Ruth is a 39-year-old farmer. She's married with three children, who are all in school. Her husband is a hardworking businessman who works in a butchery in the town. Together their family lives in a small house with three rooms. Three years ago, Ruth began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling, difficulty breathing and swallowing, increased heart palpitations and general body weakness. She was diagnosed with multinodular goitre. Ruth tried managing the condition with medication but it has not been improving. Her friends referred her to Nyakibale Hospital and on review, surgery was recommended to relieve her pain. Ruth needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Ruth receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 12th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Ruth says “I have had the worst experience with this condition. I hope to get better and resume farming after surgery.”

Sokheng is a rice farmer with two sons, five daughters, and many grandchildren. Sokheng lives with her husband and their youngest daughter. Sokheng's family members are all rice farmers. She enjoys looking after her grandchildren and listening to the monks pray on the radio. Four years ago, Sokheng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sokheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and will place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Sokheng said, "I hope after surgery I can see well and help my daughter with cooking and taking care of my grandchildren. I also want to visit the pagoda by myself."

Panha is a 64-year-old journalist. He has two sons, three daughters, and three grandchildren. Panha lives with his wife and their youngest daughter. Nowadays, Panha can not go to work because of his poor vision. He enjoys listening to the news from his phone. Three years ago, Panha developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Panha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and will place an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Panha said, "I hope I can see clearly so I can work well, read, write, and drive my motorbike well."

Angel is a three-year old girl and the firstborn in a family of two. Her younger sister is only three months old. Her mother is a homemaker without a source of income and her father is a driver at a local tea plantation. They live in a two-room house costing $50 a month and have been relying on her father's employer to help pay their bills. On September 17th, Angel suffered 2nd-degree burns. Angel's mother was preparing bathing water for her and her little sister. Her mother poured hot water into a basin and had gone to get cold water to cool the bathing water. While away, Angel unknowingly stepped into the basin with the hot water and got burnt. Angel sustained burns on about 12% of her total body surface area (TBSA), including to her gluteal region, her feet, and her right hand. Due to these injuries she is unable to sit and she sleeps on her belly. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Angel receive treatment. On September 23rd, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help her heal well and be able to sit again. Now, Angel's family needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Angel’s mother says, “I want to see my little angel grow into a successful lady. She is constantly crying because of the pain and discomfort. I hope this surgery relieves her of these predicaments.”

Furaha is a beautiful and charming four-year-old and the eighth-born child in a family of nine children. Furaha is a Swahili word for "happiness" and true to her name she is always a happy and smiley girl. Furaha's parents are small-scale farmers of maize and rice. They get most of their food from what they harvest. Their income is not much because they can only get money when they sell their rice harvest or go out and seek day’s jobs like working on other people's farms. Furaha has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus where her legs bow outward at the knee. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she experiences knee pain after walking or playing for a while. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Furaha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 8th. Treatment will hopefully restore Furaha's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Furaha’s mother says: “I was told that we can have her legs corrected here, please help us.”

Lem is a 43-year-old delivery driver. He's married and has one son and one daughter. Lem's wife sells vegetables at the market and their children are both in school. Five years ago, Lem developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled with his wife seeking treatment. On June 3rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Lem shared, "I cannot see anything so it is hard for me to work right now. I hope I can see again so I can work, be independent, and help my wife sell vegetables at the market."

Joana is a 50-year-old primary school teacher from Malawi. She teaches a class of more than 80 children. She shared that she loves teaching because it makes her feel young and energetic. Joana is also a mother of two children of her own, ages 29 and 27. In March 2021, Joana visited a local clinic for a routine check-up and was diagnosed with a uterine mass. A total abdominal hysterectomy, or a procedure where both the uterus and cervix are removed, was recommended as treatment. If her condition is not treated, Joana is at risk of becoming severely anemic. After the surgery, it is expected that Joana will no longer experience the uncomfortable symptoms associated with her condition. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Joana to receive treatment. On June 5th, surgeons at AMH's care center will perform a hysterectomy. Now, Joana needs help to fund this $1,363 procedure. Joana shared, “I will soon be a grandmother and I want to be in good health so I can play with my grandchildren the way I play with learners at school. I appreciate your support to have this uterine mass removed."

Chan Fa is a 22-year-old blacksmith. He is married and has one son. His wife works in a garment factory. While he is working, Chan Fa enjoys listening to music. Two years ago, Chan Fa developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him partial blindness, sensitivity to light, and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chan Fa learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there with his wife seeking treatment. On June 3rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Chan Fa shared, "I hope after surgery I can see well so I can return to work and take care of my family better."

Vong is a 58-year-old rice farmer who has two daughters, two sons and many grandchildren. She lives with her eldest daughter, who is a garment worker at a local factory. She farms seasonally and spends a lot of her free time caring for her grandchildren, cooking meals, and visiting her other children. Five years ago, Vong developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, irritation, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Vong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there seeking treatment. On May 24th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Vong shared, "I hope after surgery I can see better, so that I can do housework easily and see the faces of all my grandchildren."

Turyakira is a 27-year-old nursing student and the youngest in a family of 11 children. Her mother is a small scale farmer, and sadly, her father died of prostate cancer in 2012. Her mother was later able to construct a four-room semi-permanent house for her family. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and reading books. Ten years ago, Turyakira began to experience troubling symptoms, including swelling in her neck that worsened over time. When she sleeps, she loses her voice and her breathing rate increases. She was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Turyakira receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 4th at AMH's care center, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Now, Turyakira needs $293 to fund her procedure. Turyakira shared, “I pray for a successful surgery. I will proceed with my nursing course comfortably and probably with better grades after receiving treatment.”

Mea is a 54-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He has three children and two grandchildren, and likes to listen to the news on the radio in his free time. One year ago, Mea developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him vision loss. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Mea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 6, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $211 procedure. He says, "I hope that I am able to see clearly again, and that I can go back to my work on the farm."

Harrison is a baby from Tanzania. He has been diagnosed with genu varus. his legs are bowed outward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Harrison. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 21. Treatment will hopefully restore Harrison's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Harrison’s mother says, “My son is suffering due to his legs condition but due to financial challenges we are unable to afford his treatment cost please help our son.”