Molly is a 50-year-old wife and mother, living in Uganda. She and her husband - both of whom are small scale farmers - have five children, ranging in age from nine to twenty years. For the past year, Molly has been experiencing severe low abdominal pains and other worrying symptoms. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and provided with various medications to help with her condition. Nothing has proven to be effective, so Molly will need to undergo a hysterectomy, to have her uterus removed. Molly and her husband work hard, but do not often earn enough money to cover their basic, daily expenses. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking your help to fund Molly's surgery, which will take place on November 4th at Rushoroza Hospital, and cost $319. After she has recovered, Molly should be able to resume her life, free of her current symptoms. Molly says: “I hope to get treated through surgery. I can no longer do my day-to-day duties well. Once I am feeling better I want to be able to keep farming and provide for my family."

Sophy is a 42-year-old noodle seller from Cambodia. She and her husband have been married for 19 years and have two children together, one son and one daughter, both in elementary school. Her husband is a farmer and sells his vegetables at the same market where Sophy works. She spends much of her time looking after their two young children, and taking them to play outside in nature. In March 2020, she dislocated her left elbow in an accidental fall. A neighbor made a splint out of bamboo for her, which she wore for three weeks. However, her elbow soon became swollen and stiff. She is unable to use her left arm, and she feels a constant mild pain in her elbow. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 13th, Sophy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will allow Sophy to regain movement of her arm and reduce the pain. Sophy said, "I am looking forward to picking my kids up in my arms and playing with them again once my elbow feels no pain."

Meet Belinda, a quiet lady in her mid-30’s from Kenya who has been blessed with two kids. Belinda runs a small grocery business in the market to make ends meet. Her husband takes up casual jobs such as clearing bushes to compliment his wife's income. The family lives in a single rental house and their daily income is not sufficient to meet all the expenses including surgery fees. On 30th November 2019, Belinda fell and fractured her right proximal radius. She had a cast applied and went home awaiting funds for surgery. She was not able to raise funds required yet she desperately needs the surgery. Belinda is not able to cook for her family nor operate her grocery business. With successful surgery, Belinda will be able to use her hand with ease and reduce chances of further complications on the fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On December 10th, Belinda will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. Belinda says, “Life has never been the same since I broke my hand. I am worried about my children who need care every day. My hope is to get treated so that I can continue supporting my family.”

Hadija is a five-year-old girl from Tanzania and is the second born child in a family of three children. She is a friendly girl and currently in kindergarten. Her family is concerned she might not be able to walk to school any more due to her legs being curved making walking hard and painful for her. Hadija was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. Her legs are bowed so that her knees do not touch. 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 cannot walk properly. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Hadija. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 6th. Treatment will hopefully restore Hadija's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Hadija’s father says, “Please help my daughter, she might not be able to walk at all if her legs are not treated.’’

Ruth is a mother of four and grandmother to four from Malawi. She is a farmer who is also responsible for household chores such as cleaning, fetching water, and tending to her garden. Since October 2016, Ruth has been experiencing abdominal pain and urinary pain. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $650 to fund Ruth's surgery. On October 23, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and seven nights of hospital stay. She is very much looking forward to living a normal and healthy life again. She says, "I came here for surgery but am unable to pay for it myself, so thanks to this program I can have good care."

Kehoda is a 46-year-old housewife from Uganda, with seven children and a supportive family of sisters and parents who live nearby. Her husband works at a distant farm, earning a modest amount for the family’s necessities, but everyone does their share to pitch in and share the burden. Kehoda’s responsibility is to take care of some day-to-day errands, such as walking to get water from the stream around five kilometers away, or washing clothes. About one year ago, Kehoda developed multiple uterine fibroids, which are benign uterine tumors. This causes her extreme lower abdominal pain, which she feels even when simply standing. The pain is too great for her to complete her responsibilities, and although her family is helping her as best she can, she needs treatment. “I hope to be well and be able to look after my parents,” Kehoda says. For $165, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, will perform a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove the fibroids. Funding covers everything from the surgery and anesthesia to the inpatient recovery care for 4 days. The procedure will remove her uterus and the tumors within it, and cure her of her incessant abdominal pain. In less than six weeks, Kehoda will be fully recovered, pain-free, and once again be able to help her family and small community.

Elias is an adorable ten-day-old baby boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Elias is the second born to two small scale farmers. "Elias was born with congenital clubfoot," shares AMHF. Clubfoot is an abnormality characterized by a twisted foot or feet out of the normal shape. AMHF explains that Elias will be "forced to use the lateral aspect of his feet for walking if not treated." At birth, Elias' mother was advised to start treatment for his condition. Due to their small income, the family is not able to cover the cost of treatment. $1,160 will provide funding to treat Elias' clubfoot. AMHF says that this procedure will allow Elias to walk properly. "All I wish is for my son's feet to be straight so that when he grows up he can be able to walk properly, play, and go to school like other children," says Elias' mother.

This smiley girl is Hun! Hun is a two-year-old girl from Cambodia who enjoys playing with her two older siblings and eating vegetable soup. "Hun was born with left drooping eyelid which will create issues for her vision as she grows," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Hun needs $290 for a surgery that will lift her eyelid to a more normal level, improving her vision. “I want my daughter to be beautiful and normal like other kids and be able to start school without problems,” says Hun’s mother. Let’s help Hun see clearly so she can go to school and live a normal life.