Yohane is a 36-year-old father of two from Malawi. He does casual work in town, while his wife takes care of their home and family. About 11 years ago, Yohane began experiencing on-and-off swelling in his inguinal region. At first, he ignored it, thinking it was nothing serious, but it did not go away. Yohane sought medical attention from a hospital, where he was diagnosed with an 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. If left untreated, inguinal hernias can lead to complications, such as strangulation, which cuts off the blood flow to the intestine, and can be life-threatening. He was scheduled for surgery at the public hospital, but the surgery date kept being postponed. Recently, the pain got much more intense, accompanied by much discomfort. Yohane learnt about our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center, and went there to seek treatment. He has been scheduled for surgery on July 1st, and is seeking to raise $575 for the procedure. Yohana hopes to resume work after recovery, so he can continue supporting his family, including his parents back in the village. He says: "I have been hearing about the surgical support program at PiH, but I didn't believe it. Today, I am grateful about this program that has saved Malawians like me. Kindly help me to regain my health, and to continue supporting my family after recovery."

Ly Horng is a seven-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with her mother, who works at a glove factory, and her older brother, who is in Grade 11. She is in Grade 2 and enjoys reading and writing in Khmer. In her free time, she likes playing hide-and-seek with her friends. Her favorite foods are caramelized pork and grilled fish. Ly Horng was born with a small cyst behind her left ear, which has gradually increased in size as she has grown older. Over the years, the lump has become more noticeable and is now painful to the touch. Doctors have identified it as an epidermoid cyst. Although it has been present since birth, the growing lump has started to cause her discomfort, especially when she touches the area during daily activities or while playing with her friends. On November 3rd, Ly Horng will undergo surgery to remove the mass. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), needs help to raise $344 to fund this procedure. Ly Horng's mother said, “I hope the surgery will remove the lump behind my daughter’s ear and stop it from hurting when touched. I want her to feel comfortable, enjoy playing with her friends, and grow up happily without worrying about it.”

Wabi is a young KG 2 student from Ethiopia. He is an only child who always tries to hide his pain behind a warm, sweet smile. Even when he is hurting due to a medical conditon, he does his best to stay brave and cheerful, doing everything he can to comfort the people around him. His mother is a loving stay-at-home mom, who looks after him, and his father works hard as a broker and mediator to support the family on a single income. Three years ago, Wabi started to experience difficulty in breathing and fever. The constant discomfort makes it hard for him to enjoy normal childhood days. He gets sick often and frequently misses school, falls behind in his lessons, and misses out on playing with other children. The condition has gotten his parents worried, as his recurring health issues have disrupted their daily routine as well. Wabi was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Wabi, which is scheduled to take place on July 20th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Wabi of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. "We hope to replace our constant worry with a renewed sense of stability and peace, knowing our son is finally free to thrive," said Wabi's parents.