April is a 32-year-old health worker from Thailand. She lives with her co-worker, her co-worker’s husband and their three daughters on the border of Burma and Thailand. In her free time, April loves to watch comedy movies and listen to music. In January 2020, April was diagnosed with bilateral endometriotic cysts. She received surgery to remove the cysts from her right ovary and had her left ovary removed. Post surgery, April has been experiencing pain in her lower abdomen during the first day of her period. She has been diagnosed with a right ovarian tumor. To remedy this, doctors recommend that she undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If her condition is left untreated, April's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, April is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on March 24th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is raising $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer have to worry about the tumor returning or spreading. April shared, "I am scared to have surgery but I want to be healthy. I want to spend time with my family and I want to work happily.”

Kembaga is a 55-year-old farmer and a married mother to twelve children - four sons and eight daughters. Most of her children are self-employed as small scale farmers, like herself and her husband. They earn a living from their small banana plantation and also own a few cattle. Fourteen years ago, Kembaga began to experience troubling symptoms. She finds difficulty in swallowing, breathing and sometimes experiences shortness of breath. Kembaga was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Kembaga receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 9th 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. Kembaga shared, “I have surely had difficulty in my life because this condition has given me a poor quality of life, but I will surely be thankful to you once I undergo a successful surgery. I hope to continue with farming once I have fully recovered."

Tibeihaho is a 56-year-old farmer and a widow with five children. One of her daughters is married, and the other daughter has just finished university. Of her three sons, two are still studying, and the other one operates a hair-cutting salon. Currently, Tibeihaho earns a living from her small scale banana and coffee plantation, which her late husband left for her. She recalls that starting in 1986, Tibeihaho began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent headache and shortness of breath. She was since been diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse and finally treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Tibeihaho receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 9th 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. Tibeihaho shared, “I like farming but it has now been three years since I last did farming in a good health condition. This condition has caused me a hard time, but I hope that once I have your support and receive my treatment, I will regain my health once again and continue with farming.”