Ly is a loving grandmother who lives in Kampong Cham province with her husband and their youngest daughter. Ly has six children and twelve grandchildren. Most of her family members live nearby and visit her often. Ly loves spending time with her grandkids, cooking for them, and visiting the pagoda in her village. Around six months ago, Ly developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her sensitivity to light and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. 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 Ly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 20, doctors will perform a 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. Ly shared: "I hope I can make my life better with surgery. I want to recognize the faces of my grandchildren and go to the pagoda."

Sok Kha is a 54-year-old widow who lives alone in Kratie province. She has one daughter who works in Kampong Som province. She grows bananas and mangoes to support her simple lifestyle, visits with neighbors, and enjoys cleaning and arranging her home. This January, Sok Kha injured her wrist in a motorbike accident. Since she was unable to afford care at the local hospital, she visited a traditional Cambodian healer where she received herbs and a splint. A month later, her hand was still red and swollen and she had a pressure injury on her wrist caused by the splint, making it difficult for her to use her hand. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, are able to treat her injury and on February 22nd, Sok Kha will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which costs $483. The procedure will repair the displaced bone, eliminate the infection, and make it possible for her to use her hand and perform daily tasks again. She said: "After surgery, I hope I will be able to work in my orchard and have no more pain or infection."

Su is a 12-year-old boy from Burma who lives in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp with his family. Su had to discontinue his studies while in fourth-grade, and his family was forced to leave their home because of the conflict in Burma. Su’s grandparents are his primary caregivers as his parents divorced, got remarried and moved away. His half-brother, uncle, aunt, and infant cousin also live with the family. Su’s grandmother and aunt take care of their home, while his grandfather, uncle and half-brother work as day laborers. Su initially noticed signs of his condition in January, when he felt pain on the left side of his mouth, and had a slight swelling on the left side of his face. One month later, he was taken to the clinic by his aunt, where it was discovered that he had three cavities on the left side of his mouth. The doctors removed the decayed tooth on the top jaw but left the lower two as the swelling was significant. Su stayed in hospital for one week to recover, while receiving antibiotics. He was released from the clinic once the pain and swelling had decreased, but shortly after, the symptoms resurfaced, more intense than before. Presently, the left side of Su’s face is significantly swollen, and he feels acute pain. He has difficulty eating and can only chew from the right side of his mouth. He cannot lay down on the left side due to the swelling and pain, which gets worse at night. Su also feels pain in his neck when he drinks or swallows food. Su needs to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which X-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This will help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Su's family is however unable to raise the required funds needed for the imaging procedure. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Su's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 25th. Su is keen to return to school when his condition is treated. He loves to paint and draw in his free time and would like to be an artist someday. Su's grandfather is worried about his condition, but hopeful about his future. He says, “Whatever he wants to do in his future, I will support him fully, as his parents are gone.”

Phionah is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She and her husband divorced about 15 years ago but later reconciled and remarried. Phionah has had eight children and shared that three of her children passed away. Phionah has been experiencing progressively severe lower abdominal pain and other worrisome symptoms for the past ten years. Additionally, she frequently experiences intense headaches and excessive sweating. It is difficult for her to work as a result of her symptoms. Without support from her family, she lives in poverty and is socially isolated, no longer participating in gatherings in public places. Phionah has been diagnosed with adenomyosis and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $219 to fund Phionah's surgery. On May 25th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at AMH's care center. Once recovered, Phionah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Phionah says, “I can never afford this, even if given ten more years. I kindly appeal for your support to undergo this surgery. I will resume farming when stable.”

Patience is a small scale farmer and mother of two. Her children were delivered by emergency C-section in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Patience finished some school and pursued a tailoring course, but limited finances have prevented her from following this pursuit to a full career. Currently, she does some farming while her husband works as a builder on a part-time basis to support their family. They own a two-room semipermanent house. During her free time, Patience enjoys spending time with her children. Patience is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section because of her birthing history. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Patience undergo a C-Section on September 8th. This procedure will cost $252, and Patience needs your support. Patience says, “I will be grateful when I am supported since I am not able to raise anything to clear the hospital bills due to my income through farming.”

