Catherine is a 62-year-old farmer from Malawi, and a mother of two. She lives alone in a village in rural Lilongwe, with her two children having grown up and now living independently. Life has not been easy this year. With little money to buy fertilizer, her harvest was poor. The crops she managed to grow are only enough to feed her, with nothing left to sell for income. Still, she continued working because she has no one else to depend on for her daily needs. Since January this year, Catherine has been experiencing severe abdominal pain which has made it difficult for her to work, rest, or move comfortably. At first, she thought he condition was gastritis. Even when she sought medical help, she was only given paracetamol to ease the pain, but the relief never lasted. Eventually, she was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, which is a bulge that occurs in the upper abdomen, caused by tissue pushing through weak abdominal muscle. Presently, the pain has slowed her down, taking away the strength she needs to take care of herself. Full of hope, she went to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where surgery has been recommended to treat her condition. While hearing this gave her hope, the cost of the procedure was far beyond what she could afford. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. For Catherine, this surgery means more than relief from pain. It means being able to continue caring for herself, tending to her land, and living with independence. Catherine is able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help raising $421 to fund the procedure. Catherine says, “If I become too sick to work, there is no one else to help with my daily activities. I have to remain strong so I can continue living and taking care of myself. I am hoping for help because this surgery will give me a chance to live without this pain.”

Enock is a 29-year-old man from Burundi. He migrated to Kenya from Burundi in search of a better life. Determined to build a future for himself, he worked hard cooking mandazi and hawking them daily to earn a living. Everything was going well until September 2025, when he was involved in a tragic accident while returning home after a successful day of selling his goods. Enock was riding on a motorbike when a vehicle lost control and crashed into them. He woke up the next morning in a hospital, unable to move his right leg, which had been severely injured. The fracture was so serious that the bones were exposed. He underwent a skin graft procedure to cover the exposed area, made possible through the support of well-wishers who had found him injured on the road and helped cover the medical costs. Enock was discharged to continue his recovery at home, but his condition worsened. He was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors found his leg to be severely infected, placing him at risk of losing it if urgent treatment was not provided. He needs a skin graft procedure to facilitate the healing of his leg. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Enock receive treatment. On March 4th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to heal his wound, walk well again, and return to his small business. Now, Enock needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Enock says, “The past six months have been very difficult, relying on strangers for food and help moving around. I want to walk again so I can return to work and provide for myself.”

Josephy is a 76-year-old farmer from Malawi. He has spent most of his life working the land and continues to tend to his crops through small-scale irrigation farming. With his nine children all grown and living on their own, he spends his quieter days with his wife and grandchildren. For the past two months, Josephy has been living with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. The hernia has grown and begun to cause severe pain that spreads through his pelvis and down his right leg, slowing him down and keeping him from the farming work he loves. Fortunately, on May 7th, Josephy will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Josephy is contributing to his treatment, but needs help in raising $500 more to fund the surgery. He says, “I am used to working with my hands and taking care of my home. This pain has made me feel weak and unable to do what I love. If I can have this surgery, I believe I will be able to go back to my life again. I am asking for support so I can be well.”