Rabecca is 26 years old and a mother of one from Malawi. Her husband is a cook, while she runs a small business. A year ago, Rabecca began to experience troubling symptoms, including a hoarse voice, frequent coughs, and painful swallowing. Her symptoms have gotten worse, affecting her ability to do daily tasks. She went to a hospital and was diagnosed with a goiter, the swelling 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 Rabecca receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 19th at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Rabecca shared, "I wish I could get better to enable me to continue doing my business in good health and concentrating on family support rather than spending on hospital visits."

Kuntha is a 61-year-old corn farmer from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Cham Province with her elderly mother and her fourth sister, who works at a bank. She is the eldest of five siblings. While all of her younger siblings are married, she remains single. She enjoys listening to monks prayers and growing vegetables around her home in her free time. About 10 years ago, Kuntha noticed a small lump on the left side of the front of her neck. The lump gradually became larger over time. After evaluation at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter affecting the left thyroid lobe. Although the lump is not painful, it has become more noticeable over the years, making her worried about her health and self-conscious about the appearance of her neck. She also fears that it may continue to grow if left untreated. Kuntha traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 13th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Kuntha is contributing to her treatment, but needs help to raise an additional $294 to fund the procedure. She said, “I hope this surgery will remove the lump and give me peace of mind. I have worried about it for many years, and I am grateful for the chance to finally receive treatment.”

Ky is 78 years old and is a retired tailor from Cambodia. He lives with his wife and his third daughter, who sells food at the local market. He has two sons, three daughters, and ten grandchildren. In his daily life, he enjoys listening to the radio, hearing monks pray, and participating in religious ceremonies. Two years ago, Ky developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Ky learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 14th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. He can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund his procedure and care. Ky shared, "I hope that after surgery my eyesight will improve so I can easily go outside, recognize my relatives, and feel happy without worrying about my vision anymore."