Joyce is a 54-year-old wife and mother of three. She is a subsistence farmer who grows crops and raises farm animals mainly for food for their family. She lives in a corrugated iron house with her husband and her youngest son. Her oldest son is currently employed and married, but her middle son lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She proudly shared that her youngest son just sat for the Malawi School Certificate Examination and he is awaiting the results. Joyce's oldest son helps to pay the school fees for his younger brother because he is the only one currently working in their family. Last year Joyce noticed a lump on her breast. Her sister advised her to go to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) where she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery was recommended, but the waiting list for an operation has been too long. A KCH doctor advised her to come to Partners In Hope because her condition needs urgent attention. The Partners in Hope surgeon recommended Joyce get a mastectomy. A mastectomy is a surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast as a way to treat or prevent breast cancer. Due to her financial status, she was referred to our medical partner African Mission Healthcare and has also contributed $19.40 herself to support her treatment. Joyce is fearful of what may come next because she has been reading and has learned of the impact of breast cancer on an individual. Hopefully, having the surgery will erase all these fears and allow Joyce to live her normal life again. Joyce says, “It will be great for me to live a life without a lump on my breast. This thing kills my self-esteem and my hopes to live.”

Jovia is a 60-year-old woman. Jovia lost her husband 20 years ago and has been caring for her 3 stepsons, successfully seeing them through school. Jovia's stepsons have left the nest and now have their own families. Jovia lives on her own as a farmer and keeps some cows to make ends meet. Eight months ago, Jovia was diagnosed with a painful right inguinal hernia. Jovia went to our medical partner's care center in Nyakibale to receive surgery. She was unable to afford the surgery, but our partners at African Mission Healthcare are helping Jovia fundraise the $230 needed to undergo this surgery on September 6th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Jovia shared, “I am all alone, by myself and have no one else at home to help me, with such poor health, I can do nothing. I beg for your support, and I hope to get better once treated.”

Channarith is a 47-year-old security guard for a local restaurant. He is married and has two sons and one daughter. His wife also works in a local clothes factory. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the radio, reading the news, watching boxing, and exercising. Last week, Channarith was in a collision with another motorbike. He did not seek any care but now he cannot work, is in pain, and cannot move his right shoulder. Fortunately, a neighbor told him about Children's Surgical Centre and the care they provide. Surgeons there have diagnosed him with a dislocated right shoulder and recommend immediate surgery. Channarith needs help with the $485 cost of closed reduction surgery on his shoulder, which will include the operation, medications, and post-operative care. Channarith shared: "I hope, after surgery, I will have full function of my shoulder, no pain, and can return to work soon."

Pauline is a 36 year old single woman, living in Kenya. She works at a facility where they take care of street children. Both of her parents have passed away, and she has no siblings. Pauline has lived in near constant pain for 26 years. After she was finally able to have an MRI, an ultrasound and blood tests, she was diagnosed with endometriosis. Because of this condition, tissue, which is similar to that of the lining of the uterus, grows outside of the uterus, enveloping the ovaries and fallopian tubes, causing chronic discomfort. The tissue can also affect other nearby organs, such as the bowel and the bladder. Surgical intervention is required to resolve this condition. With the assistance of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Pauline is now scheduled to undergo a hysteroscopy and operative laparoscopy, on October 11th, at AIC Kijabe Hospital. After the surgery, Pauline should be able to live her life, free from pain. Now she needs your help to fund the procedure, which costs $1,074. Pauline says: “I have always lived with pain since I was a small girl. I hope this discomfort will come to a halt once and for all.”

Sambath is a loving 78-year-old grandmother. She has two daughters and six beautiful grandchildren. Sambath's husband has unfortunately passed away, so she now lives with her youngest daughter, who is a garment worker. Sambath spends much of her time cooking for her family, caring for her grandchildren, and listening to monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Sambath developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her to experience light sensitivity, blurry vision, and eye tearing. 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 she learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 9th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Sambath says,"After surgery, I hope my eye can see everything clearly so I can take care of myself, go to the ceremonies at the pagoda, and help to take care of my grandchildren."

Ronah is a strong mother from Uganda who enjoys listening to music on the radio. She earned a diploma in plumbing, but due to having difficulty finding a job in that profession, she now runs a small retail shop. She lives with her husband, who is a primary school teacher, and their child. She and her husband have two children. Her secondborn child is four years old and in baby junior class. Ronah shares that she sadly lost her firstborn child one day after giving birth. She also experienced a miscarriage at three months with her second pregnancy. Ronah is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors have recommend that she deliver via caesarean section due to having two previous scars. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both her and her child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Ronah undergo a C-Section on July 20th. This procedure will cost $214, and she and her family need your support. Ronah shares, “I hope and pray for a successful surgery. I pray for a healthy child. I will continue to run my retail shop to provide for my family.”

Ry is a 59-year-old rice farmer. He is married with one son and three daughters. He lives with his wife and his youngest daughter who are also farmers. Ry enjoys spending his free time time listening to the news on the radio and watching TV. Four years ago, Ry developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. 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. Ry now has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Ry learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Ry needs surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 10th. Ry says, "I hope after surgery my eye will feel comfortable and I can go back to planting crops without difficulty seeing. I'd like not to worry about my eye anymore."