Hector is a secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and has four children. To support his family, he works part-time. He traveled from Blantyre to Lilongwe seeking assistance for a surgical procedure known as an ileostomy reversal. Twelve months ago, Hector began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with bowel obstruction. He subsequently underwent surgery and was advised to return after three months for reversal of the stoma. Unfortunately, this did not materialize due to limited access to surgical support. Since then, Hector has endured significant physical, social, and emotional hardship. Living with a stoma for an extended period has affected his ability to eat and sleep comfortably. He frequently experiences discharge, which has impacted him socially and in his community. As a result, he shared that he has felt isolated, lonely, and psychologically distressed. When Hector learned that Partners in Hope (PIH) was supporting patients requiring surgery, he decided to travel to Lilongwe in search of assistance. His greatest desire was to undergo ileostomy reversal surgery and regain the comfort, dignity, and peace of mind he once enjoyed. By the time he sought support, five months had passed since he had become due for reversal surgery. Fortunately, on September 28th, Hector was reviewed by a surgeon at our medical partner PIH, who confirmed his condition and emphasized the importance of proceeding with the ileostomy reversal, but he would need financial support. An ileostomy reversal is a surgical procedure that reconnects the bowel and restores the pathway for the passage of stool after a temporary stoma has been created. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Hector's surgery. On October 2nd, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. "I can see my life going down as time passes by. I came all the way from Blantyre because I trusted your support. Kindly help me get better so I can continue supporting my family," shared Hector.

Sokkhy is a 58-year-old cashew farmer from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Kampong Cham Province with his wife, who is also a cashew farmer. They have three children, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. In his free time, he enjoys chatting and drinking tea with his friends in the village. On July 23, 2026, Sokkhy fell from a height and sustained a fracture of his right hip (right femoral neck fracture). He initially sought treatment from a traditional Khmer medicine practitioner, but his condition did not improve. He continues to experience severe pain in his right hip and is unable to stand or walk without assistance. He currently relies on a wheelchair for mobility, which prevents him from returning to his farm and carrying out his daily activities independently. Sokkhy will receive a hip hemi-arthoplasty to help address this issue. A hip hemi-arthoplasty is a partial hip replacement that involves replacing half of the hip joint. Hopefully, this procedure will help Sokkhy move without discomfort. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, evaluated Sokkhy and can perform a hip hemi-arthoplasty on August 4th. This will help relieve Sokkhy of his pain and allow him to walk more easily. His family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $612 more to fund his procedure and care. Sokkhy said, “I hope this surgery will relieve my pain and help me walk again so I can return to my daily life and take care of my family without depending on others.”

Thae Thae is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, two older sisters and two younger brothers, in a village in Karen State, Burma. Thae Thae is a homemaker and also has a small shop selling snacks. Thae Thae was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Thae Thae is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on September 23rd at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Thae Thae's procedure and care. Thae Thae said, “When I found out that I have heart disease and needed surgery, I cried. Knowing that I do not have money for surgery, I was in despair. Due to financial problems, I couldn't sleep at night. Now that I know about the organization and the donors who will help me, I feel relieved."