Allen is a 25-year-old mother from Uganda. Allen enjoys cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her family. She farms for a living but due to limited land, most of her crop is used to feed the family. If there is a surplus, she can sell them to generate income for the family. Allen came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), complaining of a swelling on her left thigh. For two years, Allen has found it uncomfortable to walk and the swollen area is painful upon touch. She experiences paralysis whenever she sits or stands for long. At AMH, Allen was examined and diagnosed with a neurofibroma, a type of peripheral nerve tumor. It was recommended that the neurofibroma be excised. On March 12th, surgeons will remove the mass and Allen needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Allen says, “I’ve been in pain for the past two years but am hopeful that with your support, I will be operated on and will get better.”

Chorng is a 60-year-old soup cart owner from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, two sons, and eight other family members on the outskirts of the capital city of Phnom Penh. His younger son is at University and the older son helps run their soup cart. When not working, Chorng helps around the house and listens to traditional Cambodian music playlists from YouTube. Just over one year ago, Chorng had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Chorng experiences hearing loss, pain, and ear discharge. He is unable to hear his customers and relies on others to help him. He also has trouble communicating with his family and neighbors. Chorng traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 28th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chorng says, "I hope my hearing will improve. I want to be able to work more and talk with my customers."

Hoy is a 64-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He shares his home in Kampong Thom province with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and their 7-year-old grandson. As a united family, they oversee and cultivate rice, the proceeds of which are sold at the local market to acquire essential provisions. Hoy shares a special bond with his grandson as they find joy in evening walks together. In November 2023, he suffered an unfortunate motorbike accident, falling onto the concrete on his left side, fracturing his forearm. He could not afford care at the local clinic and visited a Khmer Traditional Healer for a bamboo splint. After one month, he was still in great pain, and after an X-ray, discovered that he still had a non-union fracture in his arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 2nd, Hoy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will align his fractured bone into place for optimal healing so that he can work again. Hoy said: "I hope that after my operation, I will have no more pain and my arm will heal."