Ngoitumet is a 6-year-old boy and the last born in a family of three children. Despite his legs condition and his difficulty with walking, Ngoitumet is a friendly and jovial boy. If not for his health condition, he would be running around enjoying his playtime and be more involved in daily home activities. Ngoitmet’s father is elderly with no source of income. He was not able to bring Ngoitumet to the hospital and had to be helped by a neighbor. Ngoitumet's family depends on livestock keeping and the milk they get from their cattle to make ends meet. Ngoitumet was diagnosed with "windswept" knees, a condition that started when he was two years old when his father noticed his left leg was slightly curving outward. His father couldn’t take him to the hospital for treatment due to financial challenges, so his left leg kept worsening, and the right leg also began curving inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Due to his condition, Ngoitumet has not had a chance to join school yet. He is no longer able to take part in daily home activities, like grazing their father’s cattle. Ngoitumet undergoes a lot of pain when he walks over a long distance. Through their church and the outreach program at Plaster House, Ngoitumet's family was referred to seek treatment. He has been scheduled for surgery to help correct both of his legs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Ngoitumet. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 20th. Treatment will hopefully restore Ngoitumet's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Ngoitumet’s neighbour shared, "Please help this boy as he is having a hard time standing and walking and his parents do not have money to seek treatment for him."

Vanansio is a 24-year-old, hardworking man from Western Uganda. He is intellectually disabled and under the care of his sister. Vanansio's sister is a farmer, and supplements her income with casual labor on other people's farms to make a living. For two years, Vanansio has been experiencing swelling in his groin. Over the past six months, the swelling has become very painful, especially when he does strenuous activities. At our medical partner's care center, Vanansio was examined and diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. Surgery was recommended, and successful treatment will reduce the chances of further complications including strangulated hernia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $230 to fund Vanansio's surgery. Fortunately, on April 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at AMH's care center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Vanansio's sister shared, “he enjoys grazing the goats, but due to the condition, he has stopped. With successful surgery, we hope he will go back to grazing.”

Kembibe is a farmer and a 61-year-old widow from Uganda. Kembibe is a mother of seven children, including six girls and one boy. All of her children are in the informal workforce with limited income, and she relies on a banana and coffee plantation to make ends meet. For the past eight years, she has been experiencing uncomfortable symptoms and discomfort in a sensitive area. She went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a cystocele. It is recommended that she have a colporrhaphy procedure to correct her condition. Fortunately, on February 16th, Kembibe will undergo surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $220 to cover the cost of the procedure. Kembibe shared, “I hope to be healed once I undergo my surgery. That is my only hope of pain relief. I will then be able to continue with farming.”

Alexa is a two-year-old girl that the only child in her family. Her mother is a housewife who has dedicated her time to raising her and taking care of their home and family. Her father is a casual laborer. The family lives in their three room ancestral home. Alexa was born with a facial condition that required medical and surgical attention. The reconstruction procedure she underwent exhausted the savings that her parents had and she is now prone to infections. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Alexa receive treatment. On March 31st, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to prevent further infection and help her heal. Now, Alexa needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Alexa’s mother shared, “Alexa is usually cheerful, but now she is dull and in pain. The infection is clearly making her uncomfortable and she needs this surgery. Sadly, we are unable to raise the required amount."

Patience is a 33 year-old mother from Uganda. She is married and has two children studying in the second and third grade. Patience holds a degree in environmental science but was unable to get a job of her qualification, so she now operates a small scale retail shop together with her husband. Patience came to the hospital with severe pain within the right lumbar region for the past three months. Her pain is associated with a backache and she always feels like she has a full abdomen. Patience also experiences pain before and after eating. These problems are complicated by the fact that she is 24 weeks into her pregnancy, and she experiences pregnancy-related complications like persistent vomiting. Nowadays, Patience is unable to bend over or do any heavy-duty house chores. This has hindered her quality of health and, if she is not treated, this may also affect the development of her pregnancy. Doctors diagnosed Patience with an ovarian cyst, which will need to be removed. However, she is unable to afford the cost of her care. Patience's mother-in-law recently passed, and associated costs have impacted the little money their family had. Patience appeals for financial support. Patience will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo an ovarian cystectomy on February 2nd. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $220 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will hopefully be free of pain and will be able to proceed with a safe pregnancy. Patience shared, “Please save my life because my health condition is worsening as days go by. I am really worried about my health and pregnancy and hope that once I have this surgery, I will be able to continue with my shop to sustain my family.”

