Prudence is a 34-year-old mother of three children from Uganda. She and her husband are farmers. Twelve years ago, Prudence began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent lower abdominal pain and pain around the sides of her ribs. She frequently feels weak and has become increasingly unable to bend comfortably or carry out her daily activities and farming responsibilities as she used to. Due to financial constraints, she has been relying on traditional herbal remedies to manage the pain. Prudence was referred to our medical partner's care center, Rwibaale Hospital, where an ultrasound revealed a massive splenomegaly associated with hypersplenism, an enlargement of the spleen. Physicians recommend abdominal surgery to address her symptoms and prevent other complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Prudence's surgery. On October 31st, she will undergo surgery, and once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve her quality of life. Prudence shared, "I hope to get rid of the pain and resume my duties as a farmer and take good care of my children."

Sarey is a 20-year-old rubber farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and five younger siblings. His parents work as day laborers on a rubber farm, and all his younger siblings are still students. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. On May 16, 2026, Sarey was riding his motorbike when it overturned at a corner, injuring his right shoulder. He was unconscious for approximately three days and received treatment for one week. However, his condition did not improve, and he was discharged and returned home. He continued to experience difficulties moving his right arm and later came to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for further investigation and treatment. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. This has left him unable to raise or move his right arm. He also experiences nerve pain and reduced sensation from below his elbow to his hand, as well as drooping of his right eyelid. These difficulties affect his ability to carry out everyday activities and limit his independence. On October 21st, Sarey will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will hopefully be able to regain some movement in his right arm, use his shoulder and elbow more effectively, and perform daily activities with greater independence. He also hopes to return to playing volleyball with his friends. Sarey can contribute $100, but needs help raising $637 more to fund his procedure and care. Sarey said, “Since my injury, I haven’t been able to use my right arm as before, and the nerve pain makes daily life difficult. I hope this treatment will help me regain movement and become more independent so I can return to my usual activities.”

Hem is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Pailin Province in Cambodia. She is married and lives with her 64-year-old husband. They have four children. Her first and second children are rice farmers, her third child works for an organization, and her youngest child is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks praying and keeping up with the news. Hem has a herniated disc at the L4-L5 level of her lower spine, a condition in which a spinal disc presses on nearby nerves. She has experienced intermittent lower back pain for approximately three years, but about one month ago, the pain began radiating down the back of her left leg. She also experiences intermittent numbness in her left leg and weakness when extending her left toe. These symptoms have made walking and carrying out her daily activities as a farmer more difficult. Hem was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), by a relative. She traveled approximately seven hours from Pailin to seek specialized care. After evaluation, doctors recommended surgery to relieve the pressure on the affected nerves. Hem is scheduled to undergo laminectomy and decompression of the L4-L5 spine on August 17th. She has contributed $100 towards her treatment but needs an additional $1,400 in support to cover the cost of surgery and related care. The surgery aims to relieve pressure on the nerves and help reduce her back and leg symptoms, allowing her to walk more comfortably and return to farming and her normal daily activities. Hem said, “I hope that this surgery will relieve my back and leg pain, improve the numbness and weakness in my left leg, and help me walk more comfortably again. I wish to return to farming, and continue my normal daily activities.”