Margaret is a 45-year-old single mother from Kenya. She has one child and is a farmer on her parents' land. Her father is sick and has been hospitalized, so she is taking care of him with the little she can manage. In 2019, Margaret began to experience troubling symptoms, including losing weight and difficulty swallowing. Her eyes appear to be bulging and she also developed a dry cough. Margaret went to the hospital and was diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis, a condition of having too much thyroid hormone in your body. She has been undergoing treatment since 2020. As Margaret was not seeing relief of her symptoms, she visited our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital. There, she was diagnosed with thyroid hyperplasia, an increase in the size of the thyroid gland due to excessive growth of its cells. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Margaret receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 1st where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $633 and she needs help raising money. "I have been struggling for so long, especially with my self-image and I feel it is taking a toll on me. I am unable to raise money for my surgery and request to be assisted with the matter. I have an old sickly parent who depends on me financially and am not working. After the treatment, I believe I will manage to look for a job to sustain my family," Margaret said.

Chhon is a 61-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, three children, and two grandchildren, in Kampong Cham Province. His wife stays home to manage the household. Two of his children are rice farmers, while his youngest child sells groceries from their home. In his free time, Chhon enjoys listening to old Khmer songs on his phone and playing with his grandchildren. In May 2024, Chhon had a motorbike accident that resulted in trauma to his right wrist. He could not afford medical care and initially sought Khmer traditional treatment. Chhon only took pain relief medication when necessary, but this resulted in infections and multiple abscesses on his right hand. He experiences pain, swelling, and stiffness and is unable to use his hand. In addition, his wrist is dislocated and out of alignment. To alleviate his suffering, surgeons will clear the infection by administration of antibiotics and draining the wound. He will then see a specialty hand surgeon to address his unhealed fracture and dislocation. Chhon traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On August 12th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre, will remove the mass. Now, Chhon needs help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. Chhon shared: "I hope my hand will no longer be swollen and painful, and I can return to work soon."

Hong is a 64-year-old mother and grandmother from Cambodia. She lives with her husband and their oldest daughter in Phnom Penh. They sell secondhand clothes in a local market. At home, Hong enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and listening to the monks on Buddhist radio. On May 12, 2024, Hong slipped on a wet surface and fractured her left hip bone. She is unable to walk and is in chronic pain. Hong's relatives referred her to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, for help. On May 14th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a hemiarthroplasty surgery on her left hip. This will help Hong regain her mobility and to live without pain. Hong and her family are able to contribute $100 but need help raising $444 to fund the remaining costs for the procedure and post-op care, including in-patient stay and physiotherapy. Hong's husband said, "I hope after surgery my wife can walk easily, and she won't be in pain."