Medius is a 31-year-old woman from Uganda who needs surgery to heal her hernia. She was able to attend school only up to fifth grade, but at that point, when she was about 10 years old, her parents separated. At the same time, Medius had surgery for a club foot, requiring a long hospital stay. After that, she did not resume school. She now works as a maid for someone who volunteered to take care of her. For the last year, Medius has had an epigastric hernia - a type of hernia that causes fat to push through a weakened area in the walls of the abdomen. At first, Medius experienced abdominal pains that were intermittent. She received treatment but the results lasted only a short while and the pains persisted. Medius now experiences intermittent swelling, which typically appears after eating or performing heavy work. This causes her severe pain. Surgery has been recommended but Medius cannot raise the required funds. Fortunately, on August 26th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Medius's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow Medius to live more comfortably and confidently. Medius says, “I hope to get well through surgery so that I may do my day-to-day duties comfortably again in the future.”

Rachana is a 27-year-old from Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers in the Svay Rieng province. Originally, Rachana worked in a bank but has been unable to work since his injury. He has one brother and two sisters, all of whom still live nearby. In his free time, Rachana likes to go through social media apps on his phone. In January 2022, Rachana was in a motorcycle collision and lost consciousness for about ten minutes. He injured his left foot and was treated at a local hospital, where he lost his left big toe due to trauma. The traumatic injury from the fall also left him unable to move his left upper arm. He visited several hospitals and a Khmer traditional healer, but the immobility has not been able to be treated. Rachana also has bent toes on his left foot, which can be a symptom of a neurological disease, making it painful for him to walk or run. He has also been depressed since his injury because his limited mobility affects his daily activities. When Rachana learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 2nd, surgeons at CSC will perform an arthrodesis fusion of his left toes, allowing him to walk again after this procedure. His shoulder injury is too old for a nerve transfer, but he may be eligible for a free flap muscle transfer at a later time. CSC is requesting $600 to fund this procedure. Rachana contributed $100 to his care. Rachana said: “I hope, after this surgery, my toes will be normal, and it will not be painful to walk or run. I also hope doctors will be able to help me with my arm later.”

Huot is a 40-year-old father from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He has one daughter and they live together in a rural area near the Vietnamese border. He earns a small living by collecting cans and bottles and selling them to the recycling center. In his free time, he likes to listen to the radio and watch the news. About two years ago, Huot developed a cataract in his right eye. The cataract has caused some tearing and prevents him from seeing out of his right eye. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces. Due to his poor eyesight, he is unable to go places without assistance as he is at risk of falling. When Huot learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), in Cambodia, he traveled for over three hours to seek treatment. Fortunately, doctors at CSC were able to quickly diagnose Huot's cataracts and on April 26th, surgeons will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in Huot's right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to help fund this procedure. Huot shared, "I hope that I can see after surgery and do more work."