Martha is 46 years old and a mother of four from Ethiopia. Martha and her family are refugees who have been granted asylum by the Government of Kenya. Martha’s husband recounts how he narrowly escaped death and walked long distances to reach the border. Although he holds a master’s degree, securing formal employment has been extremely difficult. Currently, he earns a living through small-scale hawking within the neighborhood, while Martha works informally as a cook at a roadside kiosk. Six years ago, Martha began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on her neck that gradually continued to grow. Initially, it was painless, but over time she began experiencing headaches, eye pain, and sensations such as a rapid heartbeat. She sought medical care at a hospital, where tests were conducted, but she was informed that the results were inconclusive. She was diagnosed with multinodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Martha receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 24th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $633, and she and her family need help raising money. “We are refugees with no family members who can support us. We are praying for help so that I can undergo surgery, return to my normal life, and continue supporting my family,” said Martha.

Sary is A 61-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is a widow and lives with her oldest son. She and her son sell bread to support their family. In her free time, she enjoys watching the news and listening to monks' sermons. About seven years ago, Sary developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind, or dust, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. Sary learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought treatment. On March 5th, she will undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $298. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Sary said, "I hope that after surgery, my eye will stop tearing and feeling irritated, so I will not worry about my eye anymore. I also hope to return to selling bread comfortably and continue my daily work."

Sokny is a 61-year-old woman from Cambodia who lives with her sister and niece. She is not married and her family relies on one another for support. Her sister, now 80 years old, also requires care, and her niece does what she can to help support the household. Despite their combined efforts, they face ongoing financial hardship and daily challenges. In her free time, Sokny find comfort in listening to monks pray. About ten years ago, Sokny noticed a cyst on her neck. It has grown over time and now experiences ongoing pain and discomfort. She did not seek treatment earlier due to financial constraints, but now it has become a constant burden in her daily life. Sokny traveled to our medical partner's care center for evaluation. On March 18th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Sokny needs help to raise $319 to cover the cost of this procedure. She said, “I have lived with this growing pain for ten years, and all I hope for now is a chance to be treated and live without suffering.”