymore, and his family says his ability to communicate has deteriorated. Chanthol traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 14th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chanthol said: "I hope after this operation, I will have no pain, and I will be able to hear better when people talk to me."

Paw is 52-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, two daughters and son-in-law in a refugee camp. She and her husband are homemakers, while her eldest daughter and son-in-law are teachers. Her youngest daughter is a student. She has cataracts and she has blurred vision in both of her eyes. Because of her poor vision, she has difficulty walking around the refugee camp and she has had to stop weaving and selling traditional Karen clothes from her home-region of Burma. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Paw. On December 29th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Paw's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. "I hope that my treatment will be successful. I want to be able to see well. I want to continue weaving clothes in the future, and I want to live with my family for the rest of my life,” she said.

Thy is a 26-year-old factory worker in Phnom Penh. Thy is single and lives with her parents and her two younger sisters. Thy's parents are farmers and her sisters work in offices. In her free time, Thy likes to read books. Two months ago, Thy developed a mass on her left breast that has grown quickly. Although it is painless, the mass worries her. Thy traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 13th surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. CSC is helping Thy fundraise $273 to fund this procedure. Thy shared, "I hope the doctors can remove this and I won't have any more problems."

Ka is a 77-year-old retired rice farmer from Kandal province. He lives with his wife who is also retired from their rice farm. They have no children. He and his wife are supported with food from relatives and neighbors. At home, he loves listening to the monks pray on the radio and joining ceremonies at the pagoda. Two years ago, Ka developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and photophobia. He is no longer able to visit the local pagoda by himself, and he shared that he feels ashamed he cannot go out alone. When Ka learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Ka said: "I hope my vision improves and I can get around easily by myself. I want to be able to help care for my wife and walk to the pagoda by myself."

Thorn is a 46-year-old mother who lives with her husband and her three children. Her oldest daughter is 22 and studies at a university, her second daughter is 18 and is in secondary school, and her youngest daughter is three and does not yet attend school. She and her husband are both rice farmers in Takeo province. Her free time is taken up by cooking for her family and cleaning the house. A month ago, on the way back from the market, she was in a motorbike collision and fractured her right tibial plateau. This is an injury in which she broke her bone and injured the cartilage that covers the top end of the bottom part of her knee. She went to a local hospital where they took and X-ray but did not treat her because she had no money to pay. She is in constant pain and cannot walk. She cannot care for her children, and cannot help her husband in the rice field Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On December 14th, Thorn will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will help her walk again without pain. Thorn said: "I hope after the operation I can ride my motorbike again, have no more pain, and can take care of my family."