29-year-old Nathaniel is a hardworking father from the Philippines. Through his work as a housekeeper, he supports his wife, daughter and stepdaughter. Nathaniel has been living with an indirect inguinal hernia for many years. He has been doing hard, physical work ever since he was eight years old, and has been experiencing symptoms for quite a while. When his pain increased dramatically, he sought medical advice for the first time, and has been advised to undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Nathaniel access the treatment that he needs. He is now scheduled for surgery on January 20th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. While a portion of the cost of Nathaniel's procedure will be paid for by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Surgical Foundation Philippines is seeking your help to cover the remaining $1,103. Nathaniel said: "Thank you very much for your help. Your help will not go in vain because when I recover, I will still continue to be a provider and a good father to my daughters. I am not the only one who will benefit from this surgery, but my family too, so I am very grateful."

Kunthea is a 35-year-old homemaker from Cambodia. She moved back home to a rural area in Kampong Thom province after being unable to find work in Phnom Penh City during the pandemic. She lives there with her parents and a younger brother. Her father is a fisherman and her mother is a homemaker. She has six sisters who are married and live nearby to help her care for her parents. At home, she spends her time cooking, cleaning the house, and occasionally babysitting the children of her sisters. One year ago, Kunthea had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Kunthea experiences pain, purulent ear discharge, and hearing loss. She often has headaches and cannot sleep well at night. She cannot communicate clearly with others and it is difficult to hear someone when they are talking to her, which she shared makes her embarrassed. Kunthea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 13th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Kunthea shared: "I hope I will have a healthy ear drum, not worry about disease going into my brain and have improved hearing as well."

Edwin is an outspoken and confident 38-year-old from Uganda. Edwin loved school when she was young, but she was unable to proceed further with her education because her parents couldn't afford to raise money for her to attend college. Since then, she has been engaged in farming for a living. However, due to limited land, she primarily grows crops to feed her family and sells the surplus to generate income. Her husband works as a farmer and often engages in casual labor in other people's gardens to earn an income. During her free time, she enjoys taking care of her family, performing domestic chores such as cooking, washing, and maintaining the household. Edwin has a poor obstetric history. She has been pregnant seven times, but she reports having experienced five miscarriages due to an unknown cause. Because of the stress from these miscarriages, she has developed hypertension in pregnancy, for which she has been on medication since her first trimester. She is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of gestational hypertension and the significance of her previous obstetric challenges. This way, doctors can better ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edwin undergo a ceasarean section on December 12th. This procedure will cost $252, and Edwin needs your support. Edwin says, “I pray that am given your support for then I can have a live baby and a successful delivery.”