Naf is a second-grader from Ethiopia. This eight-year-old and proud big brother is known for being very smart and loving to learn. For over four years, he has quietly suffered from severe tonsil problems. The symptoms worsened over the past year, interrupting a happy childhood supported by his father, a teacher who helps with his studies, and his mother, who works hard at a hair salon. Every day is a struggle for Naf. He misses a lot of school because of his health. He has trouble sleeping, struggles to breathe, breathes through his mouth during the day, and has speech issues that make it hard to talk to others. His family cares for him deeply, but the mounting medical bills have made it hard to pay for the specialized care he urgently needs. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Naf, which is scheduled to take place on September 26th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Naf of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Naf's parents shared, "We cannot wait to get the surgery done so he can smile and play like the happy, energetic kid he was four years ago."

An is a 76-year-old man and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife both work on the farm. In his free time, An enjoys going to the pagoda and participating in religious ceremonies. About one year ago, An developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, similar to looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When An learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. An said, "I hope that after my cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can return to growing rice, travel to places that are farther away, and no longer worry about my vision."

Anderson is 62 years old and a farmer from Malawi. He had hoped to spend his days tending his fields and enjoying the company of his wife and grandchild. Living in a village in Dedza District, Malawi, he and his wife have watched their six children grow up, marry, and build lives of their own. However, nine months ago, Anderson started experiencing troubling symptoms that affected his ability to farm and do his daily tasks. He was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. He started using a catheter and was given medications, but these only brought temporary relief. Physicians at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, determined that Anderson should undergo a prostatectomy, surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. For Anderson, the possibility of treatment has brought renewed hope. Yet the cost of surgery remains beyond what he and his family can afford. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Anderson is scheduled to undergo surgery on June 11th, and needs help raising $530 to fund this procedure. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Anderson's quality of life. More than anything, Anderson wants to regain his health, return to his farm, and once again provide for his household without the burden of constant illness. He says, “This condition has kept me away from my fields and changed my life. I hope that after treatment, I can get back on my feet and live freely again.”