Kyomugisha is a school nurse from Uganda. She is a widowed mother of two children and lost her husband ten years ago. Both children are still in school at the secondary level. Ever since she lost her husband she feels she has been the mother and father to her children. With her limited salary, she has been able to pay for their school fees, provide them with basic needs and pay rent. Since four years ago, Kyomugisha began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath and persistent headaches. 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 Kyomugisha receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 2nd at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $264, and she and her family need help raising money. Kyomugisha says: “I pray that my surgery goes well. I hope my condition will improve and I can continue hustling with life because my children still need my support.”

Chum is 56-year-old farmer from Cambodia. Chum lives with her daughters, who work at a garment factory. Together they take care of Chum's first grandchild. Chum's husband passed away fourteen years ago. When it is not planting season, Chum cooks for her family, and enjoys watching Thai dramas on TV. About five years ago, Chum developed a pterygium in both eyes, causing her blurred vision, irritation, and constant tearing. She feels a burning sensation in her eyes all day long. 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 Chum learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Chum 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 June 4th. Chum said, "I just want this burning feeling to be gone, and I hope that I can get clear vision as well. After the surgery I will spend a lot of time with my grandchild and work again."

Khom is a 73-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has four children, ten grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio in her spare time. Two months ago, Khom developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Khom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 19th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery 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 $211 procedure. Khom said, "I hope that after my operation, I will be able to see clearly again and can return to work and sell my Khmer desserts."