Sineth is a 13-year-old 8th grade student from Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger sister, who is in Grade 4. Her parents are rice farmers and work hard to support their family. Sineth enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a doctor in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and chatting with her friends. Her favorite food is fried pork with ginger. Sineth has scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often resembling a "C" or "S" shape. Her spinal curve has gradually worsened over the past three years and is now approximately 50 degrees in the thoracolumbar region. Although she does not currently experience pain, the increasing curvature affects her posture and makes it difficult for her to sit comfortably for long periods. This can make it harder for her to stay comfortable and concentrate during class, and the curvature may continue to worsen as she grows. Sineth's family was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), by another hospital. They traveled approximately four hours from Kampong Cham to seek specialized care. On August 17th, surgeons at CSC plan to perform posterior spinal fusion to help straighten and stabilize her spine and prevent the curvature from worsening. She needs $1,500 in support to cover the cost of her surgery and related medical care. This treatment will help support her spinal health as she continues to grow and allow her to remain active and continue her education. Sineth's parents said, “We hope that this surgery will help straighten and stabilize our daughter’s spine and prevent her scoliosis from getting worse. We wish for her to grow well, stay active, and continue her studies and daily activities with confidence and comfort.”

Edson is a 53-year-old man from Uganda. He and his wife are both small-scale farmers, and together they have six children, all school-going. Despite living on a limited and unpredictable income, Edson remains committed to providing for his family and ensuring that his children have the opportunity to attend school. However, Edson’s responsibilities extend far beyond his immediate family. He is currently responsible for a total of 17 people: his six children, his two elderly parents, and nine orphaned children whom he supports. This makes him the primary source of hope and survival for a remarkably large household. For about three years, Edson has lived with a mass behind his left knee, known as a left popliteal mass. The swelling has progressively increased in size and gradually interfered with his ability to perform his normal activities. For someone whose livelihood depends on physical labor, the condition has been especially challenging, as it has increasingly limited his ability to perform these duties. Edson has always trusted Rushoroza Hospital because of his previous knowledge of the quality of services provided there. When the swelling continued to increase and interfere with his daily activities, he decided to seek specialized medical attention. He travelled for approximately one hour to reach the hospital and spent about USD 4 on transportation. Upon arrival, Edson was assessed, and the findings revealed a lipoma requiring a major mass excision. The diagnosis gave Edson renewed hope. After struggling with the swelling for about three years, he finally has an opportunity to receive a lasting solution. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edson receive treatment. On September 1st, he will undergo mass excision surgery to relieve his discomfort, improve his mobility, and allow him to return to his farming activities. Now, Edson needs help to raise $261 to fund this procedure. Edson says, “I am responsible for 17 people, including my six children, my two elderly parents, and nine orphans. Today, I am the one who needs help, yet so many people depend on me. This swelling has taken away my ability to work and provide for them. I humbly appeal to the donors to help me receive this surgery. Your support will restore my health, my ability to work, and hope for the 17 people who depend on me. May God richly bless you for standing with me.”

Stanley is a 64-year-old father of four from Malawi. To provide income for his family, Stanley works as a car sales representative and at a local motorcycle shop, though he admits that his income is often insufficient to fully support them. For the past six months, Stanley has been experiencing abdominal swelling and discomfort. At first, the symptoms were subtle, but over the last two weeks they have become more severe, leaving him with increasing pain and difficulty in walking. This has made both work and home life very challenging. Stanley has been diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. Stanley needs a hernia repair procedure, but with his current income, he cannot afford the cost of surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Stanley undergo hernia repair surgery on April 20th. This procedure will cost $500, and Stanley needs your support to fund the procedure. Stanley said, “I am struggling with this condition, which has made my life very difficult. I wish to be able to work and provide for my family again, without pain. I truly hope I can receive support, because I cannot manage raising the funds on my own.”