Francis is an eight-year-old student who lives in Uganda with his parents and five siblings. He is a bright, cheerful, and confident child who dreams of becoming a driver when he grows up. He enjoys playing football and is known for being very helpful at home. His parents are farm laborers who depend on casual work to support their family. Despite their hard work, they struggle to meet their daily needs and cannot afford the cost of the surgery their son requires. When Francis was about one year old, he began to experience on-and-off swelling in a sensitive area of his body. As he has gotten older, the swelling is sometimes accompanied by pain, especially after sleeping or playing. This has limited his ability to enjoy normal childhood activities. Francis attended our partner’s medical care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a hydrocele. Francis needs surgery, or he will continue to experience painful symptoms. Fortunately, on November 2nd, Francis will undergo hydrocele repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $146 to fund his procedure and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Francis’s mother shared, “Given a chance of support, I am sure my son will get operated on and will get better. My only challenge is finances, but I believe with your support, all will be well.”

Yirga is a 72-year-old man from Ethiopia. He is a retired gas station worker and lives with his wife. Together, they have four adult children who remain actively involved in their lives. Ten years ago, Yirga underwent cataract surgery on his right eye, which restored his eyesight. Three years ago, doctors found another cataract in his left eye. At first, Yirga could manage his daily responsibilities despite the cataract. However, the cataract continued to grow and affect his sight. Yirga began experiencing challenges with reading, recognizing faces, and performing daily chores. Additionally, he had depth perception issues, making it difficult for him to walk independently. Eventually, Yirga became completely reliant on his children to guide him safely through each day. Fortunately, on November 4th, Yirga will undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the clouded lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Yirga hopes to regain his independence and dignity and return to an active life.

Hoem is a 66-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has four daughters, two sons, and 13 grandchildren. She lives with her husband who is a rice farmer, and a daughter who is a construction worker. Hoem likes to join ceremonies at the pagoda. About two years ago, Hoem developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract clouds the eye's lens, 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 Hoem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 22nd, 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 $20, but needs help raising $243 more to help fund her procedure and care. Hoem shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can go out and join the ceremonies. I want to be able to care for my grandchildren better."