Dianah is an engaging, social, single mother of two from Uganda. She is the second eldest in a family of eight children. She completed some of high school, but she was unable to complete her schooling due to finances. Dianah helped her parents farm until she got married and had two children. She is currently separated from her husband and lives with her parents and children and works on the farm. For close to two years now, Dianah has had swelling in her anal region and pain when having a bowel movement or taking a bath. After a medical examination, she was diagnosed with an anal tag and the doctors recommended surgical removal of the mass. However, she is unable to raise the money needed for her surgery and therefore appeals for your support. Dianah traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 28th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Dianah needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Dianah says, “I hope to have my health restored. I believe with surgery I will get better.”

58-year-old Natchokani is a widow from a village in Dedza District in Malawi. With seven children, six of whom have passed away, she now lives with her youngest child, who is 7 years old and attending primary school. Natchokani never had the opportunity to attend school, making it challenging for her to find employment. Consequently, she relies on farming to sustain herself and her son, growing maize, beans, and groundnuts for both sustenance and income. Twenty years ago, Natchokani noticed an itch and an uncomfortable feeling in her throat whenever she was eating. Shortly after, people in her vicinity informed her of a swelling on her neck, which she eventually noticed herself. The swelling has been increasing in size over the years but she never went to seek medical help in health centers as she did not have finances to pay for treatment. Instead, she tried traditional medicine to no avail. Natchokani has continued to experience severe headaches and pain in her upper back. She struggles to swallow and sometimes has shortness of breath when she is lying down. She is unable to carry a heavy load on her head, therefore making it difficult for her to carry out household chores such as fetching water, and firewood and going to the maize mill. One day while she was visiting a patient at our medical partner's care center Nkhoma Hospital, she was seen by a surgeon who later diagnosed her with a multinodular mass, and thyroidectomy was recommended. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $491 to fund Natchokani's thyroid surgery scheduled for March 7th. Following the surgery, her symptoms will be alleviated, allowing her to breathe more easily and engage in her daily tasks without discomfort. Natchokani says, “I hope to receive treatment and resume life without this condition so that I can take care of my only son.”

Mey is a 5-year-old girl from Cambodia. Her father works in construction and her mother works in a clothes factory in Kampong Chhnang province. She enjoys playing with other children in the village and playing with her dolls. Mey was born with Sprengel's shoulder where her right shoulder is higher than her left one. It is a complicated condition causing asymmetry within the shoulder blade and chest area and restricting movement of her shoulder and arms. This has affected her confidence and ability to interact with other children. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. She and her parents traveled for four hours to the clinic. On March 1st, she will undergo a Woodward procedure, a surgery to improve symmetry in her torso and improve movement. CSC is requesting $572 to fund this procedure. After surgery, Mey's family hopes that she will have better movement of her shoulder, grow normally, and have no pain. Mey's mother shared, "I hope my daughter will have a normal shoulder and not be shy about starting school next year."