Gregory is a 44-year-old husband and devoted father of five children from Malawi. As the family's sole breadwinner, he carries the immense responsibility of supporting his wife and children. His eldest child is currently a second-year university student, while his other children are in Form 4, Form 3, and Form 1, all relying on him for school fees, food, and daily necessities. The youngest is still an infant and depends entirely on his care and support. Gregory earns a living as a small-scale farmer, growing maize, Irish potatoes, vegetables, and rearing a few chickens. For many years, farming has been the foundation of his family's survival. Through hard work and determination, he has managed to provide food for his household and keep his children in school despite the many challenges of rural life. His health problems began when he noticed a small swelling in the upper part of his abdomen after carrying heavy metal objects. Initially, the swelling caused little concern, and he responded by avoiding heavy lifting. However, over time, the swelling became progressively larger and more painful, especially when performing strenuous farm work. Seeking medical attention, Gregory visited several healthcare facilities where he was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, which is a bulge occurring in the upper abdomen, caused by tissue pushing through weak abdominal muscles. Although surgery was recommended, repeated delays and busy surgical schedules at the public hospital meant that he never received the operation he needed. As the years passed, the hernia continued to worsen, causing increasing pain and limiting his ability to work. While still waiting for treatment, Gregory developed another problem two years ago. A soft swelling appeared on his back and rapidly increased in size. Doctors later identified it as a lipoma, a slow-growing fatty tumor located between the skin and muscle layer. Unfortunately, the mass has continued to grow and has now become so large that it interferes with the movement of his arm, making farming activities increasingly difficult and painful. Today, Gregory lives with constant discomfort from both conditions. The painful abdominal hernia affects him whenever he bends, lifts, coughs, strains, or works in the fields. At the same time, the large lipoma limits his mobility and makes routine farming tasks exhausting. Determined to find help, Gregory came to PIH after hearing that patients could receive timely surgical treatment. He hoped that surgery would finally free him from years of pain and allow him to resume caring for his family without limitation. Gregory was evaluated by the surgical team at PIH who confirmed that he required two surgical procedures, which could be done in the same operation: an Epigastric Hernia Repair and a Major Mass Excision (Removal of the Large Lipoma). If left untreated, the hernia could place him at risk of complications such as incarceration or strangulation. The large lipoma would also impact his daily activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gregory receive treatment. On August 19th, he will undergo the two procedures to relieve years of pain, restore his ability to earn a living, and give him the chance to continue supporting his family. Gregory is contributing to his care, but needs help to raise an additional $575 for his treatment. He says: "Your support will be highly appreciated, to restore my health and help me focus on my farm work."

Har Si is a 38-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her three daughters and son-in-law in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her eldest daughter and son-in-law run a small home-based grocery shop, while her two younger daughters attend school in the camp. Har Si is a homemaker. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies on her phone and chatting with her neighbors. In October 2025, Har Si felt a lump on the left side of her neck while bathing. She was diagnosed with a left branchial cleft cyst. She experiences fatigue and discomfort from the cyst. Although the doctors have reassured her that the lump is not cancerous, she still worries that it may not disappear. Har Si traveled to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to receive care, and on July 21st, surgeons will remove the cyst. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Har Si's procedure and provide her relief from the impact of the cyst. Har Si shared, “I feel so happy and relieved because of your support. Before this, I was worried that I would never be able to afford the surgery. I was afraid the lump might become cancerous and that I would be separated from my daughters. Now, because of your assistance, I have the opportunity to receive the surgery I need."

Felix is a 30-year-old farmer from Malawi. He is married with one child, and enjoys playing soccer during his free time. Felix values an active life, but for the past seven months, persistent abdominal pain has made it difficult for him to enjoy the life he once knew. Early this year, Felix started experiencing a twisting pain, and burning sensation in his abdomen several times throughout the day. Seeking relief, he visited several clinics, but none provided a lasting solution. After an assessment at a district hospital, he was advised to seek specialized care at a facility that offers surgical services. Recently, Felix made the two-hour journey to Nkhoma Mission Hospital. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, which is a tissue bulge in the belly button area, that occurs due to a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Felix was informed that he needed surgery, but the cost exceeded what he could afford. Having already spent a significant amount on seeking treatment and transportation, and with limited resources and a family depending on him, he is now seeking support to undergo the surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Felix receive treatment. On September 22nd, he is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery to recover from the painful symptoms, allowing him to return to work, care for his family and go back to his everyday life. Now, Felix needs help to fund this $421 procedure. He says, “I am hoping that after the surgery, I will be free from this pain and able to return to my farm. I want to work hard for my wife and child, provide for my family, and enjoy playing soccer with my friends again. I pray that with this treatment, I can regain my strength and continue building a better future for my family.”