Apofia is a 63-year-old farmer from Uganda. She has six children - three sons and three daughters. She and her husband have a small banana and coffee farm. The couple lives together and enjoys a peaceful and harmonious life, supporting each other in their daily activities. About a year ago, Apofia began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling at the front of her neck. The condition has progressively worsened and causes persistent headaches and difficulty sleeping due to episodes of shortness of breath. Apofia was diagnosed with a right thyroid goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Apofia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Apofia says, “There are nights I go without sleeping at all because of the discomfort it brings me. I need surgery for a complete recovery; however, with my income, I can’t raise the money needed and kindly appeal for your support.”

Elifa is a small business owner from Malawi. She is 41 years old and a mother of six children. Together with her husband, she relies on vegetable farming to support their family and provide for their children's needs. For 24 years, Elifa has had an incisional hernia. In 2002, after giving birth to her first child by Caesarean section, she began experiencing severe pain around the surgical incision. For many years, she managed the pain with painkillers and continued with her daily responsibilities despite the discomfort. Over time, she developed a mass around the incision site, which caused ongoing discomfort and gradually became part of her daily life. This year, however, her condition became much more difficult to manage. For about a month, Elifa experienced severe pain from the mass, prompting her to seek medical attention. She was referred to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, for specialized treatment. Fortunately, on October 7th, Elifa will undergo hernia repair with mesh surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $500 to fund Elifa's surgery and care. Elifa said, "I am thankful that I have finally been referred to Nkhoma, but the cost of surgery is more than my family can afford. I am asking for help so that I can have this surgery, recover well, and return to my family and my work without the pain I have carried for so long. I will be deeply grateful to everyone willing to support me.”

Enos is a 59-year-old man and father of three children from Uganda. He and his wife depend on small-scale farming as their primary source of livelihood. Together, they cultivate crops to feed their family and earn some income to meet household needs, including their children's education. In his free time, Enos enjoys singing at church, which brings him spiritual comfort and happiness, as well as watching television and spending time with his family. He values his role as a husband and father and takes pride in contributing to his family's well-being through farming. Last year, Enos noticed a swelling developing around his right ear. Initially, the swelling appeared manageable, but it has progressively increased in size. The uncertainty surrounding the nature and progression of the swelling has also caused him considerable anxiety. Concerned about his condition, Enos sought medical attention and was given an ultrasound scan. The findings were suggestive of a benign tumor located in front of his right ear. After clinical assessment, surgical intervention was recommended to address the swelling. Enos is scheduled to receive surgery on his right ear on November 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital. This procedure and care will cost $134. Doctors are hopeful that this procedure will help Enos regain his health and allow him to return to his farming and social activities. Enos shares, "I am worried about the swelling that has continued to grow near my right ear, and I wish to have it treated before it causes me further complications. Unfortunately, my wife and I live on small-scale farming, and our limited income is already committed to supporting our three children and paying their school fees. We cannot afford the cost of the recommended surgery on our own. I kindly appeal to donors to support me so that I can undergo the operation, recover, and return to my farming activities and family responsibilities. I will be very grateful for any assistance extended to me. May God bless everyone willing to give me a helping hand."