Saphas is a 10-year-old student from Uganda. He is a tall, brilliant, and smart young boy who lives with his grandmother. Saphas is in primary school class 3. At home, he likes helping with chores like cooking and fetching firewood. His dream is to be a nurse in the future. Since last month, Saphas has experienced a swelling on his private parts. He feels pain when passing urine and his grandmother is worried about the swelling. At Nyakibale hospital, he was diagnosed with a right hydrocele and requires a hydrocelectomy (hydrocele repair surgery). Fortunately, on March 7th, he will undergo a hydrocelectomy at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $146 to fund Saphas's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Saphas' guardian says “He is the only one we have to take care of us at home, his poor health worries me but with your support, I will be happy to see him well again.”

Lat is a 78-year-old loving grandmother, who lives in Svay Rieng province. She has been a widow since her husband died twenty-six years ago. Sadly, although she bore ten children, five of her children passed away during the Khmer Rouge regime. She has still one son, four daughters, and twenty-three grandchildren to keep her busy! Currently, she lives with a daughter who is a worker at a garment factory. At home, Lat enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio and joining ceremonies at the pagoda. About three months ago, Lat developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. It is difficult for her to cook or to do housework. When Lat learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and half hours seeking treatment. On December 12th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant a new lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Lat said: "I hope I can see everything after surgery. I would like to help my daughter cook, do housework, and go outside more often again."

Oun is a 49-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and his wife works as a tailor. The couple has four sons who are all students at the local public school. When he is at home after a long day outside, Oun enjoys listening to the news on the radio and watching boxing on television. One year ago, Oun developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him sensitivity to light and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces. He is also worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 14th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help raising $253 to fund his procedure and care. Oun shared, "I hope after surgery I can see well again. It is important for me to support my family by growing rice on our land and selling it at our local market."

Mpirirwe is a 41-year-old mother of four children, who are all studying in different classes in primary school. She is a soft-spoken and determined lady, who walked six kms. to seek support. Mpirirwe had hoped to be an accountant, but instead earns a living from small-scale farming, along with her husband. They normally grow food for their own needs, because they have limited land to do large-scale farming. They live in a small, semi-permanent house along with her late brother-in-law's two orphaned children. During her free time, Mpirirwe enjoys spending time with her family. She is currently expecting a child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section so doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mpirirwe undergo a C-Section on November 1st. This procedure will cost $252, and Mpirirwe needs your support. Mpririrwe says, “I have always had a hard time with my deliveries and being able to cover the hospital bill. I decided to come to try out my luck to see if I could be supported because, by myself, I won’t be able to raise the money needed for my surgery.”

Som Oeun is a 64-year-old rice farmer, who has one daughter, four sons, and two grandchildren. She lives with her disabled husband and her youngest daughter who is a construction worker. At home, she enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio and playing with her grandchildren. One year ago, Som Oeun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her light sensitivity, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Som Oeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On October 17th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery which will break up the cataract with ultrasound, irrigate the eye, and remove the cataract through suction. Then they will implant a new lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Som Oeun said, "I hope after surgery my vision can improve so I can help my daughter do housework and I can look after myself and my husband."

Godius is the second born child in a family of two children, in Uganda. His elder sibling is 3 years old and hasn’t started school. His mother is a small-scale farmer, while his father is a boda boda (motorcycle) taxi driver who transports luggage around their village to earn a living for his family. His family lives in a three-room mud house. Since birth, Godius has had a right inguinoscrotal hernia. His mother decided to take him to the hospital after a few months and she was advised to take him back for surgery after six months. A month ago, Godius started developing an on and off inguinal swelling especially whenever he cries. Godius was taken to Kabale Referral Hospital and a surgery appointment was given. His case has since missed several appointments due to long waiting lists and his mother is now worried. They decided to seek treatment at Rushoroza Hospital where the surgeon has also recommended surgery. If not treated, strangulation of the hernia is likely to occur in the long run, limiting Godius to live a poor quality of life; he may also be unable to attend school in the future. His parents cannot afford the surgery, and need financial assistance. Fortunately, on November 7th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Godius's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Godius' mother says, “My son’s condition is worrying and may deteriorate if not treated on time. I believe that he will get well through surgery and be able to start school once the right time comes.”

