Catherine is a 62-year-old farmer from Malawi, and a mother of two. She lives alone in a village in rural Lilongwe, with her two children having grown up and now living independently. Life has not been easy this year. With little money to buy fertilizer, her harvest was poor. The crops she managed to grow are only enough to feed her, with nothing left to sell for income. Still, she continued working because she has no one else to depend on for her daily needs. Since January this year, Catherine has been experiencing severe abdominal pain which has made it difficult for her to work, rest, or move comfortably. At first, she thought he condition was gastritis. Even when she sought medical help, she was only given paracetamol to ease the pain, but the relief never lasted. Eventually, she was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, which is a bulge that occurs in the upper abdomen, caused by tissue pushing through weak abdominal muscle. Presently, the pain has slowed her down, taking away the strength she needs to take care of herself. Full of hope, she went to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where surgery has been recommended to treat her condition. While hearing this gave her hope, the cost of the procedure was far beyond what she could afford. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. For Catherine, this surgery means more than relief from pain. It means being able to continue caring for herself, tending to her land, and living with independence. Catherine is able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help raising $421 to fund the procedure. Catherine says, “If I become too sick to work, there is no one else to help with my daily activities. I have to remain strong so I can continue living and taking care of myself. I am hoping for help because this surgery will give me a chance to live without this pain.”

Meng Hor is a cheerful one-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is the only child in his family and lives in Kampong Thom Province with his parents. His father works as a chef at a restaurant near their home, and his mother runs a small grocery business. He enjoys eating vegetables with pork and loves playing with toy cars. Five months ago, Meng Hor accidentally touched a hot stove and suffered a burn injury to the second, third, and fourth fingers of his left hand. After the burn wound healed, scar contractures developed and caused his fingers to tighten and bend. This makes it difficult for him to grasp or hold objects and causes pain when someone tries to straighten his fingers. When Meng Hor's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On May 20th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve finger movement, reduce pain, and help him use his hand more comfortably as he grows. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Meng Hor's mother said, “I am very grateful for this treatment. I hope my son will recover well and be able to use his hand normally, so he can grow up healthy, play happily, and enjoy school without difficulty in the future.”

James is a 57-year-old farmer from Malawi, married with four children. He is the sole provider for his family, relying entirely on subsistence farming to put food on the table. In October 2025, James was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. The condion has been causing on-and-off swelling, and over time, it's been accompanied by worsening pain, making it difficult for him to continue farm work. James is hopeful that undergoing surgery will improve his condition, restore his ability to work, and enable him to continue providing for his family. Fortunately, on April 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. James is raising $575 to fund the procedure, which will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. James says, "I heard about the donor program that has assisted many patients at this hospital (Partners in Hope Medical Center). I hope I can also receive support for my treatment."