Merisiano, who is 77 years old, is a passionate woman, rich in amusing tales of the past. She was widowed in 2000, but she has one daughter who is a fruit vendor and two sons who are teachers. She still works on her small coffee and banana farm, although she now only grows enough to feed her family. Merisiano sought the advice of doctors regarding an anterior neck swelling, which she has had for over 20 years. It had never caused her any concern until recently when she began to experience shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and continuous coughing. She was diagnosed with a nontoxic goiter and recommended she undergo surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Merisiano receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 21st at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland at a cost of $252. Merisiano and her family need your help to raise the necessary funds to cover the cost of her care. Merisiano says: “I will be grateful to see my health well once again if am given your support to undergo my surgery.”

Vanna is a 66-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She has three sons, three daughters, and 10 grandchildren. Vanna lives with her husband and their oldest daughter, who is a rice and vegetable farmer. Vanna and her husband enjoy listening to the monks pray on the radio and at the pagoda. Four years ago, Vanna developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Vanna learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for seven and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 17th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help raising $253 to fund her procedure and care. Vanna shared, "I hope my vision improves after surgery so I can feel happy, walk places on my own, and take care of my grandchildren."

Meet Dennis, a 12 year old boy living in Kenya with his parents and two younger siblings. When Dennis isn't in school - where math is his favorite subject - he enjoys playing with friends and reading books. Dennis' father works as a casual laborer, while his mother is a housewife. Dennis was healthy at birth, but at the age of two, his left foot started to bend inwards. His parents brought him to numerous hospitals, but his condition remained unresolved. This is very frustrating for Dennis, who has to walk on tiptoes, and is in pain when he walks. Doctors at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, diagnosed Dennis with a clubfoot. Now he is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AIC Cure International Hospital on January 16th. This procedure which will allow Dennis to wear shoes and to walk with ease. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,286 to fund Dennis' life changing procedure. “Our joy will be to see Dennis walking and playing like other children,” Dennis’s mother told us.