Besigye is a 51-year-old farmer and a married mother of three children. She and her husband are small scale farmers. Their oldest child is 30 years old and married, while their youngest is 18 years old and in secondary school class six. They work hard to have paid for school fees for their children through their farming, and they own a three-room semi-permanent house. Nearly 20 years ago, Besigye began experiencing troubling symptoms, including neck swelling, airway obstruction and mild headaches. She was diagnosed with an enlarged goiter, or enlarged thyroid. She visited our medical partner's care center where surgery was recommended to treat her condition and to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Besigye receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 6 at AMH's care center where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The procedure will cost $293, and she and her family need help raising money. Besigye shared, “I pray that I may be considered for treatment. I am not able to carry luggage with ease and am having airway obstruction. I hope to resume farming as soon as possible.”

Thoeun is a 63-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He has one daughter, three sons, and eight grandchildren. Sadly, Thoeun's wife passed away years ago from diabetes, and now he lives with his son who is also a farmer. In his free time, Thoeun enjoys watching Khmer boxing on TV, planting vegetables, and spending time with his relatives. Five years ago, Thoeun developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, tearing, and burning. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucus 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Thoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours with his son seeking treatment. Thoeun 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 his procedure is $216 and this covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for May 21st. Thoeun shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see well and feel comfortable. I want to go to the rice field and plant more vegetables."

Lem is a 43-year-old delivery driver. He's married and has one son and one daughter. Lem's wife sells vegetables at the market and their children are both in school. Five years ago, Lem developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled with his wife seeking treatment. On June 3rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Lem shared, "I cannot see anything so it is hard for me to work right now. I hope I can see again so I can work, be independent, and help my wife sell vegetables at the market."