Florence is a small scale farmer from Uganda. She travelled across eight districts to reach Nyakibale Hospital, seeking treatment. She was directed to the hospital by a program beneficiary, a bodaboda taxi driver who had faced a similar condition. She works as a farmer, cultivating food crops such as beans, maize, and potatoes primarily for home consumption. Any surplus from her harvest is sold to generate income for her family. Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to receive an education due to a lack of school fees, which limits her employment options. Her husband is also a farmer, and they have six children, all currently pursuing their education. 24 years ago, Florence began to experience troubling symptoms, including a large anterior neck swelling. Initially, it was not painful, but over the last six years, she has been experiencing persistent headaches, heart palpitations, shoulder heaviness, and respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Upon consultation with a doctor at Nyakibale Hospital, she underwent an examination and was subsequently advised to undergo a special scan. She was diagnosed with giant goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Florence receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 24 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Florence says, “I hope to be relieved from the pain I have been having for 24 years and to gain a complete recovery.”

Medius, a mother of three and a small-scale farmer, attained education up to the 7th grade in primary school but discontinued her studies due to insufficient funds to cover the school fees. Working alongside her husband, they now cultivate a diverse range of crops, including beans, cabbages, and other produce. They sell a portion of their harvest to generate funds for their children's education. Their eldest child is fourteen years old and currently in the third year of secondary school. The second child is twelve years old and studying in the fourth grade of primary school, while the youngest is ten and attends the third grade of primary school. Eight months ago, Medius noticed a minor swelling under her armpit. Initially, it was merely itchy; she could relieve the itch by scratching it. Over time, the swelling gradually grew in size. Eventually, Medius started experiencing discomfort and decided to seek medical assistance. Although she received treatment, it only provided temporary relief from the pain. Now the excruciating pains stemming from the affected area have significantly impaired Medius' arm mobility, making it exceedingly challenging for her to move it comfortably. As a result, she has been forced to cease her farming activities. Medius used to actively participate in singing at her church, but due to her condition, she can no longer clap her hands while singing either. To seek relief, Medius embarked on a journey to our medical partner's care center, where she will undergo surgery on June 13th to remove the mass. However, she requires assistance in raising the necessary funds amounting to $145, to cover the cost of this crucial procedure. Medius says, “My condition has greatly affected my productivity and other day-to-day activities. I pray that I may get well through surgery. I will plan to start farming again after recovery.”

Jackson is a 28-year-old young man from Kenya. He is the second born in a family of three children and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, which caused paralysis on one side of his body. He lives with his parents in a rural county. His father is a pastor at a small church in their hometown, and his mother is a homemaker. He loves to learn and was sponsored to take a computer-networking course at a local technical institute in the capital city. On July 29th, Jackson was involved in a road traffic accident that caused a fracture on his left leg. He was hit by a speeding vehicle along a busy highway as he was trying to cross the road. He was rushed to a nearby local hospital where an x-ray revealed a broken bone that needed surgery. He had a cast applied and requested to return to the facility once he raised the amount needed for the surgery. Jackson is currently confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk on his own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. On August 3rd, Jackson will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The procedure will relieve him of pain and help him walk easily again. He will also be able to resume his studies. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Jackson says, “I can feel the bones pricking my legs from the inside. I cannot walk, and I am in pain. I have so far missed my classes because of the accident.”