Edisimary is a 49-year-old farmer. She has six children: three sons and three daughters. Her eldest son is a welder, and her two younger sons are training to be mechanics. All three of her daughters are currently students. Edisimary shared that she completed the seventh grade but was unable to continue her education due to a lack of funding. Now, Edisimary and her husband work as farmers on a small piece of land where they eat what they grow and sell any surplus to generate income. During her free time, Edisimary enjoys listening to the radio. For the past three years, Edisimary has experienced painful swelling in her neck, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing which has impacted her voice. She has difficulty working, as her symptoms also cause her to tire quickly. Due to financial challenges, Edisimary has been unable to seek medical attention. A friend informed Edisimary of a surgical support program at our medical partner's care center and she decided to go hoping for support. There she was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter which requires surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Thankfully, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help Edisimary. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 6th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland to help relieve her symptoms. This procedure will cost $252 and Edisimary and her family need help raising money for her treatment. Edisimary says, “I hope to get well and expect a complete recovery once I am given your kind support for surgery.”

Rose is a 46-year-old farmer. She is a widow with four children who are all married and self-employed. She practices small-scale farming, however, her ability to work has been limited in the past year. For one year, Rose has been experiencing pain, abnormal bleeding, headaches, and backaches. Rose was diagnosed with multiple uterine myomas, a type of noncancerous growth in her uterus. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a type of surgery that will alleviate her symptoms by removing her uterus. Her family is unable to raise funds for her treatment and is appealing for assistance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Rose's surgery. On June 1st, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Rose will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Rose says, “I will thank God when am operated and I live well with good health and be able to resume farming.”

Meet Fernanda: an 11 year old who is in need of heart surgery. She lives with her parents and younger brother in La Paz, Bolivia. Her father works for a paper company, while her mother is an eldercare social worker. Fernanda was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, and blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. She needs surgery to correct this condition. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to fund Fernanda's cardiac surgery, which is scheduled for May 17th, at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. After she has recovered from her surgery, Fernanda will be able to resume her schooling, and even to return to playing sports which she loves to do. Fernanda's mother said: "Our family has been waiting for this surgery for many years, and we are glad the opportunity has finally arrived!"