Maria is a 28-year-old woman from Uganda. Maria has spent years trying to rebuild her life after losing her only child and undergoing two major abdominal operations. Today, she runs a small soft-drinks business to support herself and help care for her sister’s two children. She operates this business out of her own home. However, a painful swelling on her abdomen has begun interfering with the very business she depends on to survive. Maria underwent two abdominal operations, the first four years ago and the last one year ago. But for the past eight months, Maria continues to experience a painful swelling around her navel at the site of her previous abdominal surgery. The pain becomes particularly troublesome when she sits for long periods, laughs, or speaks. She has not received treatment for the swelling, and it has increasingly affected her ability to attend to her customers. At times, the pain becomes so severe that she has to close her business, losing the little income she depends on. On November 3rd, Maria will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. This procedure and care will cost $170, and Maria needs your help. Maria shares, “I have gone through two major operations, and the money I spent on treatment left me with almost nothing. Now I have this painful swelling, and sometimes I have to close my business because I cannot bear the pain. I depend on this small business to survive and to help care for my sister’s children, but I cannot afford another operation. I kindly appeal to the donors to help me receive the surgery I need. Your assistance would give me a chance to recover, return to my business, and continue caring for the children who depend on me. May God bless you for helping people like me who have nowhere else to turn.”

No is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has four daughters, one son, and six grandchildren. His wife stays home to care for their household while No is farming. When he has free time, he enjoys watching the news on his phone. About two years ago, No developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him to experience 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. No has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he cannot go places on his own. When No learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 22nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, No will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $263 to fund his procedure. No shared: "I hope, after surgery, my eye can see better so I can go back to growing rice and plant some vegetables around my home."

Moo is a 58-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two daughters in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. They moved to Thailand because there was a military airstrike in her village in 2023. In late July, while Moo was collecting vegetables, she fell and broke her left wrist. Due to financial challenges, she did not go to the hospital right away. She cannot grab or squeeze things. She cannot cook or do her own laundry. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Moo will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for October 2nd and will cost $1,500. This procedure will be able to help Moo be able to do her daily tasks again. Moo said, “Only my daughter works, and we depend on her. Her income is just enough to cover daily needs. We do not have extra money to save. When the accident happened, I decided not to get treatment at hospital because I think it will cost a lot and we do not have money. When I find out the cost of the treatment, I was shocked. I have never imaging having that much amount of money. I feel like I am a burden to my children and those who help me with the treatment cost. I asked not to get surgery, but the doctor told me that, if I do not do surgery, my hand cannot grab things. I still want to work and help around with the housework. Thank you so much for supporting with the treatment cost."