Dickson is a married man from a village in Lilongwe District. He has one child who is in primary school, and to support his family, he depends on a motorcycle transport business locally known as Kabaza. He also practices small-scale farming where he grows maize, tomatoes, and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes. Dickson was hit by a car while he was on his motorcycle, and he sustained a fracture to his left upper arm. He was rushed to our medical partner's Nkhoma Hospital the same night where he was diagnosed with distal radius fracture, and he was scheduled to undergo open reduction and internal fixation surgery. However, Dickson cannot afford to pay for the surgery although he is willing to pay the little that he can afford. This condition has had a negative impact on Dickson’s life as he feels pain from the fracture, and he is worried about his family’s well-being as he will not be able to work on his farm or his business due to the fracture. If the condition is left untreated, pain and swelling may continue to worsen over time and there might be a misalignment of the fractured bone. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $525 to fund his surgery. After treatment, Dickson will be relieved of his pain and able to work to support his family again. Dickson says, “I have no idea how I will take care of my family with no income from my business. I hope to get well soon.”

Romeo is a physically active father from the Philippines. Romeo currently lives with his wife since all their children already have their own families. They rely on Romeo's monthly pension which is just enough for their daily needs. Their children chip in for their expenses too but as a father, Romeo wants them to use the money for their own families instead of giving it to him and his wife. Romeo loves to play chess, jog, and play tennis. However, his symptoms now physically limit him. Last November, Romeo won a consolation prize of a sack of rice at a community raffle. When he lifted it, he felt pain but ignored it thinking about how happy his wife will be upon bringing home the prize. Since then, Romeo has dealt with inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him to feel weak and because of his condition, he cannot do physical activities like he used to. Fortunately, on February 16th, Romeo will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Romeo's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,103 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Romeo shared: "My pension will never be enough to pay for a surgery to treat me. So thank you very much for helping me even though I am already old."

Phy is an 83-year-old retired soldier from Siem Reap province in Cambodia. He has one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren. Phy helps care for his wife, who has been experiencing multiple health problems for the last several years. They moved in with their oldest daughter and their son-in-law, who works as a motorbike taxi driver to help support the family. In his free time, Phy likes going to the pagoda and visiting his grandchildren. Around two months ago, Phy had cataract surgery at a provincial hospital and experienced post-operative complications. The retina of Phy's left eye detached, causing him partial blindness and watery eyes. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Phy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On April 3rd, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Phy and his family are able to contribute $300 but need help to raise an additional $649 to fund the procedure. Phy shared, "I hope I can see clearly so I can feel better going places on my own and I would like to be able to watch the news."