Apofia is a 63-year-old farmer from Uganda. She has six children - three sons and three daughters. She and her husband have a small banana and coffee farm. The couple lives together and enjoys a peaceful and harmonious life, supporting each other in their daily activities. About a year ago, Apofia began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling at the front of her neck. The condition has progressively worsened and causes persistent headaches and difficulty sleeping due to episodes of shortness of breath. Apofia was diagnosed with a right thyroid goiter, which is 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 Apofia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Apofia says, “There are nights I go without sleeping at all because of the discomfort it brings me. I need surgery for a complete recovery; however, with my income, I can’t raise the money needed and kindly appeal for your support.”

Mercy is a 34-year-old mother from Uganda. She and her husband are small-scale farmers who work hard to support their four children. However, their limited income is often dedicated to daily necessities, leaving little room for unexpected expenses, such as medical care. In her free time, Mercy enjoys weaving baskets, which she hopes to eventually sell to help support her family. Mercy is pregnant, and doctors recommend she deliver via a C-section due to previous complications and a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of Mercy and her baby. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Mercy undergo a C-Section on November 2nd. This procedure will cost $214, and Mercy needs your support. Having experienced previous miscarriages, she deeply values the opportunity to have a safe delivery and return home with her baby. Mercy says, “I have gone through many challenges during my journey to motherhood, including the painful loss of my first two babies. Today, I am hopeful that I will safely welcome this baby, but I am worried because my husband and I depend on small-scale farming and cannot afford the hospital bills for my operation. I humbly appeal to the donors to support me during this difficult time. Your kindness would give me hope, help me receive the care I need, and allow me to return home with my baby in my arms. May God bless everyone willing to help me and my family.”

Nem is a 28-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married with two children: a son in Grade 1 and a two-year-old daughter. In his free time, Nem enjoys playing volleyball and listening to music. When he was five, Nem had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in his left ear to perforate. As a result, Nem experiences hearing loss in his left ear as well as pain, discharge, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). Difficulty hearing things clearly impacts his daily life, and as a rice farmer, he hopes to finally improve his hearing so he can manage his daily activities and work more comfortably. Fortunately, Nem was able to travel to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 22nd, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Nem contributed $75 toward his care and needs help raising $288 more. The total cost of his procedure includes his medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Nem said, “I’ve had ear problems since I was a child, and my left ear still doesn’t hear well. I hope the surgery will help me hear more clearly so I can work on my farm and enjoy everyday life with my family. I’m grateful for this opportunity to receive treatment.”