Birhanu is 75 years old and a retired soldier from Ethiopia. His wife makes handicrafts to bring in extra money. Together, they work hard to support their four children—three sons and one daughter. For more than two years, however, a growing cloud in his left eye—known as a cataract—has turned his life upside down. Birhanu's vision has become blurry and weak, making it dangerous for him to walk outside, especially after dark. Simple chores around the house have also become exhausting challenges, taking away the independence and quiet daily routines he has relied on for decades. Fortunately, Birhanu is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Birhanu shared, "I hope to walk safely at night, go back to doing odd jobs to help my family, handle chores on my own, and get my confidence and active life back in the community."

Hector is a secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and has four children. To support his family, he works part-time. He traveled from Blantyre to Lilongwe seeking assistance for a surgical procedure known as an ileostomy reversal. Twelve months ago, Hector began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with bowel obstruction. He subsequently underwent surgery and was advised to return after three months for reversal of the stoma. Unfortunately, this did not materialize due to limited access to surgical support. Since then, Hector has endured significant physical, social, and emotional hardship. Living with a stoma for an extended period has affected his ability to eat and sleep comfortably. He frequently experiences discharge, which has impacted him socially and in his community. As a result, he shared that he has felt isolated, lonely, and psychologically distressed. When Hector learned that Partners in Hope (PIH) was supporting patients requiring surgery, he decided to travel to Lilongwe in search of assistance. His greatest desire was to undergo ileostomy reversal surgery and regain the comfort, dignity, and peace of mind he once enjoyed. By the time he sought support, five months had passed since he had become due for reversal surgery. Fortunately, on September 28th, Hector was reviewed by a surgeon at our medical partner PIH, who confirmed his condition and emphasized the importance of proceeding with the ileostomy reversal, but he would need financial support. An ileostomy reversal is a surgical procedure that reconnects the bowel and restores the pathway for the passage of stool after a temporary stoma has been created. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Hector's surgery. On October 2nd, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. "I can see my life going down as time passes by. I came all the way from Blantyre because I trusted your support. Kindly help me get better so I can continue supporting my family," shared Hector.

Hirphasa is a 68-year-old father of ten children from Ethiopia. Hirphasa lost his wife eight years ago, and has dedicated his life to raising his family of six boys and four girls. Throughout his decades working the land, he took great pride in being hardworking and completely self-sufficient. Hirphasa is presently facing a difficult chapter in his life, as cataracts slowly cloud his left eye, causing his vision to blur and making it very hard for him to see at night. This gradual loss of sight has taken away his independence, making him rely heavily on his children just to get around and handle daily tasks. Fortunately, on August 19th, Hirphasa is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, where surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, Hirphasa needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. "I hope to take the heavy weight of caregiving off my family, regain my strength, and bring bright days and joy back to my home," said Hirphasa