Saw Ta is a 36-year-old farmer who lives with his wife and eight children in a village in Karen State, Burma. Saw Ta plants chili and cardamom and volunteers as a community development worker in his area. The family also raises chickens, goats, and pigs. Saw Ta has a heart condition that requires the replacement of the aortic and mitral heart valves and the repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Saw Ta gets tired easily and experiences heart palpitations when he is working, requiring him to take frequent periods of rest. As he cannot work long hours on the farm, he stays home to take care of his children while his wife goes out to work. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for the complex surgery that Saw Ta's condition requires. The procedure is scheduled to take place at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital on April 10th, and once completed, will hopefully allow Saw Ta to live a fuller and healthier life. Saw Ta said: "After treatment, I will go back to help my wife on the farm, and also continue to volunteer in my community. Now, because of my heart condition, my wife has to do all the work at home and I feel sorry for her."

Veneranda is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She studied up to primary school class seven, but was not able to continue with schooling due to a lack of financial support from her parents. She later got married to a farmer with whom she has seven children. They all did not go to school due to limited finances. Even with her illness, she still pushes herself to work to provide for her family. 10 years ago, Veneranda began to experience troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling. She underwent a thyroidectomy but five years later the swelling reoccurred accompanied by pain. She visited Rushoroza Hospital seeking treatment. She was diagnosed with a bilateral multi-nodular goiter. She needs surgery again to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Veneranda receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo another thyroidectomy on December 1st at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Veneranda says, “I believe this will be successful so I can get back to my day-to-day life."

Immaculate is a 22-year-old farmer from Uganda. She and her husband are expecting to deliver their baby but due to previous health complications and challenges accessing pre-natal care, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Cesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Immaculate undergo a C-Section on March 1st. This procedure will cost $207 and Immaculate needs your support. Immaculate says, ‘’Thank you, donors, for putting a smile of hope on my face. I have high hopes of having a safe surgery and I know I will receive a live baby. May God bless every one of you. I will be able to continue with my usual activities of farming and later I set up a grocery shop.’’