Florence is a loving mother of seven. She and her husband work as small-scale farmers and live in a grass-thatched home with their family. Her husband also takes on masonry work to help earn more income. Over a decade ago, Florence began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck. After she gave birth to her last-born child, she visited a local health center where doctors determined she was experiencing a pregnancy-related condition that would heal soon. However, Florence’s symptoms never improved, and the swelling increased over time. When Florence learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), and their successful thyroid removal treatments, she visited AMH care center for review. Doctors diagnosed her condition as a multinodular goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Florence will need surgery to address her symptoms and ensure she can finally heal. Fortunately, Florence will undergo a thyroidectomy on January 10th at AMH’s care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $936 to fund Florence’s procedure. Florence shared, “I would like to have my strength back again. My children need my efforts as a mother.”

Koemsal is a 25-year-old married father. He and his wife are sellers in the local market. They sell soft drinks, snacks and fresh fruit. They have a very active 2-year-old daughter, who keeps them very busy since she learned to walk. In his free time, Koemsal likes to play football or volleyball with his friends. Koemsal was in a motorcycle accident in March 2019; he suffered an open fracture of his right foot. A local hospital applied screws and a plate to repair the fracture, which never healed properly, and became infected. Over the past two years, his foot has slowly healed, but he has chronic pain and is unable to place weight on his foot. This makes it difficult for him to work or help his wife with their child. He shared that he feels poorly most of the time and ashamed that he is unable to support his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 5th, Koemsal will undergo surgery which will cost $230. This treatment will allow his foot to heal completely so that he can walk normally again. He told us, "I hope that when the metal is removed from my foot, it will heal and I can work again to support my family."

Kem is a 54-year-old construction worker with one daughter and four sons. He lives with his wife who is a housewife and proudly shared that all of his children are students. He likes to listen to the news on the radio when he is home. Three years ago, Kem developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him tearing, itchiness, and constant burning in the eye. 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 and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. When Kem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Kem needs 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 his procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for December 2nd. Kem told us, "I hope after surgery my eye feels good again so I can go back to work and not worry about my eye anymore."