Twinamatsiko is a farmer from Uganda. She is 51 years old and has eight children. Her husband passed away in 2002. Twinamatsiko has had a slowly progressive neck swelling for two years. She also experiences troubling symptoms, including pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. She was diagnosed with a goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Twinamatsiko receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 6 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $240, and she and her family need help raising money. Twinamatsiko says, “I hope to get better and continue with cultivation after surgery.”

John is a child from Tanzania. He is almost four years old. He lives with his grandmother. One year ago, John was playing with matches while his grandmother was at the hospital. He sustained burns on the right side of his body. Now, he cannot move his right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping John receive treatment. On March 6, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to allow him to lift his hand and carry things easily. Now, he needs help to fund this $608 procedure. “I pray to God that John gets treated, recovers well, and joins school," John’s grandmother says.

Mu is a 27-year-old farmer from Burma. She rents a patch of land with her husband and farms. She has two children. Mu experienced abdominal pain and visited Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center. She received medication, which temporarily alleviated the pain but did not eliminate her symptoms. She has been diagnosed with gallstone pancreatitis. Mu says, “It is a sharp pain and it comes on without warning. Sometimes I can feel it all the way in my back.” Mu has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Mu's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Mu is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on February 14. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Mu's procedure and care.

Alice is a poultry farmer from Kenya. She is a widow and a mother of six. In 2013, Alice developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. A cataract occurs when the lens of the eye becomes opaque, blurring vision. She is not able to move unless someone accompanies her. Fortunately, Alice is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $220 procedure. Alice says, “My hope is to have my eyes fine and able to see with ease."