Generous is is a 65-year-old woman from Uganda. She is a widowed mother of two, and a grandmother of five. Generous currently lives with and helps care for two of her grandchildren. She has no stable source of income, and depends on small-scale farming, which generates very little income for household needs and the grandchildren under her care. In her free time, she enjoys weaving, although her condition has made it increasingly difficult for her to continue. About 40 years ago, Generous began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling. Over the years, the swelling progressively increased in size and became associated with difficulty swallowing and intermittent palpitations. The condition has caused longstanding discomfort and distress. The swelling has also significantly affected her physical appearance, confidence, and self-esteem. These challenges have reduced her enjoyment of activities she once loved, including weaving. Determined to seek treatment, she borrowed approximately USD 4 from her local village savings group for transport and travelled nearly two hours to reach Rushoroza Hospital after being encouraged by a friend who had previously received treatment there. She was diagnosed with bilateral multinodular goitre, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Generous receive treatment. On September 1st, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising the funds. Generous says, “I have lived with this swelling for almost my entire life, and it has taken away my confidence and comfort. I simply wish to live without the burden I have carried for so many years. I humbly request the donor program to help me receive this surgery. Your support will give me more than treatment, it will give me back my dignity, strength, and hope to continue caring for my grandchildren. May God richly bless you for standing with me.”

Punleu is a 17-year-old Grade 11 student from Cambodia. He lives in Kampot Province with his parents and younger brother, who is in Grade 8. His father works as a construction contractor, and his mother stays at home to manage household duties and take care of their orange farm. Punleu enjoys studying Khmer literature. In his free time, he likes listening to music and playing volleyball with his friends in the village. He hopes to become an agricultural specialist in the future. In December 2024, Punleu was in in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture in his right lower leg. He was treated at a provincial hospital where he underwent ORIF surgery with plate and screw fixation of the leg. Since the surgery, he has been experiencing pain when walking long distances and stiffness in his right leg during cold weather, which affects his daily activities and mobility. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 18th, Punleu will undergo a hardware removal procedure to reduce pain and stiffness and improve his walking ability and overall comfort. Punleu's family is contributing to his surgery, but they need to raise an additional $303 for the procedure. Punleu says, “After the surgery, I hope I will be able to walk better without pain, regain my strength and confidence, and return to my normal daily life, studies, and activities without any limitation.”

Theng is a 53-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and lives with his wife, who also works as a farmer. They have four children who work in garment factories and a company. In his free time, he enjoys watching the news and boxing programs on television. Since 2024, Theng has been experiencing pain in both hips, with the right hip more severely affected than the left. He was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN), a condition in which reduced blood supply causes damage to bone tissue. He initially tried traditional Khmer herbal medicine to relieve the pain, but his condition did not improve. The pain in his hips makes it difficult for him to walk normally, and he now walks with a limp. His condition also affects his ability to work in the rice fields and carry out his daily activities. Fortunately, Theng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Theng of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for November 2nd. Theng can contribute $100, but needs help raising $1,135 more to help fund his procedure and care. Theng said, “I hope that after surgery, my hip pain will improve and I can walk more comfortably. I want to return to my farming work, take care of my daily responsibilities, and live more independently without struggling with pain.”