Joanita is a 25-year-old first-time expectant mother from Kabale District in Uganda. She and her husband are looking forward to becoming parents, and have tried to ensure that she's had a safe pregnancy. Joanita is a home maker while her husband works as a local radio presenter, the family's breadwinner. Although he works diligently, his earnings are often insufficient to meet the family's daily needs, rent, and outstanding loans. Throughout her pregnancy, Joanita remained committed to safeguarding her health and that of her unborn baby. She faithfully attended all her scheduled antenatal care visits at Rushoroza Hospital, where she received comprehensive maternal healthcare, including routine examinations, laboratory investigations, nutritional counselling, health education, and close monitoring of her pregnancy. Her pregnancy progressed well until the later weeks, when healthcare providers discovered that her baby was lying in a transverse position, which is when the baby lies across the uterus instead of in the normal head-down position. The medical team recommended an elective caesarean section as the safest method of delivery, to ensure the safety of Joanita and her baby. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Joanita undergo a C-Section on July 23rd. This procedure will cost $214, and Joanita needs your support. She says, "My husband and I have prayed and waited for this child with so much hope. We have done everything we could to protect this pregnancy, but today we cannot afford the surgery that will safely bring our baby into the world. I humbly seek your support, so I may safely hold my first child in my arms and begin motherhood with hope instead of fear. Your kindness will forever remain a blessing to our family."

Char is a 55-year-old man from Burma who lives with his wife, two daughters, and two sons. His oldest two children work as small-scale farmers alongside Char and his wife, while his two youngest are students. Char's family also raises buffalo, pigs, and chickens for their consumption and to sell for income every four or five months. Char shared that the money they earn from selling their livestock, as well as the crops they grow for themselves, is just enough to cover their daily needs and to pay for basic health care. Char has a right inguinal hernia with bowel obstruction that is causing him to experience a lot of pain, difficulty walking and moving, and a reduced appetite. He needs to undergo surgery to heal from his condition. Fortunately, our medical partner can help him undergo hernia repair surgery on May 12th, which, once completed, will allow him to live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,468 to fund Char's surgery. Char shared about how upsetting this condition has been for him and his family, stating: "I cannot help my family take care of our rice fields, [vegetable] garden, or buffaloes," he said. "After I recover, I want to go home to take care of our rice fields and look after my buffalo. I will also go to the forest to forage for vegetables and hunt."

Ponleu is a four-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Cham Province with his parents and his eight-month-old younger brother. His father works as a security guard, and his mother is a rice farmer. He enjoys writing and reading Khmer, loves watching cartoons and playing with toys, and dreams of becoming a doctor one day. For the past two years, Ponleu has been experiencing a runny nose, difficulty swallowing, nasal congestion, frequent cough, enlarged adenoids and tonsils, and fluid behind both eardrums (glue ear), causing mild to moderate hearing loss. His repeated ear and nose problems make it difficult for him to hear clearly and breathe comfortably. The condition can affect his learning, sleep, and enjoyment of everyday activities at kindergarten. Ponleu was recently diagnosed with enlarged adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund an adenoidectomy and grommet insertion for Ponleu, which is scheduled to take place on July 17th. Surgeons will remove his adenoids, hopefully relieving Ponleu of his symptoms and helping him hear better and live much more comfortably. Ponleu's grandfather said, “I hope this surgery will help my grandson breathe and hear better so he can stay healthy, enjoy kindergarten, and play happily without getting sick so often.”