"Scovia and her husband Ronald are so excited about having their first child, because they have been trying for a while," our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, says. Scovia is a 25-year-old expectant mother working as a small-scale farmer in Uganda. In their free time, SK tells us, "Scovia and Ronald enjoy going to church and socializing with their neighbors.” Scovia has been identified as a high-risk pregnancy because her baby is large. To help ensure a safe delivery, Scovia will require a Cesarean section, which will cost $303. Scovia and Ronald are looking forward to bringing their baby home. They hope that their child is born healthy, and they will be able to pay school fees so he or she can have a good education. "Both parents would like to say thank you to all the donors," our medical partner adds. "Having a C-section is expensive and they appreciate the help very much."

“I earnestly wish for her to have no complications because of this in the future,” shares the father of Manisha, a 13-year-old girl living in Nepal. While playing at school, Manisha was hit with a rock and was left with an open wound and a fracture in her right leg. Right now, it is too painful for Manisha to use her right leg and she needs help completing even basic tasks. As a result, Manisha had to be carried on her father’s back for two hours to reach our medical partner, Possible. While Manisha’s parents work in the field, Manisha helps out around the house by looking after cattle and babysitting her younger brother. Although Manisha’s parents work hard, they cannot afford the $579 that would pay for Manisha’s treatment. With your help, Manisha’s bones will be “aligned correctly and secured with the help of pins. Her open wound will also be stitched close,” Possible shares.

Judith is a 20-year-old expectant mother from Uganda. She is married, but is currently away from her husband while she takes care of her sick mother. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, describes Judith as a “cheerful young mother who hopes to go back to her husband after her mother gets better.” The Kellermann Foundation continues, “Judith likes making new friends and sings in a choir at her local church. In her free time, she likes to make mats, which she sells to earn money and uses in her own home for bedding.” Unfortunately, scans of Judith’s stomach have shown that her baby is folding its hand against its face and is in breech presentation: the baby is positioned to exit the pelvis feet or buttocks first as opposed to the usual head-first presentation. This malpresentation puts both Judith and her child’s lives at risk and her doctors say she will need a caesarean section to ensure a safe delivery. Judith’s treatment will cost $303, but because she has been spending most of her time with her ill mother, she has not been able to make enough mats to afford it. She is also working hard to provide food for her family, and is thus in very great need of financial support. “I look forward to holding and carrying my own baby. I would love to help my child go to school and become better off than I am,” Judith shares. “I want to thank everyone, the doctors and the good Samaritans, who are supporting our health care. May God bless you abundantly.”

This is 66-year-old Moeun, a father of six and grandfather of 11 from Cambodia. "He enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray and feeding the cows and chickens at home," our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. Moeun was recently screened by one of CSC's outreach teams, and they learned that he had developed a cataract in each eye about one year ago. A cataract occurs when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy from a buildup of proteins. In Moeun's case, this cloudiness has accumulated over time, and has slowly deteriorated his vision. If left untreated, he could completely lose his ability to see. Due to this condition, Moeun has experienced blurred vision, tearing, discharge, and pain. "I can't see everything clearly, do any work well, or go anywhere outside," Moeun says. Moeun traveled four hours with his wife to reach CSC for proper treatment. Since he no longer works and does not have a steady income, it is difficult for his family to pay for any medical expenses. $225 in funding will help cover the costs of a lens replacement, where doctors at CSC will remove the cloudy lenses in Moeun's eyes and replace them with clear implants. The cost of treatment also includes a two-day hospital stay, medication and food. Within one day after his operation, Moeun will be able to see clearly again. "I hope my eye can see everything clear, so I can easily help my family to do some housework like clean grass and feed animals around home," shares Moeun.

"Jemima is a single mother" and runs a small kiosk to support her and her child, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares. For about a year, 46-year-old Jemima "has been experiencing heavy bleeding and lower abdominal pains" which have become more prominent in the past month. "She has been given medication with no success," AMHF continues. "This is affecting Jemima's social life and even makes it difficult to do her daily work of selling at the kiosk." Jemima sought care and a scan revealed that she has intramural fibroids, which are small growths inside the uterus. "If not operated, Jemima will continue to bleed and this could lead to anaemia and other complications." $790 covers the cost of a total abdominal hysterectomy, a procedure to completely remove Jemima's uterus and rid her of the risk of future health problems. Jemima shares that she can't afford the treatment on her own, and her condition is affecting her ability to generate income. “I have struggled with this problem, sometimes I cannot even stand to sell at the kiosk yet we depend on this." "I hope I will have help and successful treatment so that I can continue working and supporting myself and my child," Jemima shares.

Three years ago, 29-year-old Sary began experiencing nasal obstruction that caused sneezing, severe headaches, and difficulty breathing. This has made it difficult for Sary, a husband and father from Cambodia, to work and care for his family. “His nose is often runny,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “He has an ethmoid (nasal) polyp on each side of his nose.” CSC can treat Sary with a polypectomy surgery to remove his nasal polyps. This brief procedure will eliminate his current symptoms, and costs $99. "It is difficult for me to breathe and there is sometimes a bad smell in my nose,” Sary says. "I hope after I am healed I can breathe easily and my runny nose will stop. I hope I won't have headaches anymore."

