Arthur and his wife are farmers and have ten children. They mostly grow food crops for home consumption, and then the surplus is sold off to generate income to sustain the family. For two years, Arthur has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia causes him pain in activities like stretching or lifting heavy items, sitting or standing, and whenever he is cultivating. Due to financial constraints, he had never thought of seeking medical intervention, but when the pain became severe, he came to our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, where he was advised he needed surgery. Fortunately, on December 4th, Arthur will undergo hernia repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Arthur's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Arthur says, “Things have been hard at my side because the pain I pass through is unexplainable, but I believe with your support, I will be able to undergo surgery and will get better.”

Mark is a 19-year-old student from Uganda. He is the firstborn in a family of six children. He is a class four student and is currently preparing to sit for his exams later this year. He and his family live together in a four-room mud house. His father works selling charcoal, and his mother works as a small scale farmer. During his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with family. About a week ago ago, Mark began experiencing troubling symptoms, which include abdominal pains, vomiting, and constipation. He was diagnosed with acute peritonitis, a condition which causes inflammation of the membrane lining of the abdominal wall and covering the abdominal organs. This condition is currently affecting his studies and day-to-day life. In order to prevent his symptoms from getting worse, he must undergo surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mark receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a curative laporotomy on August 5th at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $284, and Mark and his family need your support. Mark says, “I hope to get well after the surgery so that I may go back to school and prepare well for my final exams.”

Daw Kyi is a Burmese woman who has lived in Thailand for the past ten years. She teaches mathematics at a local school and lives in a dormitory with her students. She sends a portion of her earnings home to support her mother, who is in poor health. About two months ago, Daw Kyi started to experience lower abdominal pain. Believing the pain to be nothing more than a stomachache, she attempted to treat it with traditional medicine. Her symptoms did not improve. Daw Kyi was in pain and could not sit for long periods of time. Worried about her condition, she was not eating or sleeping well. For two months, she was unable to work. Finally, she visited our medical partner’s clinic, where she underwent an ultrasound and blood and urine tests. She learned that she had a large mass in her lower abdomen and that she needed surgery. On November 15, she underwent a total hysterectomy at our medical partner’s hospital, Mae Sot General Hospital. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Daw Kyi spends her free time with her students, helping them with homework and studies. “If I am better,” she says, “I will work even harder for my students, for their future.”

Phat, a 75-year-old farmer, is married with three sons and two daughters. He likes to stay at home and listen to the news on the radio. Two years ago, Phat developed skin cancer in his left ear, and the mass is slowly growing. He experiences pain and difficulty hearing. The medication he is using is not helping with his symptoms. When Phat learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 7, CSC surgeons performed an excision and flap surgery to remove the cancerous mass. After recovery, Phat can continue his work as a farmer. Now, he needs help to fund this $224 procedure. "I hope to have a normal ear without pain," he says.