Give the gift of healthcare

Addah is a 50-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. She primarily farms beans and sorghum. She has visited many health centers over the years with her husband by her side, undergoing myomectomy and herniorrhaphy surgeries about six years ago, but she is still experiencing a troubling health condition. Four years ago, Addah developed a small swelling near her umbilical cord that has been increasing in size slightly over time. Recently, she also started feeling pain at the site of the mass and is concerned. Fortunately, Addah could travel to our medical partner’s care center for treatment. On May 5th, surgeons will remove the mass. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $145 to fund this procedure. Addah shared: “I hope to live a normal and comfortable life once again after surgery. I will continue with farming to be able to take good care of myself and my family.”

Jasibe, who is only four months old, lives with her mother, grandparents and three older siblings in the mountains above La Paz, Bolivia. Jasibe was born with a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart, and a leak between two of the major blood vessels near her heart. As a result, blood doesn't flow normally through her body, and she struggles to breathe and to gain weight. Fortunately, our medical partner is here to help. On April 5th, doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will perform surgery, and repair both of these defects, so that blood can flow normally through Jasibe's body. Now she and her family need your help to raise $1,500 for this life changing procedure. Jasibe's mother said: "Our family is praying that after this surgery our daughter will become healthy and will be able to gain weight!"

Kebeyi, a devoted mother of four children, works alongside her husband as small-scale farmers in Uganda. However, for the past 30 years, she has been grappling with progressive neck swelling, resulting in disfigurement. Despite trying local herbal remedies, her condition has not improved. Kebeyi now experiences troubling symptoms, including fatigue even with minimal exertion, breathing difficulties, and difficulty carrying objects on her head. As a farmer, her work performance has been hindered, leading to a lack of food at home for her family. Without treatment, Kebeyi's condition will worsen, causing airway obstruction and severely impacting her quality of life. She has been diagnosed with non-toxic goitre and requires surgery to prevent further deterioration of her symptoms. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Kebeyi receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 8th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The required procedure to address Kebeyi's condition comes with a cost of $252, and her family is seeking assistance in raising the necessary funds. Kebeyi says, "I will appreciate it once my condition is totally treated, and I am able to live a better quality of life and resume farming for a living with my family."

Hen is a 46-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. She lives in Kampot province with her husband and her three children. Both Hen and her husband recently got jobs in construction, after many years as rice farmers. In her free time, Hen likes spending time with her family and growing vegetables around her house. In 2020, Hen was in a motorbike accident and fractured her left knee. She was taken to a nearby clinic and treated for the fracture with internal hardware. The fracture has healed, but she developed chronic pain and muscle stiffness in her left leg. She is unable to fully straighten her knee, which makes everyday activities extremely difficult or impossible. When Hen learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 11th, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure on her left leg. This procedure will help her improve her leg function and mobility. Now, Hen needs help to fund this $482 procedure. She shared, "I hope I can go home and be able to walk and not be in pain."

Esther is a 37-year-old businesswoman, who lives with her husband and two young children in Kenya. Both she and her husband work as brokers, selling cars. Business has been slow, and in addition, two of Esther's sisters passed away, leaving Esther and her husband to care for the sisters' children. One month ago, Esther was trying to reach for something in her home, by standing on a stool. The stool broke, and Esther fell, injuring her left arm. She was in a lot of pain, and was rushed to a nearby clinic for examination. From there, she was sent on to another facility, where an X-ray revealed that she had fractured her left humerus. Since the accident, Esther has not been able to work, and currently, the family relies on her husband for provisions. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On September 6th, Esther will undergo a fracture repair procedure - called an open reduction and internal fixation - at AIC Kijabe Hospital. The surgery will help her to heal, so that she will be able to resume her work to support her family. Now she needs your help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Esther says: “I cannot work and help provide for my family. I want to be independent again.”

Ruthmeeah is a one-year-old baby girl living with her parents near the northern coast of Haiti. Ruthmeeah was born with a rare, congenital heart condition, known as Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition is characterized by four separate defects of the heart, including a hole between the heart's two lower chambers, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Ruthmeeah will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 25th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to prevent blood from leaking through it; they will also remove the blockage from the valve. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6,000 to pay for Ruthmeeah's surgery. Ruthmeeah's family needs your help to raise an additional $1,500 to cover the costs of her pre-surgical prep, labs, medicines, and follow-up appointments. This money will also be used to pay for passports and for the social workers who will accompany Ruthmeeah and her family to the Dominican Republic. Ruthmeeah's mother said: "Our family has been praying very hard that our daughter would survive long enough to have this surgery, and we are so glad that our prayers are being answered."

