Young is a 62-year-old farmer. She has two sons, five daughters, and many grandchildren. Young shared that her husband passed away, and she now lives with her oldest daughter, who is a rice farmer. Young likes to plant vegetables around the house to help feed her family, and she enjoys listening to the monk pray on the radio. Two years ago, Young developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and discoloration in her eye. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, the mucous layer that lubricates the eye. When Young learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 2nd, she will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. CSC is requesting $225 to fund her procedure, which includes medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Young says, "After surgery, I hope my eye can see better. I want to plant crops again to help feed my family."

Lovence is a soft-spoken 30-year-old woman. She and her husband practice small-scale farming. Lovence's husband also makes a traditional beer, called tonto, to help supplement their income. However, she shared that their banana crop was affected by a disease, limiting their income while working to clear the land. For about two years, Lovence has had an epigastric hernia. Her symptoms worsen when she does strenuous work, which is challenging since farming is physically demanding. She visited Nyakibale Hospital for review, and the doctors determined she would need to undergo surgery to heal. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Lovence receive treatment. On April 12th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery to help her live more comfortably and confidently upon recovery. AMH is requesting $230 to fund Lovence's surgery. Lovence says, “I expect to get well once given your support to undergo my surgery and hope to continue with farming to sustain my family.”

Em is a 61-year-old woman who is married to a farmer and has two sons, three daughters, and several grandchildren. Em enjoys exercising, cooking for her family, and playing with her grandchildren. In December 2019, Em slipped and fell fracturing her left wrist. Em went to a government hospital where doctors fixated hardware to heal the fracture. This hardware still causes Em pain and can be removed now that the bone is healed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. CSC is helping Em raise $230 to cover the cost of the hardware removal on February 18th. This treatment will limit her risk of infection and allow her to fully use her hand again. Em shared, "I hope I can recover quickly and return home soon."

SreyLean is a 15-year-old student in the tenth grade. She has one younger brother in grade seven. Her parents are rainy day rice farmers. SreyLean enjoys reading, cooking, and exercising with her friends. She likes math in school and would like to be a lawyer when she grows up. A month ago, SreyLean was involved in a motorcycle collision on her way home from school and fractured her left knee. Her parents took her to a government hospital to repair the fracture, but because they couldn't pay for her treatment, they left the hospital early. Her wound remains open and is not healing well. It is painful and she is unable to walk. When SreyLean's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On March 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a muscle skin flap to to heal the open wound on her left leg. Now, she needs help to fund this $657 procedure. "I hope that my leg will be quickly healed and this infection will go away. I want to be able to walk again," SreyLean shared.

Kabagonza is a farmer from Uganda. He is married and a father of nine children. Since 2016, Kabagonza has had a swelling on his right buttock that is growing in size gradually. This causes him pain and discomfort. Kabagonza traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 11, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Kabagonza needs help to raise $196 to fund this procedure. He says, "I will resume with farming after the treatment."

Vanna is a factory worker from Cambodia. She has three brothers. She is married and has one son and one daughter. She likes to tend to her vegetable garden. Vanna has strabismus in her right eye. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. She has blurred vision and photophobia. Vanna traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 1, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align her eyes. Now, Vanna needs help to raise $292 to fund this procedure. She says, "I hope my surgery is successful and I can return to work soon."

John is a student from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of four. John loves playing football. His father is a mechanic at the local shopping center, while his mother is a housewife. John recently got into a motorcycle accident, which left him with a fracture of the left tibia. It is difficult for him to walk without support, and he is in chronic pain Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 12, John will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily, and he will be able to play football again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure.

Sok is a girl from Cambodia. She has two sisters and two brothers. She enjoys reading and eating fruit. After school, she likes to play with her neighbors outside and sing. Sok was born with scoliosis, which is progressing with age, making it difficult to sit in school for long periods, and causing a lot of discomfort. Surgery can help correct the position of her spine, and prevent further worsening of the condition. She needs to undergo a rod expansion to improve her posture and get rid of her back pain. Surgery is scheduled for June 12 at our medical partner's care center. Now, her family needs help raising $1,500. She says, "I hope my back doesn't hurt so much after surgery and I can return to school."

Costine is a young student from Kenya. His mother is a housewife, and his father is a farmer. In May, Costine was herding their cattle when he slid and sustained a severe hip fracture. He was rushed to the nearest hospital for first aid and later referred to our medical partner's hospital. He cannot lift or touch anything with his right hand and has not been attending school. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 17, Costine will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Costine will be able to use his hand and help out his parents at home and he will be able to go back to school. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. Costine says, “I miss my friends at school, I want to get treated so that I can rejoin my friends at school."

Ngwe is a 61-year-old from Burma. She lives with her husband, grandson, and niece. Both Ngwe and her husband used to be farmers, but now her son supports the family. He is a farmer as well, but he does not live in the same village. Last month, Ngwe began to experience pain and troubling gynecological symptoms. She has been diagnosed with a uterine prolapse. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ngwe's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ngwe is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on April 17. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Ngwe will be feel more comfortable and she will no longer experience pain and bleeding anymore. “I want to pray more at the Buddhist temple and give more offerings. I also want to be able to cook again, clean, and take care of my home. I do not want to go back to work; I feel that my body is too old to put up with physical work from now on," says Ngwe.

Blee is 45 years old and lives with her husband, three sons, and one daughter in Karen State, Burma. The whole family, except the youngest daughter, works on their farm, planting rice and raising chickens, pigs, and goats. About a year ago, Blee visited the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a goiter. She was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for a assistance in receiving treatment. Since she learned she has a goiter, Blee has been very worried that her family might have to spend a lot of time caring for her instead of working. Fortunately, she is now scheduled for thyroid surgery on March 19. Her family needs help raising $1,500 to fund the procedure. She says, "I enjoy collecting vegetables in the forest and beside plantations. I hope to get healthy soon again in order to help on my family’s farm again."

Paul is a farmer from Kenya. He is married and a father of seven. Paul plants cassava and millet for both commercial purpose and family use. Earlier this month, Paul sustained several injuries. Now, he is not able to walk and is in a lot of pain. He has been diagnosed with a bilateral tibia fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 12, Paul will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $968 to fund this procedure.