Priscillah, who is 61 years old, is a mother of six and a grandmother of three living in the arid region of Baringo County, Kenya. Despite being a retired ECD teacher, Priscillah does not have a pension because she was employed on contract. She and her husband work as millet and mango farmers in order to earn an income. A month ago, Priscillah visited the doctor, complaining about a neck mass that she first noticed 20 years ago. Recently, Priscillah began to experience troubling symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, and breathlessness. Her neighbor convinced her to be evaluated and after lab tests and an ultrasound were done, Priscillah was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter. As it was toxic, she was immediately placed on medications to prepare her for surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Priscillah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 4th at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland, which should ensure that she will be able to live a healthy and more comfortable life. Priscillah and her family need your help to raise $936 to cover the cost of this procedure. Priscillah happily said: "I never knew I would ever undergo surgery; I was ready to live with the condition until my death. Thank you for giving me this chance."

Hope is a 54-year-old farmer, married with eight children. Five of her children are married and building their own families now too. Both she and her husband are small-scale farmers. They live in a semi-permanent house with three rooms. For the past one year, Hope has been experiencing lower abdominal pain and uncomfortable symptoms. This pain has made it difficult for her to work as she experiences a lot of pain. She has been diagnosed with pre-malignant cervical lesion and is currently unable to raise funds for her treatment. She needs to undergo a gynecological surgery to heal and stop the risk of cancer. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Hope's surgery. On February 28th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Hope will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Hope says “I have pain worsening from time to time but I hope since I have come to you for the support I will live better, and, thus, resume my work.”

Douby is a 17 year old student, living with his Godmother and her family in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Douby enjoys going to school, and aspires to attain a PhD in agronomy, and to become a professor. As a result of rheumatic fever that he suffered as a child, Douby has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Two of his four heart valves were severely damaged by the rheumatic fever, and his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body, leaving him sick and short of breath. The care Douby needs is not available in Haiti so he urgently will fly to the United States to receive treatment on February 28th at Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital. He will undergo emergency cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair both damaged valves; if the valves cannot be repaired, they will be removed, and artificial valves will be implanted in their place. While another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $20,000.00 to help pay for Douby's surgery, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs for the surgery prep and transport support, including lab tests; medicines, and follow up appointments. The money will alsosupport the passport and travel expenses for the social workers that will accompany Douby and his family to the U.S. Douby was able to share: "I am looking forward to being stronger and healthier once my heart can be repaired!"