Prudence is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She studied up to primary school when she was young, but then dropped out due to a lack of financial support from her family. She now lives with her husband together with their five children. Her firstborn is a twenty-year-old carpenter, the second born is 18 years old and a cyclist, the third born is twelve years old in 5th grade, her fourth born is in fourth grade, and her youngest is in the first grade. Education is very important to her for her children's future. Their family lives in a three-room mud house for shelter. She used to practice farming but currently she is unable due to her illness. Twenty years ago, Prudence began to experience troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling that has grown in size over the years. Currently, it involves mild pain and affects her airway when breathing. She visited Rushoroza Hospital to seek medical advice where she was diagnosed with a goiter, but cannot afford the surgery costs. However, she needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prudence receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 17th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Prudence says, “I believe the surgery will be successful and when I am well and recovered, I will be able to go back to my farming to be able to support my family.”

Francis is a 20-year-old student - a freshman at university and the second born in a family of 3 children. His mother earns money to support the family by cleaning clothes for neighbors. Francis' dad left the family in 2007, leaving his mother to raise the children and make ends meet on her own. Francis loves athletics and serving in the local church. Francis commutes to university daily and often ends up seeking rides from other vehicles, especially lorries carrying sand and stones. On one of these occasions, he ran to board a lorry, and unfortunately, missed the steps and fell on the tarmac where he hit his left elbow. It is difficult for him to use his left arm, and he is in pain. Francis was diagnosed with a fracture to his left elbow. Surgeons at our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. On August 17th, he will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will relieve him from pain and allow him to regain the use of his left arm. Francis will be able to go back to school and continue with his studies. AMH is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “I will be very grateful if assisted to have this surgery. I have to be strong, for I would love to complete my education and hopefully change the situation of my family,” said Francis.

Sopheak lives at home with his parents, sister, and two brothers. Since he was young, he has suffered from mental health challenges that affect his interactions and communications, so he mostly stays home with his parents. He enjoys helping his mother clean the house or working with family to clean weeds in public spaces. Sopheak climbed a mango tree last month to gather mangoes to sell to neighbors. Sadly, he lost his grip and fell about seven metres to the ground, fracturing his left hip. He has difficulty walking, sitting, or sleeping and is in constant pain. When Sopheak's mother learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, from a neighbor, they traveled for one and a half hours, hoping to find affordable pain relief for Sopheak. On September 12th, surgeons at CSC will perform surgery on his left hip. This will help him to regain mobility. Sopheak and his family need help raising $544 to fund his procedure and care. Sopheak's mother said: "we are hopeful the doctors can help Sopheak to walk again and relieve his pain."