Nom is a 64-year-old widow. She is a retired rice farmer from Kampong Thom province, living with a daughter since her husband passed away ten years ago. She has two daughters from her long marriage to her husband - one is a rice farmer, one works in construction, and they have given her five beautiful grandchildren. At home most of the day, she likes to listen to the monks chant on the radio, or visit the local Buddhist centre. Five years ago, Nom developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision and difficulty keeping her balance. 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 is not able to go places on her own. When Nom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She shared: "I hope after surgery I can see better. I want to help my daughter take care of my grandchildren and do housework to help her."

Racheal is a 31 year old from Uganda. She is a mother to two children, both currently studying. While trained as a teacher, Rachael, unfortunately lost her job during the country lockdown in the Covid-19 period, and she since has not been able to find a new opportunity to continuing in the teaching profession. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Despite the challenges, Rachael is a lively individual, full of stories, and she has a humorous way of talking that brings laughter to everyone during interviews. To sustain herself, she engages in farming, focusing on crops for her family to eat, but she also sells surplus produce to generate income. Her husband works as a security guard, and they reside in a two-room rental house in Maya trading center. She shares a history of experiencing a miscarriage. Now that she is expecting a new baby, she has attended antenatal care at Nyakibale Hospital. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of her high risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Racheal undergo a caesarean section on December 12th. This procedure will cost $252, and Racheal needs your support. Rachael says, “I hope to get your support to deliver a live baby and have a successful delivery.”

Shedrack is a 6-year-old boy from Tanzania who recently joined a kindergarten class. He enjoys going to school and playing with toy cars with his best friend. Shedrack is presently facing challenges due to an accident he had when he was just seven months old. While playing, he accidentally got too close to an open fire and crawled over it, resulting in burns to his right hand from pieces of firewood. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he received a dressing for his wounds. It took two months for the burns to heal, but it was not until later that his mother realized his fingers were not fully functional due to the burn injury. The scar tissue that had developed made it difficult for Shedrack to use his right hand fingers, rendering him unable to hold a pencil at school. Despite this limitation, he still enjoys playtime with toys, using his left hand only. Shedrack’s mother desired to get treatment for her son, but financial constraints prevented them from seeking surgical intervention. Shedrack's family encountered a doctor affiliated with our medical partner's care center Kafika House, who directed them to seek assistance at the facility. Upon evaluation, Shedrack was diagnosed with burn scar contractures on his right hand, necessitating corrective surgery to address the defects caused by the fire accident. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Shedrack receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On March 7th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve his hand’s functionality. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Shedrack’s mother says: “I hope he starts his treatment and that his hand won’t be a barrier as he continues with school.”