Tibafumura is a rural farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of three and shared that she lost her fourth born who was just one-year-old at the time. Her husband passed away fifteen years ago. He left his family a three-room semi-permanent house for shelter. She has managed to pay school fees for her children through farming and selling off some of her domestic animals. All of her three children are married, two of them are primary school teachers while the other one is still searching for a job. She receives minimal financial support since they too have their personal challenges in meeting their families' needs. Tibafumura starting feeling abdominal pains years ago. She visited different clinics and received tablets to relieve her pain. A scan at Rugarama Hospital showed that she had uterine fibroids but could not have the surgery due to lack of financial support from her family. She has now come to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center Rushoroza Hospital to seek medical advice. At Rushoroza, she presented with a history of lower abdominal pains that have become progressively severe and reports to have taken medication without improvement. If her fibroids are not treated, pain could stop her from doing her day to day survival activities and her quality of life would be affected negatively. Tibafumura likes grazing her cows whenever she gets free time but she no longer does this due to her severe pain. She has completely stopped farming since she cannot climb hills or walk long distances to go to the fields. She cannot afford the surgery charges and seeks financial support. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $228 to fund Tibafumura's surgery. On October 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Tibafumura will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and her quality of life will improve. Tibafumura says, “My family cannot afford the surgery charges and I am in a lot of pain. I will resume farming as soon as possible to be able to support and take care of my family.”

Alvin is a baby from Tanzania. He is a charming and very playful little boy and the only child to his young parents. His father is in a different city seeking casual electrical jobs to be able to make a living while his mother stays at home caring for him. Since December 2019, Alvin has had inguinal hernia. This causes him pain making him to cry a lot and often not sleeping at all. Fortunately, on March 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Watsi's medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $539 to fund Alvin's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Alvin’s mother says “We are unable to afford our son’s treatment cost kindly help us and save him from the discomfort and pain he goes through when the swelling appears.”

Sok is a 60-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She is a window with no children, and her husband died during Pol Pot's regime. Sok is currently living with her niece who is also a rice farmer. She enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio, and going to the pagoda for Buddhist ceremonies. One year ago, Sok developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her vision loss that prevents her from working in the rice field. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sok learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 4th, 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. "I hope that my aunt can see everything better so she can be more independent. She wants to be able to join ceremonies at pagodas, and help at the rice field. I hope she can just do some housework by herself as well," Sok's niece said.

Ampaire is a nursing assistant from Uganda. She is married and a mother to one child after she lost one pregnancy. She earns a living through small scale farming as a well as working as a nursing assistant in a small clinic near to their home. Her husband is a bodaboda driver. Two years ago, Ampaire began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty breathing and neck disfigurement. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Ampaire receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 27th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $240, and she and her family need help raising money. Ampaire says, “I hope for good results out of my surgery, a better health and a living so that I can continue with my work as a nursing assistant.”

Nhoem is a 71-year-old mother of seven from Cambodia. She has ten grandchildren, and in her free time she enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Nhoem 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 Nhoem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 5, doctors will perform a small incision 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 $211 procedure. She says, "I hope I can see more clearly so I can return to the pagoda and join the ceremonies, and also recognize my relatives's faces."

Lay is a 63-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons and two grandsons, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio and taking care of her grandchildren in her free time. Three weeks ago, Lay developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On July 9, doctors will perform an extra-capsular cataract extraction 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 $211 procedure. She says, "I hope that I will be able to see clearly so I can help to look after my grandchildren and return to my everyday activities without any difficulty."

Sok Ra is a 14-year-old girl from Cambodia. She has one younger brother, and likes to listen to music in her free time. Since she was born, Sok Ra developed a cataract in each eye, causing her complete blindness. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sok Ra learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 9, 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 $398 procedure. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, I will be able to see clearly and be able to attend school."

PhanNy is a 60-year-old dress seller from Cambodia. She has eight children and ten grandchildren, and enjoys watching Indian TV dramas in her free time. One year ago, PhanNy developed a cataract in each eye, causing her photophobia and cloudy vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When PhanNy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 13, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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 $398 procedure. She says, "I hope that when my surgery is complete, I will be able to go back to work and help take care of my grandchildren."

Breana is a baby from Tanzania. Late last year, she was accidentally burned by a boiling pot of water. Now the skin around her arm has contracted, limiting her movement. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Breana receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her use her arm easily. Now, she needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Breana’s mother says, “Please help her.”

Sophary is a 33-year-old drink stand seller from Cambodia. She has three children and in her free time she likes to help them with their homework. When she was ten year old, Sophary had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Sophary experiences tinnitus, ear discharge, and difficulty hearing. She is not able to do her daily tasks, and it affects her ability to listen to others. Sophary traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 7, 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. She says, "I hope that after surgery my hearing will improve, and the ear pain and discharge will go away."

Agnes is a student from Tanzania. She is the third child in a family of four children. She lives with her grandparents. Agnes was diagnosed with genu varus, which causes her pain when walking. 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 had to stop going to school. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Agnes. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 14. Treatment will hopefully restore Agnes's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Agnes says, “Please help me, my leg is making me not to be able to walk well due to the pain I feel.”

Eriniga is a farmer from Uganda. He is married and a father of six children. For one year, Eriniga has had an inguinal hernia. This causes him pain and discomfort and if not treated, the hernia may result in intestinal tissue damage or death. Fortunately, on February 13, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Eriniga's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. He says, “After surgery I will do simple work at home.”