Bopha is an 18-year-old student who lives in Kandal province with her parents, who are rice farmers. Bopha is the youngest child of three; she has two brothers, one is still in school and one is a teacher. She studies in grade 12, and dreams of going to a university to be a teacher like her brother. At home, she likes to read books. For two years, Bopha has been experiencing a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing at night, sore throat, and fever. Her parents took her to a private clinic where they got medicine that did not help her to feel better. She has difficulty going to school and paying attention in class because she feels unwell and doesn't sleep well. Bopha was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Bopha, which is scheduled to take place on January 3rd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Bopha of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Bopha said: "I hope after this operation I will feel good and will stop having a sore throat."

Edina, a 41-year-old mother of seven, works as a vegetable seller, earning about $2.97 per day for her family's upkeep. She finds joy interacting with her customers and has a fondness for chicken and nsima, a Malawian staple porridge made from maize flour. Four years ago, Edina discovered a small, painless swelling on the right side of her neck. After seeking medical advice at a nearby hospital, she was diagnosed with goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She was instructed to wait for an opportunity for surgery, but her condition has worsened, causing breathlessness, neck pain, and difficulty lifting heavy objects. This has affected her work capacity and resulted in a decrease in income. Inspired by a fellow community member's journey to seek help, Edina visited our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre, where a surgeon reconfirmed the need for a thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Faced with financial hardships, Edina is seeking support for her surgery treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edina receive treatment. On March 20th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to relieve her symptoms and help her resume her vegetable business at full capacity. Now, Edina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Edina says, “I feel so fortunate to get the opportunity for support. Thank you so much, I believe surgery will help me get back to normal life."

Amos is a loving father to 6 children: 3 sons and 3 daughters who are all in school. Currently, he and his wife have a banana and coffee plantation from which they earn their living. However, being that they have a big extended family and have limited land, they are unable to pay for some medical costs. Amos came into our facility with swelling and pain. He had never visited a doctor before, but when pain became severe, he came here to Nyakibale hospital, he was examined and requested to do a scan which revealed that he needed herniorrhaphy treatment. For the last six months, Amos has had a bilateral inguinal hernia. This causes him pain standing, walking, sitting and discomfort whenever he does strenuous work. Fortunately, on February 20th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Amos's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Amos says, “I hope to get much better once operated and will surely continue farming in better health to sustain my family."