Gilbert is 65 years old and a retired secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and a father of five children. His wife is a farmer. Six years ago, Gilbert began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on his neck. He visited the hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent follicular neoplasia of the thyroid. His medical history shows that he previously had a goiter in 1978, which was surgically removed, and he remained well afterwards. In 2023, Gilbert's condition worsened. After several tests, he was then started on chemotherapy for follicular thyroid disease and completed six cycles. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for surgery and specialized care. He was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gilbert receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 7th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Gilbert shared, "My condition has brought in more pain to my retirement life, ending up draining all my resources on hospital support; kindly help me to get better and get away with the stigma around me, said Gilbert during assessment."

Chhuong is a 45-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Prey Veaeng Province with his wife, who manages household duties and takes care of their three children, all of whom are students. In his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home. In April 2024, Chhuong sustained a left distal femur injury following a fall from stairs, resulting in a fracture in his left distal femur. He previously underwent surgical fixation of the left distal femur with a plate and screws in a hospital in Thailand to stabilize the fracture and promote healing. About six months after the surgery, he slipped and fell again. Since then, he has been experiencing left thigh pain for the past six months, associated with loosening of the implant. The condition has caused difficulty in walking, and he currently relies on crutches for mobility. It significantly affects his daily activities and work capacity. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 10th, Chhuong will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will help relieve pain, reduce discomfort, and improve mobility, allowing him to walk more comfortably and return to his normal daily and work activities. He can contribute $50, but needs help raising $328 more to fund his procedure and care. Chhuong said, “Today, I hope the surgery to remove the hardware goes well. I look forward to the next steps in my treatment so that my pain can improve and I can walk more comfortably again.”

Pov is a 34-year-old construction worker from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. He is married and has one son and one daughter. He lives with his wife, who is a garment worker, and his children are students. During his free time, Pov likes to listen to music. About two years ago, Pov developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Pov learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 11th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. He can contribute $50, but needs help raising $5213more to fund his procedure and care. Pov said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better, so I can go back to work and drive a motor, and I don’t worry about my eyes anymore."