Buddi is a 50-year-old woman from Nepal. She lives with her husband and children. She and her family members support themselves through farming. For some time, Buddi has been living with a hernia, a condition in which an organ pushes through the abdominal wall. In the past week, Buddi began experiencing immense pain and has been unable to walk. Seeking treatment, Buddi and her husband traveled to our medical partner's care center, Bayalpata Hospital. On February 7, Buddi will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, Possible, is asking for $451 to cover the costs of labs, medication, and hospital stay fees. "I hope my wife's treatment is successful," says Buddi's husband.

Thea is a ten-year-old girl from Cambodia in the second grade. She has seven siblings. Thea developed a skin growth in her left ear that causes her discomfort, hearing loss, and tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ear). It is difficult for Thea to hear, and she often misses school. On February 16, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a mastoidectomy procedure in Thea's left ear. They will remove the skin growth. This will heal her of her symptoms and improve her hearing. CSC is requesting $842 to fund the procedure.

Oun is an 81-year-old grandmother who loves going out to the pagoda. She is married and has one son, two daughters, and fifteen grandchildren. Oun developed a cataract in each eye two years ago. A cataract is a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively cloudy, causing blurry vision. Oun has trouble recognizing faces, performing household chores, and traveling places on her own. Oun traveled three hours with her daughter to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. On February 2, surgeons will remove the lens from each eye and replace them with an artificial implants. This $292 procedure will help Oun see clearly again. Oun says, "I hope to see more clearly than now so that I can recognize the faces of everyone and easily go to the pagoda."

“I thank the donors for their support [so I can] access these services," shares 36-year-old Enid. "Helping with my health needs is the best thing someone can ever do for me. May God bless you abundantly.” Meet Enid, a mother of two from rural Uganda. Enid works on the local village police force, helping to maintain law and order. In her free time, Enid enjoys teaching her sons and serving her community by educating people about their rights. Four years ago, Enid began to experience pain caused by uterine fibroids. The pain has prevented her from working. Medications provided by local clinics have not reduced her symptoms. On November 23, Enid underwent a hysterectomy, during which doctors removed her fibroids and her uterus. After recovery, she will be pain-free. Though she is contributing $4 to her care, she needs help to pay her remaining $321 medical bill. Enid is looking forward to returning to her community and serving other women in her role as a local police woman. She hopes to raise money to pay tuition for her sons.

Meet Sonia, a 24-year-old mother of two. Sonia, her husband, and their children live in a Ugandan village. She is a small-scale subsistence farmer who grows beans, maize, cassava, potatoes, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts. Her husband works with her in the gardens. He also works as a porter, loading and off-loading trucks. In her spare time, Sonia enjoys watching news on a local TV station at a neighbor’s house and attending church services to praise God. Sonia is HIV-positive. She sings and dances in a local drama group, which travels to spread HIV prevention messages to youth. Sonia also enjoys listening to USAID radio programs on HIV/AIDS prevention. Sonia visited our medical partner's hospital when she was pregnant with twins. Her doctors considered her a high-risk pregnancy, and they recommended she give birth in the hospital. On November 19, she checked into the hospital to await delivery. Sonia and her husband contributed $8 to her care, and they are requesting an additional $241. This funding covers all medical expenses and a three-night stay in the hospital. Sonia is looking forward to starting a small business to support her twin babies and her family. She plans to resume her farming when the twins are able to walk. "I thank the donors for supporting my treatment that I would not afford despite working hard," Sonia says. "May God bless the donors.”

Daw Mae is a 65-year-old woman from Burma. She has eight children. She lives with one of her daughters and her nine-year-old grandson. Daw Mae used to work as a day laborer, but she retired fifteen years ago. Now, she stays at home to look after her grandson, cook food for the family, and do household chores. Her daughter supports the family by working as an agricultural day laborer. Daw Mae’s grandson is in fourth grade. In early 2016, Daw Mae's left eye started to feel itchy. Six months later, the itchiness worsened, her upper eyelid swelled, and her vision became narrower. Her eyes also became very sensitive to sunlight. Daw Mae decided to visit a clinic, where the doctor informed her that she needed surgery. Daw Mae’s oldest daughter knew about our medical partner's hospital and suggested her mother seek treatment there. Her children pooled their money to pay for her travels to the hospital. On November 9, Daw Mae underwent a CT scan to diagnose her symptoms. Our medical partner is requesting $414 to fund this procedure. “I hope just to live with my children a little bit longer," shares Daw Mae.

Sokhorn is a 45-year-old rice farmer who is married with one son and three daughters. She likes to watch the news and Khmer dramas on TV. About two years ago, Sokhorn developed a pterygium in each eye, causing her blurred vision, irritation, tearing, and cloudy lenses. A pterygium is an eye growth often caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. Sokhorn has difficulty seeing things clearly, doing any work, and going anywhere outside. Fortunately, a simple $148 eye surgery can remove the growth, restoring her vision and easing her pain and irritation. On October 21, Sokhorn underwent surgery with our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Sokhorn says, "I hope to look better and feel more comfortable so that I can do any work easily and I can go anywhere outside."