Norlan is a 35-year-old father from the Philippines. Norlan did not finish his education, but as a father he is committed to making sure his two children finish school so they will not have to experience the hardships he experienced. He also dreams of going abroad to make sure his children will live a better life. Norlan currently works as a tricycle driver and earns $14 a day, which is mostly dedicated to the family's daily needs. Two years ago, Norlan began to experience troubling symptoms, including irritation, pain, and bowel obstruction. His condition affected his work and therefore the family's income. Norlan needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Norlan receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on February 3rd at WSFP's care center. 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 Norlan's procedure and care. "I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity because my income is not enough for the surgery and hospitalization," says Norlan. "We have nothing else to rely on so I am grateful to this organization and grateful to the people behind this."

Savoeun resides in Kampong Cham province with her two children, a son and a daughter, who help her with the farm and household chores. As a widow, she has been the sole provider for her family since her husband's passing several years ago. Together, they work long hours in the fields to cultivate enough rice to feed themselves and for sale at the market for additional necessities. In the evening, Savoeun likes to keep her house clean or listen to the radio. On December 20th, Savoeun slipped in the bathroom, and immediately felt great pain, but could not afford to visit a clinic. She endured weeks of persistent pain and navigated life from a wheelchair, when a villager suggested she should visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for a consultation. She and her daughter traveled for six and a half hours where surgeons diagnosed her with a fracture of the neck of her left femur. Femoral neck fractures are among the most common fractures in the elderly population, with a high mortality risk. Her doctors have planned a hip reconstruction procedure, where the femoral head and neck are replaced with a reconstruction prosthesis called a hip hemiarthroplasty. Now Savoeun and her family need help with the cost of the $544 procedure. The surgery will repair her fracture and allow her to walk again. Savoeun's daughter shared: "We hope my mother can walk again and be without pain after her surgery."

Innocent is an outgoing and hardworking lady, who is 49 years old. She and her husband and three school age children live in Uganda. Because Innocent was orphaned, she didn't have the opportunity to pursue her education beyond primary school. Today she farms, primarily to produce food crops for the family's consumption, while selling any surplus to help generate some income. Her husband is a builder, who is also engaged in farming. One year ago, Innocent began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, heart palpitations with high blood pressure, and fatigue on walking even a short distance. Due to limited finances, she tried using local herbs and traditional cutting, with the hope that she would improve, but nothing has worked to alleviate her symptoms. A friend with whom she shared her concerns referred Innocent to the hospital in Nyakibale, where tests and scans were performed. Innocent was diagnosed with bilateral goiter, which impacts the thyroid gland's production of hormones critical to Innocent's metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Innocent receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 28th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Innocent and her family need your help to raise the money. Innocent says: “I believe with your support I will be able to be operated on and will finally be relieved from all these symptoms I’ve been having.”