Cha Sak is a 33-year-old mother who currently works in restaurant service. Cha Sak lives with her parents and her 5-year-old son. In her spare time, she likes to watch Khmer movies on the TV. Five years ago, Cha Sak developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her tearing and irritation in her eyes. 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. As a result, Cha Sak has difficulty seeing things clearly, working, and going places on her own. When Cha Sak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping to finally have her eye treated. Cha Sak 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. Her procedure is scheduled for February 16th. Cha Sak shared, "I hope after surgery my eye feels more comfortable, and that the irritation and tearing will disappear. I want to go back to work to support my son's studies."

Solita is a 3-year-old from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family. Her mother is a factory worker, while her father repairs motors. Solita likes to play with toys and watch cartoons on TV. Overall, Solita is in good health, but has some problems with her left hand. Two years ago, she was burned by fire on her left fingers. After the accident, her family took her to a provincial hospital, where she was treated with medicine and dressings for 10 days. Unfortunately, burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around the finger. It is difficult for her to use her hand, and she cannot carry or hold anything. When Solita's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled there hoping for treatment. On February 3rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her use her fingers easily again. Now, she needs help to fund this $477 procedure. Her parents shared, "We hope our daughter's fingers will be better and the procedure will improve her ability to do daily activities."

Tumwesigire is small-scale farmer and mother of six, largely raising her children on her own. Her oldest child is 30-years-old and her youngest child is now fifteen and in primary school class six. She managed to construct a two-roomed house to live in along with her children. For the last 10 years, Tumwesigire has been experiencing lower abdominal pains and chronic pelvic pain. She has been diagnosed with endometriosis. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus, in order to relieve her of these pains. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $228 to fund Tumwesigire's surgery. On March 6th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Tumwesigire will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and her quality of life will improve. Tumwesigire shared, “I pray that I may be considered for surgery. I plan to start a simple business of selling fresh tomatoes to be able to earn a living and take good care of myself.”

Rukandema is a 78-year-old shopkeeper from Uganda. He is a father of seven. Currently, he operates a small retail shop to earn a living for his family. Rukandema is also trained in bricklaying, but has since stopped this job due to his age. His wife works on a farm to help make ends meet. For the last two years, Rukandema has experienced a painful swell on his inguinal area. He initially felt abdominal pains and visited a local health center, where he received pain medications as treatment. However, the pain persisted, so his son-in-law took him to Rushoroza Hospital in February for review. There, Rukandema was diagnosed with inguinal hernia, a condition in which tissue protrudes through a weak spot of the abdominal walls. Without treatment, he will be at risk of hernia strangulation and persistent and severe pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $170 to fund Rukandema's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Rukandema shared, “I pray that I may get well through surgery. I look forward to resuming my usual duties of running my shop to be able to support my family comfortably.”

Gilbert is a hard working 48-year-old man from Kiambu, on the outskirts of Nairobi. His family is from both Kenya and Rwanda and he is the second born in a family of four. Gilbert has been working as a labourer at construction sites. He was married but separated with his wife and he is now raising their small child who is in kindergarten with the help of his neighbors. On Monday 25th January, while checking a tank at a construction site, Gilbert slipped and fell. He sustained a closed fracture of the right tibia and was brought to Nazareth Hospital. He needs a fracture repair surgery but his income is not sufficient to meet the cost of the surgery. If not treated Gilbert may have difficulty walking, may not be able to go back to work, and his leg may heal with a deformity. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 8th, Gilbert will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will correct the fracture, allow him walk with ease and free of pain. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “I have no family member around, yet I have to work to support myself and my child. I kindly request for help so that I may be well to take care of my baby,” said Gilbert.

Team is a 60-year-old housekeeper who lives with her eldest daughter who is a garment worker. She has one son, two daughters, and three grandchildren. Her husband passed away from malaria in 1979. She shared that in her free time, she enjoys watching educational programs on TV. Five years ago, Team developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going places outside on her own. When Team learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there with her daughter seeking treatment. On March 23rd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Team shared, "I hope after surgery I can see better so I can recognize my family, return to work, and help my daughter cook at home."

Rim is a widow with one son. She has always farmed, as does her son, though she no longer works in the rice field due to her age. She shared that her husband passed away over 40 years ago. She lives with her son and his family and enjoys listening to the monks preaching on the radio. Two years ago, Rim developed a cataract in her on her left eye eye, causing her photophobia, tearing, and blurred vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Rim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours and half with her son seeking treatment. On February 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her on her left eye eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. She said, "I am hopeful that after surgery I will be able to see well and can go to join ceremonies at the pagoda by myself. I want to help my son to take care of the grandchildren."