Generous is is a 65-year-old woman from Uganda. She is a widowed mother of two, and a grandmother of five. Generous currently lives with and helps care for two of her grandchildren. She has no stable source of income, and depends on small-scale farming, which generates very little income for household needs and the grandchildren under her care. In her free time, she enjoys weaving, although her condition has made it increasingly difficult for her to continue. About 40 years ago, Generous began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling. Over the years, the swelling progressively increased in size and became associated with difficulty swallowing and intermittent palpitations. The condition has caused longstanding discomfort and distress. The swelling has also significantly affected her physical appearance, confidence, and self-esteem. These challenges have reduced her enjoyment of activities she once loved, including weaving. Determined to seek treatment, she borrowed approximately USD 4 from her local village savings group for transport and travelled nearly two hours to reach Rushoroza Hospital after being encouraged by a friend who had previously received treatment there. She was diagnosed with bilateral multinodular goitre, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Generous receive treatment. On September 1st, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising the funds. Generous says, “I have lived with this swelling for almost my entire life, and it has taken away my confidence and comfort. I simply wish to live without the burden I have carried for so many years. I humbly request the donor program to help me receive this surgery. Your support will give me more than treatment, it will give me back my dignity, strength, and hope to continue caring for my grandchildren. May God richly bless you for standing with me.”

Thiago is a three-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives with his parents, who both work in agriculture, and his two older siblings. Thiago's story of being diagnosed with a heart problem is unique. He accompanied his parents in a protest march against a law that threatened their community, walking for 28 days from the Bolivian Amazon to the city of La Paz. When they finally arrived, the high altitude of the city affected Thiago's breathing, causing the family to seek medical care. Doctors then discovered that Thiago has Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving a hole between two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Thiago does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 26th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally. Thiago's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Thiago's father shares, "We are so happy that our son's surgery has been scheduled for this week, and we hope for the best."

65-year-old Masitala is has spent most of his life working the land in Dedza District in Malawi. A husband and father of seven children, six of whom now have families of their own, he has always relied on farming maize and soya beans to provide for his household. Eight months ago, the simple life he values began to change. Masitala started experiencing difficulty passing urine. As the condition worsened, he found himself making repeated visits to health facilities, where he received medication and catheterisation to manage the symptoms. While these measures brought temporary relief, they did not solve the underlying problem. Month after month, he continued living with discomfort, uncertainty, and the inconvenience of relying on a catheter. The condition made it harder for him to focus on farming and the daily responsibilities that help sustain his family. After several hospital visits, clinicians advised him to seek treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where he could access surgical care. Determined to find a lasting solution, Masitala made the journey despite having very little money. Unable to afford transportation, he walked for nearly three hours to reach the hospital. At Nkhoma Hospital, doctors diagnosed him with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and advised that he requires an open prostatectomy to restore normal urinary function and improve his quality of life. For Masitala, the diagnosis brought hope but also worry. The surgery he needs is beyond what he can afford. Like many small-scale farmers, his income depends on the harvest, and the resources available to him are barely enough to meet his family's basic needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the procedure for Masitala. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on June 3rd and, once completed, it will hopefully improve his quality of life. Masitala hopes that surgery will free him from months of discomfort and allow him to return to the fields, care for his family, and enjoy life without the burden of illness. He says, “I have endured this condition for many months because I had no other choice. I walked all the way to the hospital because I believed there would be help for me here. My wish is to get treated, and return to my family healthy and able to work again.”