Glorious is a farmer and 40-year-old mother of six children. She completed primary school but due to the financial crisis in her family back then, she could not proceed with her education. She got married and together with her husband, they practice small scale farming to make ends meet. She told us she is proud to have her children in school, even though earning enough for their school fees is hard for their family. Ten years ago, Glorious began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling, breathing difficulties, and heart palpitations. The symptoms, Glorious notes, seem to have worsened in the last six months so she opted to visit Nyakibale Hospital hoping to feel better soon. She was diagnosed with goitre and needs surgery but the cost is high for her family to meet on their own. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Glorious receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 12th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Glorious says “I hope that with your support, I will get the surgery and the swelling that is disfiguring me will finally end."

Marc is a 16-year-old boy who lives in an urban neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, with his parents and four younger siblings. He is in his first year of high school and would like to eventually become either an engineer or a teacher. Marc was born with a condition called atrial septal defect. The birth defect means there's a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, which often leaves Marc weak and short of breath. Fortunately, the condition is highly treatable with surgery. There is not a local pediatric cardiac surgical team in Haiti, but our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance has arranged to accompany Marc to the Dominican Republic. There, on May 25th, doctors will use a catheter to plug the hole in his heart. "I have been waiting for this chance for many years," Marc said, "and I am very happy the time is almost here!" The Rotarian-based organization Gift of Life International is contributing $5,000 toward Marc's surgery. His family needs to raise $1,500 to help cover remaining medical costs and travel for Marc.

Dav is a 25-year-old construction worker. Dav's wife is a garment worker and together they have a one-year-old son, who they adore. In January, Dav was in a motorcycle accident, causing trauma to his right shoulder. Dav was treated at a local clinic, where surgeons placed screws and plates to repair his broken arm, but he has experienced paralysis from extensive nerve damage. Dav has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury that impacts the 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. Dav is unable to lift his right arm, abduct his shoulder, or have any sensation in his fingers. Dav cannot work to support his family so Dav, his wife, and child live with Dav's parents. Dav traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. This is the only center in the country where this treatment is available. On March 7th, Dav will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, the nerves that have been damaged will be able to regenerate, allowing Dav to have use of his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Dav raise $696 to fund this procedure. Dav is hopeful that with this care, he can use his arm again to lift up his son and return to work to support his family.