Joselito, a 59-year-old father from the Philippines, works as a taxi driver and earns minimum wage. His income is insufficient to provide for his family of five, prompting him to take on extra jobs to make ends meet. Twenty years ago, Joselito began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe pain on the left side of his stomach, which radiated to his back. Initially, he tried drinking a lot of water to ease the pain, and it subsided. When he consulted with a doctor he was asked to take an ultrasound, but could not due to financial constraints. At the onset of an extremely painful episode, Joselito was rushed to a nearby hospital and was diagnosed with gallstones. He was advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. He was informed that if left untreated, his symptoms would continue to worsen and put him at risk of further health complications in the future. Unable to cover the cost of the necessary surgery, he was prescribed pain medication instead. Fortunately, Joselito then sought treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). He is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on March 27th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Jose is seeking support for the remaining $1,128. Joselito says, "Since I started to feel the symptoms attack more often, I had to reduce my work hours and this took a toll on the family's income and expenses. While my family worries about my health, I am worried that I will not be able to give them what they need because of my condition, so I deeply appreciate the assistance I am receiving for my medical care."

Agatha is a mother of two from Uganda. Her father passed before she was born, and she was raised by her mother. She went to school until 4th grade but was unfortunately unable to finish. She is married and a mother of two, her children are 5 and 7 years old. Her husband is a soldier in the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces. She enjoys farming, but they currently do not have the land to accommodate it. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children. She is currently pregnant with twins. Her doctors at Rushoroza Hospital recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because the first twin is breech. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Agatha undergo a C-section on February 23rd. This procedure will cost $214, and Agatha needs your support. Agatha says, “I believe I will have a successful surgery with a positive outcome. After complete recovery, I continue to take care of our children. May God protect you.”

Martha is a 39-year-old mother from Kenya, the sole caregiver of her three children. Her daily work involves doing manual laundry for members within her community to support her family. Martha is very social and enjoys spending time with friends. On 17th March, Martha was crossing the road near her home when she was hit by a speeding vehicle. She sustained injuries on the left side of her body from her head, neck and hand, and an X-ray showed a closed fracture on her tibia and fibula (lower leg fractures). A CT scan of the head was done, and luckily there was no bleeding or skull fracture, only soft tissue injuries. The surgeon recommended an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, which is a type of surgery used to stabilize and heal a broken bone. Unfortunately, Martha is unable to pay for this treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Martha receive treatment. On March 21st, Martha is scheduled to undergo ORIF which will aid in joining the bones together and reduce the pain, restoring the functionality of her leg. The procedure will also prevent complications like malunion, or deformity. Now, Martha needs help to fund this $1,049 procedure. Martha says, "I will appreciate the assistance very much. I have no one to help me and help my children, so I appeal for support so that I can receive treatment, be able to walk again and resume my duty of taking care of my children.”