Phalla lives with her five siblings, their aunt and cousin in Kampong Thum province in Cambodia. Her relatives work as merchants in the local market and one sibling is a teacher. In March 2021, Phalla fell while walking down the stairs of her home and fractured her right hip. She was not able to seek immediate treatment due to COVID-19 lockdowns and her fear of going to the hospital. Eventually, Phalla was treated at a nearby hospital, but the fracture has still not healed. She experiences constant pain and relies on a wheelchair. Phalla and her younger brother travelled for six hours to seek help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On April 24th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a hemiarthroplasty surgery on her right hip. This will help Phalla regain her mobility and to live without pain. Phalla and her family are able to contribute $100 but need help raising $444 to fund the procedure and post-op care. Phalla hopes surgery will eliminate her pain and enable her to walk again. She would like to start looking for work once she has healed.

Mary is a 53-year-old who has been a widow since 2010 raising her two kids with challenges. Her older son has autism and requires full time attention. Her last-born daughter recently graduated from college and does not have a source of income yet. Mary lives in her ancestral home. She has not been able to pay her monthly insurance medical premiums so does not have coverage and has been relying on her relatives to support her medical bills. Mary feels in pain and uncomfortable. She has been having stomach pains for the last six months. She went to a local government hospital in central Kenya and was treated for amoeba and stomach pains. She was relieved for a short while, but the pains recurred. Almost a month later the pain increased and was accompanied by vomiting. She opted to visit Kijabe Hospital, where she was reviewed and the pain was controlled. She was requested to do a colonoscopy and other tests to get a detailed diagnosis. Since she was feeling better after the review, she did not follow up on the plan due to financial constraints. However, six months later the symptoms recurred and she came back in January. Her tests and a biopsy revealed cancer in the colon that needs urgent attention as it is life threatening. Mary has now been scheduled for a right hemicolectomy procedure. One side of the infected colon (large intestine) will be removed to avoid metastasis. Sadly, she is financially constrained. Her friends at home have requested time, two months, to be able to find the required amount for the surgery. This is a long period considering the case is cancerous. She appeals for support so she can undergo treatment now. Our medical partner is requesting $1,074 to fund her surgery and help her fight the cancer. Mary says, “I have been in pain for over six months now. I thought it would be relieved, but the diagnosis is now shockingly cancer. I need this surgery to stop the disease.”

Racheal is a 31 year old from Uganda. She is a mother to two children, both currently studying. While trained as a teacher, Rachael, unfortunately lost her job during the country lockdown in the Covid-19 period, and she since has not been able to find a new opportunity to continuing in the teaching profession. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Despite the challenges, Rachael is a lively individual, full of stories, and she has a humorous way of talking that brings laughter to everyone during interviews. To sustain herself, she engages in farming, focusing on crops for her family to eat, but she also sells surplus produce to generate income. Her husband works as a security guard, and they reside in a two-room rental house in Maya trading center. She shares a history of experiencing a miscarriage. Now that she is expecting a new baby, she has attended antenatal care at Nyakibale Hospital. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of her high risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Racheal undergo a caesarean section on December 12th. This procedure will cost $252, and Racheal needs your support. Rachael says, “I hope to get your support to deliver a live baby and have a successful delivery.”