Allen is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She completed primary school but was not able to continue because her parents were unable to support her education. She is separated from her husband and raising two children. Her firstborn is 14 years old and no longer in school, and her secondborn is 13 years old and is in primary school. She lives with her parents in a three-room mud house. Ten years ago, Allen began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small painless swelling on her neck which was rapidly increasing in size. She resorted to using herbs, but they did not help her at all. Currently, the mass has enlarged excessively and has caused difficulty in swallowing. She also experiences mild airway obstruction and on-and-off episodes of severe headaches. She was diagnosed with a goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Allen receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo thyroid surgery on February 3rd at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Allen says, ‘‘I pray to have a successful surgery. I hope to continue with farming after complete recovery to be able to support our family. May God bless you.’’

Rehema is a 33-year-old farmer and mother from Uganda. She has two sons and a daughter. She comes from a family of six siblings. Two of her siblings and her father have passed away. Rehema practices small-scale farming with her husband, and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Rehema carried six previous pregnancies. One of her children died after birth due to birth asphyxia, and she also experienced two miscarriages. Rehema is expecting a new baby. Due to medical concerns, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Rehema undergo a C-Section on February 13th. This procedure will cost $234, and Rehema is requesting support. Rehema said, ‘I hope to get back to my fields after delivery.”

Sok, who was widowed many years ago, is a 77-year-old grandmother of 18 grandchildren. She lives in rural Mondulkiri province in Cambodia, with the youngest of her five daughters. Sok also has three sons. The family grows potatoes to earn a living. About a year ago, Sok developed entropion of the eyelids, where her eyelashes rub against her right eye's cornea. Entropion may be caused by weakening muscles under the eyes, infection, inflammation, or genetics. Without surgery, entropion can cause permanent damage to the cornea, eye infections, and vision loss. Sok sought help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On March 8th, surgeons will perform a corrective procedure to repair Sok's eyelid. Sok needs your help to raise $249 to fund this operation. Sok shared: "I hope after surgery my eye stops being irritated, tearing, and itching, so I won’t worry about it anymore."