Dorica is a 30-year-old woman from Malawi, married with one daughter aged nine. Her husband works as a bicycle technician, repairing bicycles and motorcycles. Dorica used to engage in casual farm work, but is currently unable to due to her illness. Six years ago, Dorica began to experience troubling symptoms, which started with a small painless neck swelling. Over time, the swelling grew larger and Dorica also started experiencing breathlessness. She went to a local hospital to seek medical care and was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter. Presently, she experiences a heaviness on her neck, is unable to carry anything on her head and is unable to carry out her household chores. The doctors referred her to our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre (PiH) where surgery was recommended, but Dorica is unable to raise funds for the treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Dorica receive treatment. On April 17th, surgeons at PiH will perform a thyroidectomy to remove all or part of her thyroid gland, treat her condition and to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Now, Dorica needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Dorica says, “Kindly help me to resume my daily activities, and responsibly care for my family.”

Meet Tichheang, a 13-year-old, second-grade student from Cambodia. His parents work as farmers, cultivating rice and cashews. His favorite subjects in school are Khmer and Sociology, and he loves playing the drums with his dad and playing soccer with his friends in his free time. When Tichheang grows up, he dreams of becoming a drummer! Around five years ago, Tichheang developed an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. As a result, Tichheang experiences ear pain accompanied by fever, ear drainage, headaches, and weakened hearing on the right side. It is very difficult for Tichheang to communicate at school due to this condition. He is also often absent from class due to his symptoms. Tichheang's family traveled to our medical partner's care center for treatment. On April 9th, Tichheang will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Tichheang and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $926 more to fund this procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. His mother shared: "I want to see my son in good health and able to communicate more easily."

Ignitius is a 12-year-old boy - the second in a family of four siblings in junior secondary school, grade seven. His elder sibling has just completed class eight; the rest are in primary school. He dropped out of school in grade four and went to look for a job as a house helper to support the family. Ignitius' father does any casual job available to bring food to the table for his family. Ignitius' mother is also a simple laborer. She works on other people's farms where she digs, weeds, and sometimes washes clothes for a small wage. They have a small piece of land where they have kept two goats and three chickens. They reside in a three-roomed timber house and have a small kitchen built of poles. It was late in the evening on November 16th. His mother sent him to the nearest open-air market to buy cabbage and potatoes. Unfortunately, he was hit by a speeding motorbike, which disappeared immediately after the accident. His parents were informed of the accident over the phone. They rushed him to a clinic, where they were referred to Maua Hospital. He arrived to the hospital with an open tibia fibular fracture and was in much pain. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ignitius receive treatment. On November 17, surgeons will perform surgery to restore his limb function. Now, Ignitius and his family need help to fund this $741 procedure. Ignitius' father says, "Please help my son; he is in deep pain. Kindly help us to fund the surgery costs."