Julius is a 63-year-old husband, father, and grandfather from Uganda. He and his wife have together raised eight children, all of whom are now adults with families of their own. Throughout their marriage, the couple has worked hard to provide for their family despite limited resources. Julius is a small-scale farmer who grows crops that help feed the family, and generate a modest income. His wife serves as a church leader, and dedicates much of her time to supporting the community. Twelve years ago, Julius began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent pain on one side of his body, severe pain in his chest and lower abdomen. He has lost his appetite, suffers from recurrent fevers, and has become so weak that even bending to perform simple daily activities is difficult. The worsening symptoms have greatly affected his ability to work on his farm, threatening the family's primary source of income. Julius sought medical attention at Rwibaale Hospital and was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen. 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 $230 to fund Julius's surgery. On September 1st, he will undergo surgery at Rwibaale Health Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Julius says: "I hope to find relief from the pain, so I can resume my duties as a farmer, and take good care of my children."

Sry is 72 years old and a retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She lives with her husband, a retired teacher, and her grandson, who is in Grade 10. She has seven children, all of whom are married and live in nearby provinces. Although she is no longer working as a rice farmer, she enjoys planting vegetables around her home. In 2017, Sry was struck by a cow and suffered a hip fracture. She underwent a left hip hemiarthroplasty. However, she has continued to experience pain in her left hip. Over the past year, the pain has become much worse, particularly when she moves her leg or at night. Walking has become difficult, and she now relies on a walking frame for support. This has affected her independence and made it harder for her to carry out daily activities and care for her vegetable garden. After learning about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) through a relative, Sry decided to seek further treatment. On November 3rd, she is scheduled to undergo a left revision total hip replacement to address the acetabular erosion and improve her mobility. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $1,400 to fund her procedure and care. Sry said, “I have been living with hip pain for many years, and it has become much worse over the past year. Walking and moving around are now very difficult for me. I hope this surgery will relieve my pain so I can walk more comfortably, take care of my daily activities, and return to farming.”

Obsa is 11 years old and a fifth-grader from Ethiopia. His father is a merchant, while his mother is a homemaker who looks after Obsa and his siblings. When he was just two years old, Obsa started to experience difficult breathing, snoring, sleep disturbance, and loss of appetite. Over the years, the symptoms have gotten worse, affecting his growth, development, and concentration in school. Obsa was diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Obsa, which is scheduled to take place on October 3rd. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Obsa of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Obsa's parents shared, "We hope that the successful surgical removal of his chronically enlarged tonsils will bring a permanent end to the breathing, eating, and sleeping difficulties that have plagued him for over nine years."