Vuthy is a 55-year-old construction worker from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He lives with his wife and three sons, who all earn their living working in local construction projects. About one year ago, Vuthy's right eye was injured when a piece of cement flew into it. Additionally, he developed a cataract in the same eye, which is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Vuthy has been experiencing hypersensitivity to light, tearing and discomfort. Because his vision is impaired, he is no longer able to work. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Vuthy receive treatment. On April 2nd, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and implant an intraocular lens in Vuthy's right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly, enabling him to return to work, and engage in his day-to-day activities. Now, Vuthy needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Vuthy says, "I hope that after surgery, I will be able to see more clearly and go back to work. I am worried that I cannot support my family if I am unable to work."

Innocent is an outgoing and hardworking lady, who is 49 years old. She and her husband and three school age children live in Uganda. Because Innocent was orphaned, she didn't have the opportunity to pursue her education beyond primary school. Today she farms, primarily to produce food crops for the family's consumption, while selling any surplus to help generate some income. Her husband is a builder, who is also engaged in farming. One year ago, Innocent began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, heart palpitations with high blood pressure, and fatigue on walking even a short distance. Due to limited finances, she tried using local herbs and traditional cutting, with the hope that she would improve, but nothing has worked to alleviate her symptoms. A friend with whom she shared her concerns referred Innocent to the hospital in Nyakibale, where tests and scans were performed. Innocent was diagnosed with bilateral goiter, which impacts the thyroid gland's production of hormones critical to Innocent's metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Innocent receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 28th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Innocent and her family need your help to raise the money. Innocent says: “I believe with your support I will be able to be operated on and will finally be relieved from all these symptoms I’ve been having.”

Dorothy is a 68-year-old woman from a village in the Lilongwe District of Malawi with three married children. She depends on small-scale farming as she grows maize and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes to support herself. Dorothy started experiencing itching followed by a lump in her left breast which kept growing in size and became painful. She visited different health centers where she was unable to receive a diagnosis or treatment until she was seen by a surgeon from Nkhoma Hospital who conducted a free clinic at her nearby health center. Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer and she needs to undergo mastectomy surgery. She is willing to undergo the procedure but is unable to afford the surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Dorothy’s life as she feels pain in her breast and is worried that the cancer could spread. Treatment will relieve Dorothy of the pain and she will no longer be stressed. Dorothy is requesting $567 to fund treatment from our partner, African Mission Healthcare. Dorothy says, “I am looking forward to treatment and full recovery.”