Leo is a 50-year-old father of five children, with one child still in school. He works in the quarries and sometimes on farms for subsistence farming. His wife is a small-scale farmer, and they work hard to meet their family's daily needs. Three years ago, Leo developed a right inguinal hernia. This occurs when soft tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. He has pain and swelling, and is not able to do strenuous activities with ease, yet he is the breadwinner of the family. Leo went to Nyakibale Hospital and surgery was recommended to help him finally heal. Fortunately, on January 24th he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Leo's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Leo says, “I request support from donors to enable me to be treated and resume my day-to-day work with ease."

Myo is a 14-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents in a village in Karen State. His mother is a homemaker who is currently eight months pregnant. His father is a subsistence farmer, but he also works as a day laborer to earn money. Myo is in grade six and he enjoys playing football in his free time. Two years ago, Myo developed a pain in his arm which he noticed while playing football with his friends. Right away he was in a lot of pain, but his arm did not look broken. At first, the pain lessened, but gradually the pain worsened and his upper left forearm became swollen. Myo could also feel a mass under the swollen area of his left forearm. Myo and his father went to Chiang Mai Hospital, where he received a MRI and other tests, as well as a biopsy which confirmed that the tumor in his forearm was cancer. Now he needs surgery to remove the tumor, and he will need a chemo after surgery. The enlarged mass in Myo's left forearm has not increased in size, and only causes him pain when he lifts something heavy or when he does any physical activity with that arm such as washing his clothes or cleaning. Although he can take a shower by himself, using only his right arm makes it challenging. When he plays with his friends, he needs to protect his left forearm to prevent getting hurt. Myo's family sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 8th, and his family needs help funding the $1,500 cost to cover his procedure and care. He said, “I feel sorry for my mother and I pity her that she has to stay alone with the new baby. I also feel sad that I cannot go to school this year. I want to recover quickly and go back to see my brother and mother.”

Juliet is a 43-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. She has been married to her husband for 20 years, and he works as a mason. She has four living children; tragically, one of her children passed away after delivery. All of her other children attend school, with the youngest in second grade. Juliet completed high school, but could not fund any further education. Juliet grows food crops mainly for home consumption and sells the surplus to generate income for her family. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Juliet is currently expecting her sixth child. Her doctors have recommended that she deliver via Caesarean section because of her three previous C-section scars. Otherwise, she could experience complications like uterine rupture that could be fatal. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Juliet undergo a C-Section on March 9th to ensure her safety and her baby's. Now, she needs help raising $252 to fund her procedure and care. Juliet shared, "I am grateful for your support and I hope to have a successful delivery."