Richard is a 35-year-old bricklayer from Malawi who is married with three children. He relies on part-time manual labor to earn a living, which he uses solely for his family's upkeep. Five years ago, Richard was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. He has sought medical care on several occasions; however, the treatment he received did not provide relief. Over time, his symptoms have worsened, becoming overwhelming and disabling, and preventing him from concentrating on his work. During a recent visit to the regional referral hospital, he was advised to visit our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for a review. Upon assessment, surgery was recommended but unfortunately, Richard is unable to raise the required treatment fees. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Richard receive treatment. On April 9th, he is scheduled to undergo surgery to restore his health, allow him to fully resume his work, and enable him to earn a stable income to support his family. Now, Richard needs help to fund this $575 procedure. He says, "I heard about the donor program, and believed that this is my chance. I look forward to rejoicing once I receive treatment through your support."

Heak is 60 years old and a hardworking rice farmer from Cambodia. She lives with her niece, who is a Grade 12 student. She is the seventh of ten siblings, all of whom are married. Her parents passed away during the Khmer Rouge era. Despite many hardships in life, she continues to support herself through rice farming. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and helping with household chores. In 2024, Heak was involved in an overturned car accident while traveling in Thailand, resulting in a severe fracture of her left femur near the knee. Although she underwent surgery to stabilize the fracture, the bone failed to heal properly and developed into a nonunion, causing ongoing pain in her left knee and leg. Heak experiences persistent pain and stiffness in her left knee, making it difficult to walk without support. The condition limits her independence, affects her ability to work in the rice fields, and makes everyday activities challenging. Fortunately, Heak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and sought treatment. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Heak of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for June 1st. Heak can contribute $100, but needs help raising $1,213 more for her procedure and care. Heak said, “I hope this treatment will help me walk without support again and live without pain. Being able to move independently would mean so much to me and allow me to return to my normal life.”

Teresu is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. Growing up in a farming community, Teresu spends much of his time helping with crop cultivation, an important source of livelihood for his family. He has never attended school but actively contributes to family work in the fields. Teresu has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, is a condition where the knees angle inward and touch while the ankles remain apart. His right leg is however more severely affected than the left. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. The condition has caused Teresu discomfort during long hours of standing and walking, limiting his ability to work and participate in daily activities. Despite the challenges, he remains hardworking and hopeful. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Teresu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 6th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Teresu's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Teresu says, “I want to walk and work without pain, so I can help my family better.”