Jonah is 52 years old and a farmer from Uganda. She and her husband engage in small-scale farming to support their five children. Her husband supplements their income through brickmaking. About one year ago, Jonah began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on the front of her neck. Over time, she began experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pain when swallowing, and a persistent, irritating cough-like sensation. Her condition gradually worsened, reaching a point where she could no longer lie down comfortably to rest. Jonah was diagnosed with a goitre, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jonah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Jonah says, “I was excited to know of your support, and I believe that with it, I will be operated on and will surely get better.”

Crispin is a 65-year-old father of three from the Philippines. He lives with his wife and daughter. He has two other children who already have their own families. Crispin is currently unemployed and depends on his daughter’s modest income, which only covers their daily needs. He explained that he could only undergo surgery if financial assistance were provided. Despite these challenges, Crispin takes care of himself by avoiding heavy lifting and eating healthier foods. Five months ago, Crispin was diagnosed with an 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. The condition has been causing him pain and difficulty in moving around. Crispin needs to undergo surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, on May 15th, Crispin will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Crispin's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will ease his suffering, and lift the financial burden on his family, giving them a chance to move forward with dignity and hope. Crispin says, "I am deeply grateful to the Almighty and the Foundation for this surgery, which saves me from falling into debt and gives me hope that more people like me will continue to receive help."

Sao is a 61-year-old widow from Cambodia. She has three children and lives with her daughter. Her eldest child is a rice farmer, her second child works in Thailand, and her youngest is in Grade 10. She spends her free time caring for her grandchild and growing vegetables around her home. On July 20, 2025, Sao sustained a fracture of her right femur when a car struck her from behind in a road traffic accident. She was transferred to Vietnam, where surgeons stabilized the fracture with an intramedullary locking nail. However, the bone has not united, and she continues to need treatment. The unhealed fracture causes persistent pain in her right thigh and makes walking difficult. She relies on crutches and feels unstable when moving around, limiting her ability to carry out daily activities and care for her grandchild comfortably. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 20th, Sao will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will involve bone grafting at the fracture site, removal of the cerclage wires, and removal of the proximal screw to allow dynamization of the nail. These steps aim to encourage bone healing and improve stability in her right leg, helping her gradually regain more comfortable mobility. She can contribute $35, but needs help raising $550 more to fund her procedure and care. Sao's daughter said, “I worry about my mother because she is still in pain and struggles to walk after her accident. I hope this surgery helps her bone heal so she can walk more steadily, feel less pain, and return to her daily activities.”