Hem is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Pailin Province in Cambodia. She is married and lives with her 64-year-old husband. They have four children. Her first and second children are rice farmers, her third child works for an organization, and her youngest child is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks praying and keeping up with the news. Hem has a herniated disc at the L4-L5 level of her lower spine, a condition in which a spinal disc presses on nearby nerves. She has experienced intermittent lower back pain for approximately three years, but about one month ago, the pain began radiating down the back of her left leg. She also experiences intermittent numbness in her left leg and weakness when extending her left toe. These symptoms have made walking and carrying out her daily activities as a farmer more difficult. Hem was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), by a relative. She traveled approximately seven hours from Pailin to seek specialized care. After evaluation, doctors recommended surgery to relieve the pressure on the affected nerves. Hem is scheduled to undergo laminectomy and decompression of the L4-L5 spine on August 17th. She has contributed $100 towards her treatment but needs an additional $1,400 in support to cover the cost of surgery and related care. The surgery aims to relieve pressure on the nerves and help reduce her back and leg symptoms, allowing her to walk more comfortably and return to farming and her normal daily activities. Hem said, “I hope that this surgery will relieve my back and leg pain, improve the numbness and weakness in my left leg, and help me walk more comfortably again. I wish to return to farming, and continue my normal daily activities.”

Kingsley is 11 years old and the oldest of two children from Malawi. He is in Primary 5 and dreams of becoming a doctor. His parents are farmers. Since birth, Kingsley has had a right inguinal hernia. Currently, symptoms such as abdominal pain, poor appetite, and swelling have significantly affected his performance at school. Fortunately, on September 9th, Kingsley will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Kingsley's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Kingsley's mother shared, "Kindly help my son get better so that he can have peace of mind." She looks forward to seeing her child happy again after surgery so he can achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.

Prudence is a 34-year-old mother of three children from Uganda. She and her husband are farmers. Twelve years ago, Prudence began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent lower abdominal pain and pain around the sides of her ribs. She frequently feels weak and has become increasingly unable to bend comfortably or carry out her daily activities and farming responsibilities as she used to. Due to financial constraints, she has been relying on traditional herbal remedies to manage the pain. Prudence was referred to our medical partner's care center, Rwibaale Hospital, where an ultrasound revealed a massive splenomegaly associated with hypersplenism, an enlargement of the spleen. Physicians recommend abdominal surgery to address her symptoms and prevent other complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Prudence's surgery. On October 31st, she will undergo surgery, and once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve her quality of life. Prudence shared, "I hope to get rid of the pain and resume my duties as a farmer and take good care of my children."