Peace is an 80-year-old farmer facing difficulties maintaining a comfortable life in the wake of a debilitating gynecological condition. For two years, Peace has suffered from a protrusion that has left her fatigued, in constant pain, and with other worrying issues. Peace has been widowed for 33 years and had 6 children; sadly, 2 of her children have passed away. The living 4 are married, self-employed, and unable to provide full-time care for their mother. Due to the sensitive nature of her condition, Peace faces ostracization in her community and is unable to find a caregiver. Previously, Peace worked on a farm to support herself, but has been unable to farm since the onset of her symptoms, leaving her in a tenuous financial state. If left untreated, Peace's persistent symptoms will continue to make her life exceedingly challenging. She has been unable to seek treatment at a hospital due to the financial burden, relying instead on painkillers from a clinic to alleviate her discomfort. Peace earnestly requests your support to raise $243 for surgery, which will improve her overall quality of life. Peace says, “I have been battling with this condition for quite long; I do request for any possible support to restore my health to enable me to get back to farming.”

Nice is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She is currently a mother of two children and is expecting her third child. Her husband does casual jobs such as loading cargo, timber work, and other casual jobs to support his family. Nice is the second born of seven children; four of her siblings are married and self-employed while others are still in school. She has been attending the antenatal clinic at the Ruhinda health center in Uganda. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Nice is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors recommended she deliver via a caesarean section because of two previous scars. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. But Nice and her husband cannot afford the surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Nice undergo a C-Section on May 11th. This procedure will cost $252, and Nice needs your support. Nice says, “I will be glad to have my surgery funded by the donors since I have no option to getting any money for this cause. I shall resume farming after surgery to earn a living.”

Naw Say, a 30-year-old woman, resides in a refugee camp located in Mae Hong Son Province with her husband and daughter. Originally from Burma, they sought refuge in 2010 due to conflict in their homeland. Naw Say works as a nurse in the camp while her husband is employed as a day laborer in a nearby Thai village. They receive a monthly cash card payment of 848 baht (approximately 28 USD) from The Border Consortium, which barely covers their daily expenses. The organization Malteser International (MI) Thailand provides them with essential healthcare services at the camp's hospital. In her leisure time, Naw Say enjoys sewing clothes for her family. Currently pregnant with her second child, Naw Say's doctors have advised her to undergo a scheduled cesarean section (C-Section). This recommendation is based on her previous childbirth experience where her first baby's head couldn't pass through her pelvis opening, necessitating an emergency C-Section. Our partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping facilitate Naw Say's C-Section procedure on August 5th, and is requesting $1500 to help fund the procedure. Naw Say is in need of your support for this important medical procedure. Naw Say said, “I want to have a boy this time because I already have a daughter. I love being a nurse and I enjoy taking care of people who are sick."

Ky is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Kompong Thom province. She has six sons and five grandchildren. Currently, she lives with her third son, a construction worker. Since her vision problems developed, she has not gone to work in the rice fields. Instead, she helps care for her grandchildren and, in her free time, she likes to listen to monks chanting on the radio. One year ago, Ky developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her cloudy vision and sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus is unable to travel on her own. When Ky learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 27th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She said, "I hope my eyesight can improve so I can work and take care of my family."

Patience is a 25-year-old mother who is pregnant with her second child. She and her husband work as a small-scale farmers to provide for their family. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Patience tragically experienced a stillbirth in 2022, so she has been taking extra care with this pregnancy. She has diligently attended all of her antenatal care appointments and has received comprehensive care throughout her pregnancy. Due to the previous loss and her desire for a successful pregnancy, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section (C-section) to ensure the safety of both Patience and her baby. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Patience undergo a C-Section on July 11th. This procedure will cost $252, and Patience needs your support to fund the procedure. Patience says, “I am so burdened to pay this bill since I don’t have money, but I know with your support I will be able to deliver a live and healthier baby and also be counted as a mother.”

Muk is a 46-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and has four sons and seven grandchildren. She lives in the capital city of Phnom Penh with her husband and youngest son, who is a high school student. Muk sells pork for a living and, in her free time, likes to watch the news and check her social media. About two years ago, Muk developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. 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. As a result, she has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going outside. When Muk learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for an hour seeking treatment. Muk needs to undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. This surgery costs $225, which covers all medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Muk will undergo surgery on August 7th. She contributed $50 to her care. Muk shared, "I hope I can have surgery and go back to my life without worrying and be able to do my job better."