Meet Laneta, a talented and caring 42-year-old mother from the Philippines. Laneta has an enlarged thyroid gland, which has greatly affected her daily life. "She cannot sustain the tasks she used to do before as they usually result in a throbbing pain at the back of her head and neck,” says our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). In addition, "Laneta can no longer wash their laundry as efficiently as before for her family," says ICM. "She can no longer cultivate land and clean backyards for hire and can no longer do household chores with ease." She misses doing these tasks that “she used to do with ease and confidence,” says ICM. Unfortunately, Laneta's family cannot afford thyroid surgery. A thyroidectomy will remove her entire thyroid gland and relieve her current symptoms. For $525, we can help provide Laneta with full treatment, including surgery, medication, and transportation and food for Laneta and her caregivers. Government insurance in the Phillippines has contributed $100 toward this treatment. After surgery, Laneta will “gain self confidence as a mother and seek better ways to elevate the quality of life of her family,” says ICM. “I am hoping there will be sponsors who could elevate my quality of life," Laneta shares, "so I can go back to how I used to take care of my family.”

Chambi recently had an accident with hot water and burned her right leg. She was meant to begin class one at this time, but has had to delay school right now because of the huge wound she has from the accident. "Chambi tries to join other children and play," the AMHF team tells us. "Many times she gets hurt where the wound is and that becomes the end of her playing for that day." Seven-year-old Chambi from Tanzania lives with her parents and six siblings and is known to be a happy and friendly little girl. Clinicians at AMHF have recommended a skin graft to help care for Chambi right now. The cost of the procedure is $780. Chambi's parents are small-scale farmers who work hard to support their family; they are unable to cover this fee by themselves. That's where we can help, Watsi. “When I get well I will go to school and study hard so that I can become a nurse,” says Chambi happily. Let's get her there, one step at a time.