Ruth is 36 years old and a single mother of three from Malawi. She also has one grandchild from her firstborn. Ruth has experienced multiple family losses. Both of her parents and her two siblings are deceased. The only surviving relative is her uncle, who is physically disabled and fully dependent on her for care and support. She earns a living by selling tomatoes. In 2003, Ruth began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on the right side of her neck. Over time, the swelling grew bigger and began to affect her health. She developed symptoms including loss of voice, neck pain, headaches, and frequent coughing. After 15 years, she finally sought medical attention and was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement 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 Ruth receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Ruth shared, "My only hope is you; I tried all that I could, but failed. I am looking forward to your support."

On is 76 years old and a retired rice farmer from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. Her husband passed away 10 years ago. She has six sons, two daughters, and 20 grandchildren. Currently, she lives with her third daughter, who is a farmer. In her daily life, she enjoys listening to monks’ spiritual teachings, which is her favorite activity. About one year ago, On developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When On learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On April 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Her family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund her procedure. On shared, "I hope that after the surgery, my eyesight will improve so I can see clearly, recognize others easily, travel to distant places to join religious activities, take care of my grandchildren, and carry out my housework more comfortably."

Amon is a 28-year-old man from Zambia. He lost his mother at a young age and was raised by his maternal grandmother. His father, a businessman in Malawi, later remarried, and Amon's stepmother works as a farmer. Amon dropped out of secondary school some years back due to illness. In 2015, Amon 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. At the time, Amon needed his guardian's consent to proceed with surgery. His primary caregiver, his grandmother, was hesitant about the treatment and believed that it should be Amon's father’s decision. Over time, Amon continued to experience increasing pain, and decided to travel to Malawi to look for his father, and a sister who was also married in the country. They finally got reunited a year later, and soon after, Amon was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) for treatment. Amon has been scheduled for hernia repair surgery on May 6th. He remains hopeful for a brighter future following surgery, now that he's reunited with his family, and has gained access to the care he needs. Amon's family is contributing to his surgery, but need help in raising $575 for the procedure. Amon says: "Your support will help me to resume school, and enjoy life with my father, with whom I have just been reunited."