Velonika, a 52-year-old woman from Malawi, is married and has four children. She and her husband engage in farming to support their family. Five years ago, Velonika began to experience small, painless swelling on her neck. Over time, the swelling grew larger without affecting her daily life. In 2022, the swelling became noticeable, prompting her to cover her neck until the end of the year. In 2023, Veronica developed symptoms like frequent coughs and neck heaviness. Despite visiting a traditional healer, her condition worsened. Velonika was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where surgeons noted signs of hyperthyroidism and conducted necessary tests. Her thyroid function tests were normal, and the ultrasound scanning revealed a heterogeneous mass on the right lobe. She was diagnosed with a goiter, the swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, located in front of the neck, produces thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Surgery is necessary to address the systems and prevent conditions from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is providing Velonika with the necessary treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 7th, where 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. Velonika shared, "Pains have forced me to come all the way from the village after noting your support. Kindly help me in time since I don't have anyone in town."

Gay is a 23-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and her toddler son in a refugee camp in Thailand. She is a homemaker, while her husband works as a day laborer near the refugee camp. His salary is not always enough to cover their daily expenses. She often purchases groceries on credit at the local shop, repaying them after her husband receives his salary. In her free time, Naw Gay weaves and embroider traditional Karen clothes that she sells to earn extra income. Gay is pregnant, and her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Gay undergo a C-Section on October 9th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Gay needs your support. Gay said, “In the future, I want to work with my husband outside of the camp. My parents said they would look after our children while we work.”

Pla is a 49-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, three daughters, and son in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her husband works as a security guard in their section of the camp, while she works as a hospital helper at the camp hospital. Her son is a homemaker, two of her daughters are students, and her other daughter works for an organisation in the camp. In her free time, Pla enjoys weaving traditional Karen clothing with her daughters. When she was 10 years old, Pla lost vision in her right eye in an accident. In 2024, Pla started experiencing pain in her right eye. Later on, she also developed pain in her left eye. She was diagnosed with a cataract in her left eye and chronic ocular discomfort in her right eye. Doctors recommend enucleation, the removal of the eye, to treat this condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund this surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on July 16th at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Once completed, Pla will hopefully live more comfortably. Pla said, “I would like to get proper treatment because my eye is in pain. I worry that it will affect my other eye. I hope that I will be fine after receiving treatment.”