59-year-old Sart, who lives in Cambodia with her husband, six children and six grandchildren, first began experiencing blurred vision four months ago. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), informs us this is caused by a development of cataracts in both of her eyes. Cataracts are condition in which the lenses of the eyes become cloudy, resulting in a decline in vision. "It is hard to see everything and everyone clearly, go anywhere outside, or do any work easily,” shares Sart. Unfortunately, working as a rice farmer does not earn her enough money to afford treatment. Without any treatment, she runs the risk of completely losing her vision. CSC can help Sart’s vision through cataract removal surgery, which includes a SICS, small incision cataract surgery, procedure and an IOL, intraocular lens, implant insertion. This will cost a total of $225, which includes surgical expenses, medication and a two day stay at the hospital with meals included. “After a SICS and IOL implant in each eye, Sart will be able to see clearly again,” states CSC. “I hope my wife can see everything clearly again, so she can work and travel outside with more ease than now. I don’t want to worry about her eyes losing vision,” says her husband.

50-year-old Kyomugisha lives in a small village in Uganda with her husband and their nine children, five of whom are still in school. Kyomugisha stays at home to take care of the house and children, and her husband works as a casual laborer doing odd jobs in the community. She has a kitchen garden where she cuts bananas for her family and fetches water from a stream eight kilometers away. Kyomugisha has a goiter, or an enlarged thyroid. The swelling causes severe pain, difficulty breathing and eating, and palpitations. The pain from the goiter began in 1998, according to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). At the time, Kyomugisha could not afford the necessary surgery. Once she learned about the Watsi partnership at Nyakibale Hospital, she came to seek medical assistance. $170 will fund Kyomugisha’s thyroidectomy, which will remove the goiter and allow her to recover fully. “She will be free from the pain, palpitations, and be able to work well,” says AMHF. “I am scared of surgery but because I hope to be strong afterwards, I am encouraged that it will go well,” shares Kyomugisha.

"For two weeks now, Tabitha - a fruit seller - has not sold a single fruit. Having to bear with a lot of pain, Tabitha has had to take a hiatus," explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Tabitha, a divorced mother of five, has cancer of the right breast. Tabitha says she noticed a small painless lump in 2014. A year later, thousands spent, numerous tests done, Tabitha reports the lump has been rapidly increasing in size. The lump is also painful," AMHF continues. "Tabitha separated from her husband ten years ago. He provides little financial assistance and rarely communicates with the family. For ten years now, Tabitha has provided for her children and nurtured them: they have known her as both mother and father. Tabitha sells fruits in the central part of Kenya. From her earnings, Tabitha supports her mother who's diabetic and her last born daughter who is just out of high school." Tabitha needs a mastectomy to remove her breast, and ensure the cancer does not spread. Treatment will cost $740, but Tabitha has no way of affording the total cost. Fortunately, we can help make it happen. "We expect after a mastectomy, the risk of cancer spreading to other organs will be halted. Tabitha will be able to resume work and support her family," AMHF adds.

“Basemara is a house wife. She has been married for fourteen years but she has never had a child,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Basemera is 43 years old, and lives in Uganda with her husband. Basemera has uterine fibroids, or noncancerous growths of the uterine tissue. “Basemera has had lower abdominal pain for two years. She also has severe, very painful menstruation,” explains AMHF. “She has not been able to do any gardening for over eight months because of the pain. If not treated, Basemera will continue experiencing pain.” Basemera was initially advised to have surgery but could not afford treatment, and she has been visiting hospitals for medicine that temporarily relieve her pain. “Her husband doesn’t have a stable income; he operates a motorcycle taxi as his main source of income. Basemera depends on her husband for most of her needs, but sometimes when she has surplus from her harvest, she sells it to get money for basic house needs,” continues AMHF. For $250, Basemera can receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus, strengthen her pelvic floor, and fully relieve her painful symptoms. This cost includes hospital inpatient fees, surgical supplies, laboratory work, medication, and medical staff. AMHF says, “After surgery, Basemara will no longer be in pain. She hopes to get well again and resume her gardening, even to a larger scale for income generation.” Basemara is eager to regain her health. She tells us, “I have lived in pain for a long time, and I am very poor. I will be grateful if I get surgery and am relieved of pain. Thank you for your help.”

Meet 33-year-old Wilson, a married man living in Kenya and a father of two young children. “Wilson used to earn for his family by riding a taxi motorbike” while his wife cares for the children, shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Earlier this year, Wilson fractured his left femur when he was hit by a car while riding his motorbike. “Wilson was taken to the nearest hospital, where he was put on skin traction" and received a plaster cast. This treatment failed to heal his fracture, and "if not operated, Wilson may never be able to use his leg," AMHF adds. Wilson is the sole financial supporter of his family, and his injury prevents him from working. “Wilson’s family is depending on friends and family members for their basic needs, and are therefore unable to raise the money required for this important treatment.” For $1,125, Wilson will receive an open reduction and internal fixation surgery. In this two-part surgery, the bone is first put back in place and then is fixed with an internal device. AMHF expects that Wilson’s leg will heal well after the procedure and he will be able to walk again. “It has been five months of pain and struggle," Wilson shares. "May God help me to see my leg healed and being able to walk again. I pray that soon I will go back to work and support my family.”