Alfred is a 76-year-old elderly man from Malawi. He is a husband and father of eight children, all of whom are now grown and living on their own. He once relied on farming to support his family, but in recent years, his health has limited how much he can do. For the past five years, he has been walking with the help of a walking stick. In 2024, Alfred started experiencing urinary retention. Alfred was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, which is an enlarged prostate. A catheter was placed and since then, it has needed to be changed every month, a process that has brought ongoing discomfort, making even simple activities difficult. He needs to undergo a prostatectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Alfred receive treatment. The surgery is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on May 6th and, once completed, it will improve Alfred's quality of life. Alfred and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising an additional $530 to fund the surgery. He says, “I have lived with this condition for a long time, and it has not been easy. I want to be free from the catheter and the discomfort it brings. I am hoping to get help so that I can have the surgery treatment, and live more comfortably again.”

Hy is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer from Kandal province. She is married and has two sons, two daughters, and 11 grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is also retired from farming, and with her youngest daughter, who is a rice farmer. At home, after she is free from taking care of her grandchildren, she likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. About one year ago, Hy developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. 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 she is not able to go places on her own. When Hy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 24th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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 $263 procedure. Hy said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better, so I can go out and recognize my relatives and do housework, and I don’t worry about my eye anymore."

Chim is an 80-year-old man from Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who stays at home and manages household tasks. Together, they have five children, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. During the Khmer New Year on April 13th, Chim fell from a motorbike while riding on a slippery road. He immediately developed severe right hip pain. An X-ray performed at a private clinic confirmed a fracture of the right hip. Since the accident, he has only been taking painkillers for symptom relief, but continues to experience persistent pain and difficulty walking. This condition has significantly affected Chim's mobility and independence, making it difficult for him to perform daily activities or move around comfortably. He is currently unable to return to his normal routine due to ongoing pain and limited function. Chim presented to the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) for further evaluation and appropriate management. He is scheduled for a partial hip replacement on April 21st to repair the hip fracture, to reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve his quality of life. Chim can contribute $100, but needs help raising an additional $612 to fund his procedure and care. Chim said, “I feel constant pain in my hip, and it makes it very difficult for me to walk or work. I hope I can receive proper treatment so I can recover and return to my normal life.”