Margaret is a 45-year-old single mother from Kenya. She has one child and is a farmer on her parents' land. Her father is sick and has been hospitalized, so she is taking care of him with the little she can manage. In 2019, Margaret began to experience troubling symptoms, including losing weight and difficulty swallowing. Her eyes appear to be bulging and she also developed a dry cough. Margaret went to the hospital and was diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis, a condition of having too much thyroid hormone in your body. She has been undergoing treatment since 2020. As Margaret was not seeing relief of her symptoms, she visited our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital. There, she was diagnosed with thyroid hyperplasia, an increase in the size of the thyroid gland due to excessive growth of its cells. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Margaret receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 1st where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $633 and she needs help raising money. "I have been struggling for so long, especially with my self-image and I feel it is taking a toll on me. I am unable to raise money for my surgery and request to be assisted with the matter. I have an old sickly parent who depends on me financially and am not working. After the treatment, I believe I will manage to look for a job to sustain my family," Margaret said.

Chamroeurn is a 34-year-old police officer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife and two children in Kandal Province. His wife sells vegetables at the market. In his spare time, Chamroeurn enjoys playing with his children and assisting his wife at the market. Seven months ago, on his way home from work, his motorcycle skidded on the rain-soaked surface, sending him crashing onto the pavement. He lost consciousness for several hours and sustained multiple injuries including fractures and paralysis of his left arm due to nerve damage. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He experiences chronic pain, especially at night, which is described as nerve pain or neuropathic pain. He cannot lift his arm and has been unable to work since the accident. Chamroeurn traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment. This is the only center in the country where this treatment is available. On June 20th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to gain some function in his arm. Chamroeurn is able to contribute $50 but needs help to raise $659 more to fund this procedure. Chamroeurn said: "After surgery, I hope to lift my arm and return to work as a police officer soon."

Damaris is a 46-year-old woman from Kenya. Damaris used to work as a domestic worker, relying on household jobs like cleaning and doing laundry to support her two children. Damaris lives with her two children, one grandchild, and her mother. They rely on well-wishers for daily meals and basic needs. Damaris has been having issues with her health since 2021. Doctors have been able to treat her other health conditions successfully. However, during a follow-up visit in April 2024, scans revealed a growth in her kidney. This growth has caused elevated blood pressure and poses a serious risk to her life. Damaris now urgently requires a laparotomy surgery to remove the kidney growth. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund Damaris's surgery. On September 4th, she will undergo surgery and once completed, she will hopefully have an improved quality of life. Damaris says, “My family has been experiencing tough times, I hope to get better so that I can go back to work and help my family.”