Juliana is an 86-year-old woman from Lilongwe District in Malawi. She is a mother of three children, who unfortunately did not complete their school studies due to financial constraints. Currently, all three of her children are married and living in their own homes, but are struggling financially. With her husband deceased, Anna relies on the kindness of others for assistance as she is no longer able to support herself in her old age. For a period of eight years, Juliana has lived with a swelling on the right side of her neck that started as a pimple. Presently, Juliana has been feeling pain from the swelling and is unable to carry any load on her head due to severe headaches. She has been to different health centers in search of a solution until she visited our medical partner care center, Nkhoma Hospital. A biopsy was done and she was diagnosed with pleomorphic adenoma, which is is a benign tumour that affects the salivary glands. She has been scheduled to undergo parotidectomy surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Juliana receive treatment. On April 9th, surgeons at Nkhoma Hospital will perform a parotidectomy which will ease her pain symptoms and treat her condition. Now, Juliana needs help to fund this $491 procedure. Juliana says, “I’m looking forward to the treatment, thank you for the support.”

Sot is a retired rice farmer from Kompong Thom province in Cambodia. She is 79 years old with four children and twenty grandchildren. She is widowed and never remarried following the death of her husband during the Khmer Rouge. She lives with one of her daughters, who works for a local construction company. Sot spends most of her time looking after the house and her grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to visit the village pagoda but has been scared to cross the road since her vision has deteriorated. About six months ago, Sot developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her photophobia, tearing, and blurry vision. She feels a loss of independence and experiences difficulty going up and down the stairs in her traditional raised home. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Sot learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 18th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. Sot is able to contribute $100 but needs help to raise $153 to fund this procedure. Sot shared, "I would like to be able to see clearly and do things on my own. I also want to look after my grandchildren."

Gasper is a thirteen-year-old resilient boy from Tanzania. He hails from Igwamadete village in the Singida region. Gasper is the eighth child in a family of nine. His parents, both farmers, work tirelessly cultivating food crops to make ends meet to help provide for the family. In June 2023, tragedy struck when Gasper was bitten by a snake on his right arm while he was asleep. His parents rushed him to the Igwamadete dispensary for immediate treatment, but unfortunately, the facility was not equipped to provide the specialized care he needed. Gasper was referred to the General Hospital in Dodoma and admitted for eight days. Following his stay at the hospital, Gasper was then taken to the Katavi region for local treatment, where he remained for four months. Despite their efforts, Gasper returned home to Singida with a developing contracture in his right elbow. This condition significantly limits his ability to engage in daily activities comfortably, including his studies. In their search for treatment, Gasper’s parents encountered another mother who had experienced a similar ordeal with her child. This compassionate woman directed them to Kafika House Center. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is now helping Gasper receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On December 13th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to help release the skin limiting the extension and flexing of his elbow. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Gasper says: “I can’t write comfortably because of my hand; I hope my hand will get back to normal.”