Umaru is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. He farms on his small piece of land, mainly growing food crops for home consumption and selling the surplus to generate income for his family. Umaru came in presenting with an umbilical swelling, which he has had for close to 6 months. The pain and swelling progressed over time, affecting his movement and ability to perform daily activities. Umaru was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and the doctors recommended for him to have surgery to remove the mass. Umaru traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 5th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Umaru needs help to raise $188 to fund this procedure. Umaru says, "With support, I hope to undergo my surgery, expect to get better, and continue farming in good health to sustain my family."

Nhe is a 30-year-old father who lives in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, with his wife, two children, and mother in-law. His children are 5 and 10 years old and study at a nearby school. In his free time, Nhe plays soccer with his friends in the village and spends time with his family. In June 2023, Nhe's hands were badly burned by an electric shock while on a construction job. His left hand was severely damaged. He has limited function in his hand and arm, muscle atrophy, and has not been able to return to work. When Nhe learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled 5 hours to seek treatment. On December 7th, surgeons at CSC will perform a nerve and tendon repair procedure. This procedure will help him restore function in his hand. Nhe and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $572 to fund the operation and his post-op care, including physiotherapy. He shared, "I hope I can move my hand again and go back to work to support my family."

Jomhel is a 27-year-old from the Philippines. His mother, Melissa, is a solo parent seeking assistance for Jomhel who has intellectual disability. The family relies on Melissa's income through laundry and ironing services for her relatives and neighbors. They live with Melissa's father, aged 75, who is also taking medications and aging. Her sister gives her extra money allotted for the medicines and other needs of their father. Two years ago, Jomhel began to experience troubling symptoms, including bleeding, pain, and difficulty sitting and standing. He was diagnosed with thrombosed hemorrhoids and needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Jomhel receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on January 12th at WSFP's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove his hemorrhoids so he can live pain free. A portion of the cost of his treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Jomhel's procedure and care. Melissa shared: "Being a solo parent facing financial constraints, I do not have enough money for Jomhel's consultation, let alone a major surgery. This is a big help not just for me but also for my son and I am very grateful to all of you."