Tibeyalirwa is a 62-year-old father of eight children from Uganda. He and his wife depend on farming for their livelihood, growing food mainly for home consumption and selling off any surplus to meet their basic needs. Ten years ago, Tibeyalirwa developed two swellings in his inguinal region. He sought treatment at a nearby medical center, and underwent surgery. However, two years ago, the swelling recurred on the left side, accompanied by significant pain. Tibeyalirwa has been diagnosed with 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. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, on March 10th, Tibeyalirwa has been scheduled for hernia repair surgery at Rwibaale Health Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $234 to fund Tibeyalirwa's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Tibeyalirwa says, "I hope to be relieved of the pain, so I can resume my duties as a farmer."

Romonea is a 10-year-old girl from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. She lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her parents work in the city as sales staff for a beverage company. She is currently in the fifth grade and enjoys reading and writing Khmer. She dreams of becoming a doctor in the future. Romonea was born with a right leg length discrepancy, and the condition has gradually worsened as she has grown older. Because of the difference in leg length, she experiences difficulty walking and pain when walking long distances, which affects her daily activities and mobility at school and home. In the past, her mother brought her to a government hospital, where doctors recommended that she seek further treatment at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 8th, Romonea will undergo surgery to help improve her leg alignment and mobility. Her family needs help raising $582 to fund her surgery and care. Romonea's mother said, “My greatest hope is to see my daughter walk comfortably without pain and have a better future. I want her to be able to go to school, play happily, and live like other children her age.”

Ester is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her parents, her younger brother, and two younger sisters in a village in Karen State, Burma. Ester and her three younger siblings go to school while their parents are small-scale farmers. They also raise chickens and pigs, and they forage for vegetables in the forest for their own consumption. They also have a small garden where they grow betel nut trees, and they sell some of the betel nuts to earn a small income. Sometimes, Ester’s father also finds work as an agricultural day laborer. In her free time, Ester loves to help her mother with household chores and also play with her friends at school. She wants to become a teacher when she grows up. Ester was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Ester is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 7th to correct her condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Ester's procedure and care. Ester's mother shared, "I would like to thank BCMF and your donors for your kindness and willingness to support my daughter. Without you, my daughter would not receive treatment as the cost is too high for us, and we cannot borrow such a large amount of money from our neighbours. On behalf of our family and our daughter, thank you to your donors and everyone willing to help my daughter.”