Touch is a 51-year-old rice farmer. She is married and has two daughters, four sons, and five grandchildren. Touch lives with her husband who is also a rice farmer. She likes to watch movies on TV. Seven years ago, Touch developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going places outside. When Touch learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. Touch needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for June 13th. Touch says, "I hope after surgery my eye stops tearing and burning and I feel comfortable again."

Faith is a 12-year-old student from Kenya. Her father is a farmer, while her mother works hard to raise their family and care for their home. Faith is the only girl and the second-oldest in her family of four. She is in fourth grade and likes reading and playing with friends. She has a big heart and hopes to one day become a surgeon to help children who are neglected because of their medical conditions. Faith has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is twisted out of shape. This condition makes it difficult for Faith to walk or to even wear shoes. Fortunately, Faith and her mother traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons are scheduled to perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Faith's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she should be able to put on shoes and walk well at home and school. Her self-esteem also will improve, and she'll be able to continue with her studies and hopefully achieve her dream career of becoming a surgeon. Faith's mother said, “I hope to see my daughter walking normally like other children. That’s why I am requesting support to facilitate her surgery."

Annet is a 48-year-old farmer. She is a widow with five children who are all grown up and now working hard to be self-sufficient. Annet practices small-scale farming to earn a living and support herself. For a year now, Annet has been experiencing lower abdominal pain and other worrisome symptoms. She is unable to work on her farm as she did before because of the pain. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids which, if left untreated, will continue to deteriorate her health. Annet has not had treatment for this condition due to financial constrains, but doctors have told her that she needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Annet's surgery. On June 9th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once she recovers, Annet will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Annet says, “I wish my dream of having my condition treated would come true because I have gone through a lot with this condition. I hope to resume cultivation to earn a living after I recover.”