Sathya is a charming, 4-year-old boy, living in Cambodia with his parents and younger sister. At home, he enjoys painting and drawing, and his favorite foods are Cambodian soup and fried eggs. Yesterday, Sathya was playing at home with a small object. His mother saw him stick a small, round, green item into his ear, and then realized, too late, that it had become stuck. Sathya is scared, and he also has pain in his right ear. Sathya's family sought help from the doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On January 10th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will remove the object from Sathya's ear. Now, Sathya and his family need help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. Sathya's mother said: "I hope after removing this from my son's ear, he is not in pain anymore."

Isaac is a bright 18-year-old student from Uganda and the fourth child in his family of seven. He stays with his guardian, who is currently helping with his school fees. Isaac's parents are small-scale farmers and unable to afford the cost of his surgery needs. About seven months ago, Isaac developed a small, painless swelling on his forehead that he hoped would disappear with time. However, the mass has been increasing in size, and Isaac is concerned about future complications. Fortunately, he traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 10th, surgeons will remove the mass. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $145 to fund this procedure. Isaac said: “I pray for a successful surgery. I want to look normal again. I will continue with education after recovery for a bright future.”

John is a hawker (the local name for a street vendor) from Kenya. He has six children all under the age of 18 years. His wife helps at home and John is the family's sole breadwinner. Lately, due to his condition, John has been unable to work. He has no alternate source of income, and shared that he is struggling to raise his family. John first started experiencing a loss of appetite and stomach pain in April 2022. He visited a local health center and was treated for stomach aches, but his condition did not improve. He later started having episodes of diarrhea and has lost a significant amount of weight. He also has been experiencing bleeding that has caused him anemia. As a result, he has had several blood transfusions and hospital admissions. Recently, a biopsy at Kijabe Hospital revealed that John has colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon grow out of control. At the current stage, his doctors feel the cancer can be stopped surgically from spreading. However, the procedure has to be done as soon as possible because it is urgent. He is now scheduled to undergo surgery and needs support. Unfortunately, John does not have medical coverage and cannot afford the surgery. He is requesting financial assistance to support the $1,074 needed for his medical care. John says, “I cannot eat, and I have lost a lot of weight. I have had several blood transfusions because of bleeding. I need this surgery to help fight the cancer.”

Boaz is a farmer who is married with three school-aged kids. His wife joins him in the farm for subsistence farming, where most of his income goes towards meeting the family's daily needs. There is little surplus for funds needed for medical care. Boaz has been experiencing painful swelling on his upper back for the last six months. He is not able to work without pain, especially on strenuous activities which are his day-to-day duties. Boaz traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 24th, surgeons will remove the mass on his back to treat the painful swelling. Boaz needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Boaz says “I will be much better when my health is restored, and I resume to my usual activities, living a better life.”

Seang is a loving 73-year-old grandmother from the Battambang province of Cambodia. She has one son, four daughters, and ten grandchildren. She lives with her husband and her son, who works as a motorbike taxi driver. At home, Seang enjoys joining ceremonies at her local pagoda and cooking for her grandchildren. About three months ago, Seang developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience blurry vision, tearing, and a cloudy lens. As a result, she has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go out on her own. When Seang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for eight and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 5th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure. Seang shared, "I hope my vision improves and I can get around easily by myself. I want to be able to help care for my grandchildren and walk to the pagoda by myself."

39-year-old Eunice is a mother of three school-age children. She and her husband work as subsistence farmers in Uganda. For the past year, Eunice has lived with an incisional hernia, which occurs after the unsuccessful healing of a surgical wound. The hernia causes her severe pain when she bends or has to lift items, limiting her ability to work around the farm. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $230 to fund Eunice's hernia repair surgery, which is scheduled to take place on February 14th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. After surgery, Eunice should be able to live more comfortably and confidently. Eunice says: “My life is so wearied as I live a poor quality of life due to my condition. I believe that once am helped and have my condition treated, I will work hard to again live a better lifestyle.”

