Lovian is a small-scale farmer and mom of three from southwestern Uganda. Her oldest child is a tailor, her second child is a teacher, and her youngest is currently studying in school. Lovian completed primary education up to the seventh grade but had to discontinue her studies when she could not afford her school fees. Currently, she engages in small-scale farming, cultivating food crops primarily for her family's consumption and selling any surplus crops for additional income. Lovian's husband works as a brickmaker. Aside from her farming responsibilities, Lovian enjoys singing and is an active church choir member. Ten years ago, Lovian began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling, shortness of breath, a hoarse voice, and paralysis in her neck vein. These symptoms have severely impacted her ability to carry heavy items, thus limiting her ability to work. She was diagnosed with nontoxic goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Lovian receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 12th at AMH's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $252 to cover the cost of Lovian's surgery. Lovian shared, "I hope for a complete recovery once I am operated on. I will continue with farming in good health."

Imani is a 4-year-old boy from Tanzania. His family resides in Karatu, a small district located in the Arusha region. He is the second born among three children. His mother, a farmer, takes care of him and his siblings with the invaluable assistance of his grandfather. He has recently started school and enjoys spending time with his new friends there. His fmaily hopes that he can continue with school and do well there as he grows. One of his favorite activities is his art class, where he already likes to draw and paint. Imani was diagnosed with genu varus, also known as bow legs. This condition may present from infancy through adulthood and has a wide variety of causes including excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. It causes lateral knee thrusting and a waddling gait. It can also impact his hips and ankles as the condition continues to worsen. As a result, he cannot walk and play like his friends and other students. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), was able to create a treatment plan for Imani. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 1st. Treatment will hopefully restore Imani's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. AMH is requesting $880 to help fund corrective surgery for Imani. Imani’s mother says: “I wish for my son to be able to walk and play without falling repeatedly. I have high hopes that this treatment will significantly improve his life and bring about positive changes for him.”

Vanna is a 18-year-old monk from Cambodia. He is an only child and lives in Prey Veng province; he resides at a local temple to learn and practice Buddhism. His mother and his father are farmers and grow rice nearby. He spends his time learning daily rituals, meditation practices, and communal activities. In November 2022, he was in a motorbike collision and fractured his left femur. He went to a private clinic in his province where doctors inserted a metal plate to secure the bone and support healing. Now, the bone is united and he would like the hardware removed. This procedure will remove the nagging ache he still has in his leg. Vanna believes that metal in the body can interfere with the flow of energy and cause health problems such as headaches, fatigue, or joint pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 12th, Vanna will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. He hopes to walk unaided and return to his duties at the pagoda soon. Vanna said: "I hope the hardware will be removed easily and the wound will quickly heal."