Mathias and his wife, Vereniya, have eight children, with three still living at home and in school.
Mathias has worked for many years in lumbering, climbing high into the mountains to find large trees that can be harvested and made into lumber. Vereniya works as a subsistence farmer and also makes and sells “obusera”, a millet porridge, in the village market on Thursdays. Mathias is the chairperson for the Local Council in his village and is happy when the village is at peace and there is no fighting.
For the last eight months, Mathias has had complications with a hernia, preventing him from doing his work. The pain from the hernia makes it difficult to fell and saw trees by hand and carry lumber.
For $208, Mathias will undergo hernia repair surgery at Bwindi Community Hospital in Uganda. Mathias is paying in an additional $4 to cover his treatment cost.
After his surgery and recovery, Mathias is looking forward to being able to work full time and to go to his garden and grow more food to support his family and to sell in the market.
“I want to thank the people helping me very much,” shares Mathias. “I am very grateful.”