Sok Nim is a mother of three from Cambodia, with two sons and one daughter. She is in the military and her husband is an electrician. All of their children are in school. Sok Nim shared that her favorite part of the day is when she can go on walks with her children. Being out on her own has become more difficult because Sok Nim developed a pterygium in both eyes, causing her itchiness, tearing, and sometime pain. 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. When Sok Nim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six hours with her sister seeking treatment. Sok Nim 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. The procedure is scheduled for December 16th. Sok Nim said, "I hope after surgery my eye is well so I can be free of worry."

Mugisha is a farmer from Uganda. He is a married father to four children. He and his wife earn a living through practicing small-scale farming. He grows native local food like ground nuts, maize, beans, and cassava. They farm basically for home consumption and he sells the surplus to provide other essential needs to his family like clothes and to pay for his children's school fees. Sine eight years ago, Mugisha has had an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him pain when walking and when standing for a long time. Fortunately, on March 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Mugisha's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Mugisha says “I hope that I will be well after my operation and be healed from this condition.”

Kyarisima is a 47-year-old woman living in Uganda with her husband and their five children. She and her husband both work as peasant farmers. “In July 2013, Kyarisima got severe abdominal pain radiating across her back,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “As the pain increased, Kyarisima started bleeding irregularly and decided to go to a health center. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in the uterus, but could not afford to have the recommended surgery.” “Kyarisima had lost hope of every getting well until she heard about a gynecologist at Nyakibale Hospital, a non-profit community hospital, who could help her,” AMHF continues. $165 will fund Kyarisima’s total abdominal hysterectomy, which will relieve her from the pain and bleeding. She will be able to farm and take care of her family. “I hope to be well again and live happily with my husband,” Kyarisima says.

Meet Ferchi, a one-year-old girl from Guatemala who is suffering from malnutrition. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, reports, “Ferchi was born very premature. Since then, she’s struggled to grow. She is frequently ill with common things, like diarrhea, which further have restricted her growth.” The lack of nutrition also limits her cognitive development. Ferchi’s parents understand that they need quality nutrition to help Ferchi. The family’s financial situation prevents them from meeting this goal. For $535, we can tackle Ferchi’s acute malnutrition. Ferchi will experience an improved diet, heightened cognition, and a resumption of physical growth. Ferchi’s mother desires that Ferchi, “gets better, so that she can go to school and be successful.”