Agatha is a humble and gentle young woman from Uganda. She lost both parents when she was still young but managed to complete primary school. Unfortunately, she could not proceed with further education due to a lack of school fees. As the firstborn in a family of three, she stayed at home, farming and taking care of her siblings until she found a partner and married at the age of 20 years. Currently, Agatha earns a living through farming, while her husband is constructing traditional houses made of mud and reeds. Her husband also engages in farming to ensure they have enough to feed the family. They reside in a two-roomed, semi-permanent muddy house. However, with their income, they can only sustain their family but cannot raise the money needed for Agatha's delivery. She is currently expecting her third child and her doctors recommended that she deliver via a cesarean section. This precaution is taken to prevent complications such as uterine rupture, which could be fatal or affect her health significantly if she attempts to deliver without this care. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Agatha undergo a C-section on December 19th. This procedure will cost $252, and Agatha needs your support. Agatha says, "I am financially unstable, and when I heard of the possibility of support, I decided to seek help for a healthy delivery."

Ester is a small-scale farmer and 38-year-old mother of 3 school-aged children. She is a humble and gentle person who traveled very far and waited patiently overnight for her diagnosis, after being directed to a surgical support program at the hospital due to the pain she is experiencing. She completed some school, but never got a chance to continue her education due to a lack of school fees. She does farming for a living but mostly does causal labour work in other people’s gardens to earn a side income. Her husband is a construction site porter. Ten years ago, Ester began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Ester receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 4th 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 to fund it. Ester says “All my hopes of getting healed of this condition are in you because I have tried on my own and failed. Please help me with this.”

Chhoem is a 50-year-old farmer. She has one son who works as a security guard. Chhoem's husband passed away eight years ago. She enjoys listening to the news on the radio and watching movies on TV. Around three years ago, Chhoem developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and a burning sensation. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. When Chhoem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Chhoem needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for February 4th. Chhoem says, "I hope after surgery my eye stops burning and I can feel comfortable. I want to return to planting rice without issues."

Margaret is a 65-year-old woman from Kenya. She is a happy lady with two adult sons, whom she raised as a young, single mother. Margaret initially sought care due to excruciating pains in her knee and right leg. Her knee problems started back in late 2017, and she visited a health facility in her hometown, Kiambu, for medical attention. However, after that first treatment, her condition has only deteriorated. After visiting several health centers, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, Kijabe Hospital. In early October, she was reviewed by their orthopedic team, who recommended a total knee replacement surgery. Margaret underwent a knee replacement procedure and was finally discharged after a lengthy stay in the hospital. Unfortunately, during her follow-up clinical review visits, her doctors continued to discover infections and fluctuant swelling that require further attention and treatment. Margaret has undergone additional treatment including draining and debridement on the area that was operated on during her total knee replacement surgery. Now, she will need another debridement and skin graft procedure, in addition to a total knee implant hardware removal, to prevent possible infections that could result in amputation or even death. She is currently ambulating on crutches. In the past, Margaret relied on national health insurance funding to support her medical and surgical treatment costs. However, the money has been depleted over time, and they are unable to cover any additional surgical bills for her. Margaret does not work and has been relying on her sons for physical and financial support. They do not have have stable jobs and are responsible for monitoring her treatment and care. Margaret and her sons have tried to raise funds from friends and relatives, to no avail. They are appealing for financial help. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Margaret receive treatment. On November 4th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to heal the infection and allow her to walk more easily. Now, Margaret needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Margaret shared, “I have been through a lot with this leg. Anytime it heals, the pain starts again. I can’t even sleep because of the pain. I appreciate any support you can provide."

Ny is a 69-year-old farmer from Cambodia. Ny was married with five sons, two daughters, and 10 grandchildren. Ny's husband died about 10 years ago from heart disease. Ny shared that she likes to relax and listen to the monks pray when she isn't working. Five years ago, Ny developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, tearing, irritation, cloudy lens, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Ny learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours by taxi with her daughter seeking treatment. On September 21st, doctors will perform phacoemulsification (Phaco) 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. Ny said, "I hope after surgery I can be able to help my daughter more and take care of my grandchildren."

Anifa is a student from Tanzania. Anifa is a friendly third born child in a family of four. Her mother describes her as hardworking both in school and at home. The class five student suffered severe burns on her left arm when she was three years old. While playing children's cooking games with her friends, Anifa's clothing caught fire as she was placing the cooking tin on the open fire. The severe burns saw her admitted to the hospital for a month. She healed with contractures on her left hand and armpit. At five years, she was funded by a visiting team of surgeons for a contracture release of the arm. However, the contractures on her axilla remain. The contractures limit her hand movement making it challenging to perform daily tasks. When her mother heard about our funding program from our outreach team who had visited their village, she brought her in to ask for help. Anifa is planned for a release and Z-plasty surgery in our ALMC hospital. Anifa's parents are small scale farmers of maize, rice and vegetables. Their income is limited to cater for the surgical cost and appeal for financial assistance Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Anifa receive treatment. On September 27th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to The surgery will restore Anifa's ability to move her hand with ease. Now, she needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Anifa’s mother says, “We have always wanted to treat our daughter and correct the remaining part but due to lack of money we have not been able to do that kindly help our daughter if it’s possible.”

Mursale is a child from Tanzania. Mursale is a three year old little boy and a third born child in his family, he is a calm but happy baby. Mursai’s father does small business in his hometown where by he sells construction sand and his mother is a small business woman, she own a small restaurant. Mursale was diagnosed with windswept deformity. His legs bow in a way to seem as though they are blown by the wind. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Mursale. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 19. Treatment will hopefully restore Mursale's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Mursale’s father says, “Please help my son get this treatment so that he is able to walk without difficulty.”

Mbondo is a nursery school pupil and likes reading and drawing. He also likes playing with other children and sometimes he says that his friends imitate him as he walks. Mbondo hails from Tulimani village in Makueni County. He is an orphan and lives with his grandparents. His mother passed 3 years ago as a result of an accident along Makutano junction Machakos road while his father passed 2 years later after a long illness. Mbondo was born with a condition known as knock knees, the grandmother did not notice the condition at an early stage until recently when he noticed the knees knocking each other and he was limping as he walks. Mbondo's grandparents who are taking care of him are farmers and mostly depend on their children for daily bread cannot afford to pay even a quarter of the estimated bill and thus requested for support.

Channak is a four-month-old baby boy. He has two sisters, and he likes to stay at home with his mother. Channak was born with a left clubfoot. He was treated by an organization in Phnom Penh, but his symptoms did not improve. When his parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On November 23, CSC surgeons performed a clubfoot correction surgery. This procedure will help Channak walk normally. His family needs help to pay his $304 medical bill.