Aye is as strong as they come. She ignored the symptoms of fatigue and pain in her back and focused instead on saving every bhat from her and her husband’s combined $3.50 a day salary to fund their daughter’s education. They were able to save $70 in two months and were making plans to go home within the year, but Aye couldn’t ignore how swollen her abdomen had gotten. The doctor at the nearest free clinic found a mass in her uterus that turned out to be uterine myoma, a non-cancerous tumor that causes extreme pain, fatigue, painful menstruation, and urinary frequency and urgency. The cost for treatment is seven times the amount they’ve saved. Aye can’t continue working without the surgery. Despite what seems like a constant uphill battle, Aye is optimistic. She says she hopes to get well soon and find a better job in Thailand. She holds back tears when talking about trying to send her daughter to school, but with our help, Aye can get the surgery she needs to keep working and take care of her family. Let’s help give Aye her strength back!

Grace is a gifted beautician who cares for her grandmother. Early last year, Grace’s grandmother contracted tuberculosis. Doctors were able to treat her in time, but they missed the fact that Grace was living with her. Grace was exposed to tuberculosis, and it went undetected for months. Now, Grace’s situation is serious. The tuberculosis has spread to her spine, and she can no longer feel her lower limbs. Grace uses a wheelchair to get around and is unable to work because of constant, excruciating pain. Grace's relatives are doing their best to support her. Together, they saved $1,000 to contribute to the cost of her care, an anterior compression with instrumented fusion that is expected to give her a 70-80% chance of walking again. Africa Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting the remaining $1,500 needed to prevent Grace's permanent paralysis and give her a chance at a normal life. Grace “longs to go back to work and make a living," and this is the first step toward getting her back to the salon she loves!