Asiimwe is a 28-year-old mother from Uganda. She is married and has two children who are both still in school. When she was younger, she studied and completed senior four, but never proceeded due to lack of school fees. Asiimwe stays at home to take care of her children, while her husband is the main breadwinner and works as a primary school teacher. Since they live in town and do not have enough land to do proper farming, she and her husband do some small planting around their rental house. Three years ago, Asiimwe began to experience troubling symptoms, including an irritant cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing at night. Upon seeking care, she was diagnosed with a goiter. Asiimwe needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Asiimwe receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 12th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Asiimwe shared, "Once I recover, I want to look for a job so that I can help my husband take care of our family."

Kinaheirwe is a farmer from Uganda and is a mother of one child. Her only child is now 20 years old and in secondary school five. She lost her first husband 13 years ago, and later remarried. Kinaheirwe and her husband are both small scale farmers. During her free time, she enjoys taking care of her family. Nine years ago, Kinaheirwe began to experience troubling symptoms, including headaches, difficulty breathing, and neck pain. She was diagnosed with a goitre and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Kinaheirwe receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 10th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $293, and Kinaheirwe and her family need your support. Kinaheirwe shared, “I have been in pain for a while and I wish to live a normal life again through the surgery. I will resume farming as soon as possible.”

Colling is a handsome eleven-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He has a twin brother whose name is Collins. Colling's father is the sole provider to the family through his small business of selling used car spare parts. Colling and his twin brother were born healthy babies, but at one month of age, his mother realized that he had an unusual swelling around his pelvis. Doctors at the regional hospital diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia, but told them to wait until he was six months old to seek treatment. As time went on, Colling's condition got worse, causing him a lot of pain and he would cry a lot. Colling's parents decided to seek treatment at a different hospital, but the cost of treatment was too high for them to afford. His mother says that due to the pain, Collings has not been able to crawl or move around with the same ease as his twin brother. Colling's parents are unable to afford the treatment that Colling needs and appeal for financial help. Fortunately, on January 18th, Colling will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $566 to fund Colling's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently, and he will be able to grow up healthy, and walk and play with his brother. Colling’s mother shared, “Please help my son, since this problem has made him lag behind compared to his twin brother.”

Neng is a 54-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Her husband of 24 years unfortunately passed away five years ago from illness. Neng has two sons and one daughter, and her daughter is married and has one child. In her free time, Neng enjoys watching Thai movies on TV and taking care of her grandchild. Neng slipped and fell on October 21st, fracturing her right elbow. She received initial treatment from a Khmer healer, but the treatment did not improve her closed elbow fracture. Neng came to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) with right elbow pain, swelling, and inability to flex her arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On November 10th, Neng will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will allow her to use her right arm easily again. Neng shared, "I hope my right arm is better after surgery so I can be free of pain and continue my work as normal."

Arineitwe is a farmer and mother of two, aged 24 and 21 years respectively. Both of her children were not able to finish school due to a lack of school fees. Arineitwe's husband left their family many years ago, so Arineitwe is the sole breadwinner. For the last one year, Arineitwe has been experiencing lower abdominal pains and other symptoms. She has been diagnosed with fibroids plus chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. Arineitwe will need to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $228 to fund Arineitwe's surgery. On January 8th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Arineitwe will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and her quality of life will improve. Arineitwe shared, “I pray for a successful surgery. Thank you for your support.”

Chantha is a 56-year-old man from Cambodia. Chantha is married and has one soon and one grandchild. Chantha's wife is a farmer of rice and other crops. Chantha is disabled and has leprosy so he is not able to work. He lives nearby the our Medical Partner's Hospital at a leprosy charity center. Chantha enjoys watching the news and listening to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Chantha developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurred vision, tearing, and photophobia. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he came with his friend seeking treatment. On October 6th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Chantha said, "I hope I can see clearer than now so I can go walking outside on my own and be more independent."

Rathanak is a ninth-grade student from Cambodia. He has two brothers, and enjoys playing football, reading books, and listening to music in his free time. Seven years ago, Rathanak received a poorly administered injection in his left thigh. He is unable to bend his leg fully and often walks abnormally. His left leg is now shorter than his right leg, and because of this he also experiences back pain. When Rathanak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On November 19th, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure of his left leg to help him walk again without any pain or difficulty. Now, Rathanak needs help to fund this $413 procedure. "I hope that my son's surgery goes well so he will no longer suffer from his condition and I won't have to worry about him." -Rathanak's Mother

Arinaitwe is a student and the youngest in the family of five children. She has two brothers, one is a driver and another one is a teacher in a local private primary school. All of her sisters are married, one is a nurse and another is a small-scale farmer. Arinaitwe's parents are also small scale farmers, but her father mostly brews local alcohol called ‘waragi’. Arinaitwe is a first-year student at Kabale University and is pursuing a degree in education. Arinaitwe arrived at hospital presenting with right iliac fossa pain, which she has experienced for two years now. Her condition is associated with a backache. She feels pain when she lifts a heavy load and has joint pain, especially late in the evening. She often experiences headaches as well. All this has caused her to have a poor quality of life and if not treated, her pain and discomfort will persist. Her doctors have diagnosed her with Ovarian Cysts. They will perform a cystectomy treatment to restore her health. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $220 to help cover the cost of her surgery. Arinaitwe shared, “I am hopeful for a better life after my surgery as I will be relieved from all the pain I have been experiencing. I will be able to continue with school after the COVID-19 lockdown.”

Evelyne is a five-year-old girl from Kenya. She's the second born in a family of three children. Evelyne suffers from congenital angular deformity, a condition in which the joints or bones themselves bend abnormally. Her bones are also very weak and keep breaking. Because of her condition, Evelyne cannot walk or stand on her own, making it difficult for her to play with other kids or attend school. Evelyne has been treated with casting, but her condition has not improved. On June 22, Evelyne will undergo corrective surgery to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,165 to cover the cost of the surgery, five nights of hospital stay, medication, and medical supplies. “My joy is to see my daughter rising up and walk after surgery. I would also want to see her going to school. Due to the struggles I am experiencing, I would request for your help,” says Evelyne's father.

Meet Johnny, a 30-year-old man from Haiti. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Johnny lives in Port-au-Prince with his older sister. Their mother passed away when they were young, and they grew up in an orphanage.” Johnny is studying to be an engineer. In his spare time, he loves going to church—he attends almost every day. HCA explains, “When Johnny was about 12 years old, he contracted a rheumatic fever which severely damaged the mitral and aortic valves of his heart.” This condition makes Johnny constantly sick and unable to hold a job or further pursue his studies. Johnny has been living with heart disease for most of his life, but he recently found out that without a valve replacement he has months to live. In order to receive the surgery he needs, Johnny must go overseas. $1,500 will cover the cost of Johnny’s transport to, and stay, abroad to receive care. He will receive surgery to remove the damaged valves and replace them with artificial metal valves. Following surgery, HCA reports, “Johnny will have to take blood tests and medication for the rest of his life, but he should be able to lead a normal and healthy life.” Johnny shares, “I hope that God will bless everyone who has given me this chance, everyone has treated me like their own family and I am very grateful.”