Janet is a 23-year-old young lady from Uganda. She is currently a student in her final year pursuing a diploma in accounting. She is the youngest of three children. Her parents work as farmers and own a four-room mud house for shelter. Janet has had a right inguinal hernia for two years. After a year, she visited a nearby health unit and was given medication, but there was no improvement in her condition. Currently, she experiences on-and-off swelling, and it is very painful when it appears. This is common whenever she walks long distances, develops a cough, or needs to squat down. On March 22nd, Janet will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $170 to fund Janet's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Janet says, “I believe my condition is abnormal and I am worried. I pray that I may have a successful surgery and be able to take on my studies comfortably.”

Sun is a 60-year-old grandmother from Phnom Penh. She is married with one daughter, two sons, and eight grandchildren. Sun and her husband have recently moved to Phnom Penh to live with one of their sons, who works in a nearby garment factory. Before moving to the city, Sun and her husband were farmers living in a rural area. Her hobbies are cooking and listening to monks chanting on the local radio station. About eight years ago, Sun developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The abnormal growth of cells over the pupil causes Sun to have difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going outside. When Sun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for an hour seeking treatment. Sun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva growth from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for January 30th. She said, "I hope after surgery my eye stops hurting, and I can take care of my grandchildren."

Marion is a small scale farmer. She is married with seven children, all of whom attend primary and secondary school. Their family lives in a two-room semi-permanent house and relies on farming, selling surplus crops to pay for school fees and other family needs. She had sought help at various health facilities but was unable to receive treatment due to her inability to pay. However, after learning that she might receive assistance with support of donors, Marion traveled to our medical partner's care center hoping to receive treatment. Marion presented at the hospital with swelling that has been present for a year. The swelling had become increasingly painful. As a result, she is living with a poor quality of life, and is unable to perform work or day-to-day duties. Without treatment, her condition will continue to affect her daily activities. On April 12th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Marion needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Marion says “I am stressed because am helpless since I don’t have money. I have suffered a lot with the condition, and I feel exhausted."

35-year-old Patience is a homemaker living in Uganda with her husband and two children, a seven-year-old and a three-year-old. Her husband is a farmer and also runs a small shop that sells plant seeds. Patience, who attained a diploma in legal studies, has been unable to find employment. Patience is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors recommended that she deliver via a Caesarean section, which is how she delivered her first two children. Patience's doctors feel that a C-section is the best way to ensure the safety of both Patience and her child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Patience undergo a C-section on April 25th, at Rushoroza Hospital. This procedure will cost $214, and Patience needs your support to fund the procedure. Patience said: “I pray that I may have a successful surgery. I plan to join my husband in farming, so that I may support him in developing our family."

Sngoeurn is a 37-year-old rice farmer from Kandal Province in Cambodia. His wife is a factory worker and they have two young sons. When Sngoeurn isn't working, he looks forward to taking his sons fishing. In 2015, Sngoeurn was in a motorcycle accident and fractured his left leg (tibia). He was sent to a private clinic where he underwent surgery and had hardware implanted in his leg to stabilize the fractured bone. Now that the bone has healed completely, Sngoeurn wants the metal hardware removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 25th, Sngoeurn will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. This procedure, which will cost $304, will help ease the pain that Sngoeurn continues to feel in his leg. Now he needs your help to fund the procedure. Sngoeurn shared: "After surgery, I hope I will be healthy and won't have to worry about my leg again."

John is a 79-year-old banana farmer from Uganda. He is a small-scale farmer and, together with his wife, they care for their banana plantation to earn a living for their family. He is a father of nine with three school-aged children. John and his wife are currently living with their youngest son as they repair their mud-made house. For two years, John has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia causes him severe pain. The swelling appears when he stands for a long period of time. It is even more painful after walking long distances and he has currently stopped farming completely. He needs surgery and is asking for support. Fortunately, on February 15th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund John's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. John says, “I pray and hope that I may get well through surgery and be able to live a normal and more productive life once again. I will continue with farming after recovery.”