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.”

U Sanda is a 32-year-old monk from Burma. He has been a monk for over 15 years, and lives with other monks at a monastery. He does not earn an income, and relies on food donated at the monastery by local people. When he becomes ill, his best friend helps cover the cost of his basic medical treatment. U Sanda was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. U Sanda is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on September 21st at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital to correct his atrial septal defect, and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of U Sanda's procedure and care. U Sanda said, “All of the costs of my previous investigations were covered by my best friend. If BCMF and the donors do not help me, I would choose to suffer rather than continue receiving treatment, because I know the cost is very expensive.”

Nich is a 50-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and lives in Battambang Province with her husband, who serves in the army at the border. They have three children; the eldest sells pork at a local market, the second child works as a coffee seller, and the youngest is a university student. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and helping with household tasks. In September 2024, Nich suffered severe burns in a gas explosion while cooking. Although her burn wounds healed after treatment at a local clinic, she developed significant scar contractures affecting her neck and both armpits, with the neck being the most severely affected area. She later underwent burn contracture release surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Following that procedure, her condition improved, and she experienced better movement and comfort. However, over time, the scar contracture gradually recurred, causing increasing tightness around her neck. The tight scars make it difficult for Nich to turn or extend her head normally, and she sometimes struggles to eat because of the restricted movement. On June 18th, surgeons at CSC will perform a free flap procedure to release the severe neck contracture and reconstruct the affected area with healthy tissue. This surgery is expected to improve neck movement, reduce tightness and discomfort, enhance function, and lower the risk of future recurrence. The procedure will also help her eat more comfortably and carry out daily activities with greater ease and independence. Nich said, “I am very grateful for the treatment and support I received before. It helped me feel much better for a long time. I hope this surgery will further improve my condition, allow me to move my neck more freely, and help me enjoy daily life with my family without discomfort.”