Scovia is 58 years old and a mother of nine from Uganda. When she was 10, she lost both of her parents within a short period, leaving her and her siblings to be raised by their grandmother. She and her husband depend on farming as the family’s main source of livelihood. They primarily grow food crops such as beans, maize, and potatoes for household consumption and sell any surplus produce to generate income for her family’s needs. Twenty years ago, Scovia began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling at the front of her neck. Because the swelling grew slowly and was not painful, she did not initially seek medical attention. However, about a month ago, she began experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and increasing breathing difficulties. Concerned about her worsening condition, she sought medical care at a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Scovia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Scovia says, “This has never been painful, but recently, I couldn’t breathe. Am always catching my breath and can’t do anything about it because of limited finances. I kindly appeal to you for support to have my surgery so I can continue farming and keep my children in school.”

Theary is a fifth-grade student from Cambodia. She enjoys learning to read and write Khmer, the official language of Cambodia, at school. Theary lives with her parents and two sisters. Her father works as a jeweler, and her mother is a meat vendor at a local market. At home, Theary loves to play with her siblings. Theary was born with hereditary multiple exostoses, a condition that causes multiple bony growths. Over the past year, the masses in her right forearm and near the back of her distal femur have gradually increased in size. In particular, the large mass near the back of her distal femur periodically compresses the sciatic nerve. As a result, Theary experiences intermittent discomfort and stiffness, which may affect her physical movement. Theary traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 15th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) will remove the mass. Now, Theary needs help to raise $344 to fund this procedure. Theary's father stated, “I have the same condition, so I understand how worrying these growing masses can be. I hope the surgery will help my daughter by removing the large mass and reducing the pressure on the nerve in her leg. I want her to recover well and move around more comfortably without these problems interfering with her daily life.”

Kanhara is a 38-year-old mother of two and a factory worker from Kandal Province, Cambodia. She lives with her husband and their two children. Her husband works in a factory, her eldest child repairs motorcycles, while her youngest child is in Grade 8. In her free time, she enjoys taking care of her family, doing household chores, and planting vegetables around her home. In April 2025, Kanhara was involved in a road traffic accident that caused a fracture of the middle shaft of her right upper arm. After the injury, she sought treatment from a traditional Khmer healer, but the fracture did not heal properly. She experiences ongoing pain in her right arm and is unable to lift or use it normally. The injury makes it difficult for her to work, perform household tasks, and carry out daily activities independently. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 2nd, Kanhara will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $592. Surgeons will perform fixation with a plate and screws, along with bone grafting to stabilize the fracture and promote healing. This procedure will help reduce pain, improve arm strength and function, and allow her to return to work and daily activities more comfortably. Kanhara said, “I hope this surgery will help my arm heal well so I can use it normally again, work without pain, and continue supporting my family.”