Kato is a very outgoing, talkative and smart gentleman. Kato did not attend school, instead worked his life as a farmer. Kato has a twin brother and enjoys grazing his cows, especially in the evening. Kato was brought by his son to the hospital after experiencing continuous pain and discomfort. The pain was so severe, Kato had to stop working on his farm. After receiving a scan, it was concluded that Kato had a right inguinal hernia. A herniorraphy treatment was recommended to prevent further complications that could be fatal to his health. Kato is unable to afford the cost of his surgery on his own. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Kato's surgery on September 6th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Kato shared, "I hope to get support for my treatment. I am not in a position to raise my medical bill and am experiencing too much pain."

Niwabiine is a 22-year-old hairdresser living in Uganda. Niwabiine and her three siblings are orphans, who live with their widowed grandmother. While Niwabiine had dreamed of becoming a nurse, she didn't have the money to cover her school fees, and so she was unable to complete her education. However, due to the love of her grandmother, Niwabiine was able to train to be a hairdresser, and with the money that she earns, she now pays for the school fees for her younger siblings, so that they can progress further in their education than she did. Five years ago, Niwabiine began experiencing troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and persistent headaches. After visiting the doctor, she was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, which will need to be surgically removed, to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Niwabiine to access the care that she needs. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on September 27th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, when surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Niwabiine and her family need your help to raise the money to pay for her surgery. Niwabiine says: “I am currently the only provider for my siblings and grandma. When I am down, they have no other person to care for them."

Nhoeng is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer. She currently lives with her niece, since her husband unfortunately passed away. She enjoys spending her time listening to monks pray. Four years ago, Nhoeng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience light sensitivity, eye tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Nhoeng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 6th, 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 $253 procedure. Nhoeng says, "I hope I will see well again so I can go places on my own and see things."

Hor is a retired rice farmer who lives with his wife. Hor's three sons and five daughters - and numerous grandchildren - all support Hor and his wife through farming. His favorite pastimes are walking to the local pagoda with his wife, and listening to monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Hor developed non-cancerous growths in his left eye, which cause itchiness, tearing and blurry vision. These growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun, and cells grow abnormally over the pupil. Hor has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Hor learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours to seek treatment. Hor needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the surface of his eye, and to replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. The total cost of this procedure - which covers medications, supplies and two days of inpatient care - is $225. The surgery is scheduled for May 10th. Hor says: "I hope after surgery my eyesight won't be blurry and itchy. I want to see well and go outside with my wife to visit our children."

Annah is a 27-year-old married charcoal seller. She and her husband buy and resell charcoal to earn a living for their family. They have a 14-month-old child and they rent a single roomed home. During her free time, Annah enjoys spending time with her family. Annah is currently expecting a new baby and her doctors have recommended that she deliver via a Caesarean section. If she does not deliver her baby via a C-section, she and her baby are at risk of a uterine rupture and other complications. A C-section delivery will allow doctors to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Annah and her baby receive treatment. On April 25th, she will undergo a C-Section at AMH's care center. Now, she and her husband need help raising $214 to fund her procedure and care. Annah shared, "I pray that I may have a successful surgery after conceiving so quickly from the time I had surgery with my other baby. I hope for a good outcome. I want to continue with our business after I am better."

Sopheara is a 16-year-old student. He is in the ninth grade and has a younger sister in the eighth grade. Sopheara's father is a construction worker, and his mother works in a garment factory. Sopheara was in a car accident that fractured his left femur and tibia. After the accident, his family took him to a local hospital; upon review, the doctors referred him to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for specialized treatment. Currently, Sopheara is experiencing severe pain and difficulty walking. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help Sopheara heal. On February 15th, he will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will allow him to walk easily again upon recovery. CSC is requesting $465 to help fund this procedure, which is also subsidized by Sopheara's co-pay that his family was able to gather. Sopheara shared, "I hope I can heal and walk easily again so I can return to school."