Meet Kedress - a small-scale farmer, and mother of nine children, three of whom are still in school. 18 years ago, Kedress began to experience troubling symptoms, including progressive anterior neck swelling, difficulty speaking, and fatigue. Because she tires easily and feels discomfort in her neck, her ability to work has been negatively impacted. She has been diagnosed with a non-toxic goiter, and advised to have surgery, to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Kedress receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 25th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. During the procedure, which will cost $252, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Kedress and her family need your help raising the money for her surgery. Kedress says: “I have been in this condition for a long time due to lack of funds. I heard about the donor support, and so I came so that I can seek support, and get my health restored, enabling the resumption of my activities.”

Anna Maria, who is 96 years old, is a widow, living in Uganda. She never went to school, but she went on to marry and have 11 children, seven of whom are still alive. Her children support her, and she currently lives with some of her grandchildren. Anna Maria developed a painful swelling on her left elbow one month ago. Initially, it was small, but it grew significantly over a period of days. She feels severe pain whenever she is preparing food or taking a bath, and this has affected her quality of life. Surgery has been recommended, but she cannot afford to pay for the procedure. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation is here to help Anna Maria access the care that she needs. On September 2nd, surgeons at Rushoroza Hospital will remove the mass. Now Anna Maria needs your help to raise the $145 to fund this procedure. Anna Maria says: “After treatment, I will continue with home activities with ease, which will help me not to bother my grandchildren who are staying with me.”

Sokleap is a 13-year-old girl who lives in Kandal province with her parents and younger brother in Cambodia. Her mom works at a factory and her father is a mango farmer. Sokleap loves to read and hopes to one day be a teacher of Cambodian history. Her favorite meal is barbecued pork and rice. About a year ago, Sokleap developed a painful mass in her right thigh. After visiting a doctor, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer, which mainly affects teenagers and young adults. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy to shrink the mass and prevent the cancer from spreading. Unfortunately, despite completing some courses of chemotherapy, Sokleap now needs to undergo surgery to remove a portion of her hip joint greatly impacted by bone cancer. This will give her the best chance of survival as she completes chemotherapy. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) will perform this procedure on April 26th. CSC is requesting $479 to cover the cost of the operation. Sokleap's family said, "After surgery, we hope that Sokleap will be in less pain and can continue her treatment."