Velonika, a 52-year-old woman from Malawi, is married and has four children. She and her husband engage in farming to support their family. Five years ago, Velonika began to experience small, painless swelling on her neck. Over time, the swelling grew larger without affecting her daily life. In 2022, the swelling became noticeable, prompting her to cover her neck until the end of the year. In 2023, Veronica developed symptoms like frequent coughs and neck heaviness. Despite visiting a traditional healer, her condition worsened. Velonika was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where surgeons noted signs of hyperthyroidism and conducted necessary tests. Her thyroid function tests were normal, and the ultrasound scanning revealed a heterogeneous mass on the right lobe. She was diagnosed with a goiter, the swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, located in front of the neck, produces thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Surgery is necessary to address the systems and prevent conditions from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is providing Velonika with the necessary treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 7th, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Velonika shared, "Pains have forced me to come all the way from the village after noting your support. Kindly help me in time since I don't have anyone in town."

Vichana is a 16-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and younger siblings, who are also students. His father works as an electronics technician, while his mother runs a grocery business. Math is his favorite subject, and he enjoys playing football with his friends. He hopes to become a teacher one day. In November 2024, Vichana fractured his left leg after falling while playing sports. He was treated at a Government Hospital, where doctors placed a metal plate and screws in his left femur to stabilize the fracture and support healing. His fracture has now healed, and he can walk without pain. However, the hardware remains in his left leg and causes ongoing discomfort, making him feel bothered during his daily activities. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 3rd, Vichana will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will relieve the discomfort caused by the hardware and allow his leg to feel more natural and comfortable as he returns to sports and other activities. His family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $278 more to fund his procedure and care. Vichana said, “I hope removing the plate and screws will get rid of the discomfort and make my leg feel more comfortable. I look forward to continuing my studies, playing sports, and enjoying my daily activities without feeling bothered by the hardware.”

Paw is a young woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, her parents, and her younger sister in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her father collects vegetables from their vegetable patch or from other people’s farms, and sells them in the camp. Her husband and younger sister occasionally take on casual work as agricultural day laborers outside the camp. In her free time, Paw enjoys watching movies on her phone and cleaning her house. Paw is pregnant, and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Paw undergo a C-Section on October 8th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Paw needs your support. Paw stated, “If no donor can help me, I’m worried that my baby and I may die. We cannot afford going to a Thai hospital for a C-section. But when I heard that there were donors and an organization that could help me, I felt happy”.