Julius is a 63-year-old husband, father, and grandfather from Uganda. He and his wife have together raised eight children, all of whom are now adults with families of their own. Throughout their marriage, the couple has worked hard to provide for their family despite limited resources. Julius is a small-scale farmer who grows crops that help feed the family, and generate a modest income. His wife serves as a church leader, and dedicates much of her time to supporting the community. Twelve years ago, Julius began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent pain on one side of his body, severe pain in his chest and lower abdomen. He has lost his appetite, suffers from recurrent fevers, and has become so weak that even bending to perform simple daily activities is difficult. The worsening symptoms have greatly affected his ability to work on his farm, threatening the family's primary source of income. Julius sought medical attention at Rwibaale Hospital and was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen. 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 $230 to fund Julius's surgery. On September 1st, he will undergo surgery at Rwibaale Health Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Julius says: "I hope to find relief from the pain, so I can resume my duties as a farmer, and take good care of my children."

Ricky is 51 years old and a forklift operator from the Philippines. He is the sole breadwinner for his family, earning through irregular employment. One of his children helps by working part-time as a package courier, while his youngest child is still in school. Four months ago, Ricky began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty passing stool, dizziness, frequent vomiting, and poor appetite. Ricky was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. His medical condition causes severe pain that affects his ability to work, placing additional financial strain on his family. The family hopes he can receive surgery soon so he can recover, return to work, and continue providing for his loved ones. Ricky sought treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). He is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on July 13th. A portion of the procedure's cost is being covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Ricky's surgery and care. Ricky shared, "I hope to recover soon so I can work without pain and continue providing for my family. This surgery would give us hope and ease the burden we have been carrying."

Moo is a 58-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two daughters in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. They moved to Thailand because there was a military airstrike in her village in 2023. In late July, while Moo was collecting vegetables, she fell and broke her left wrist. Due to financial challenges, she did not go to the hospital right away. She cannot grab or squeeze things. She cannot cook or do her own laundry. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Moo will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for October 2nd and will cost $1,500. This procedure will be able to help Moo be able to do her daily tasks again. Moo said, “Only my daughter works, and we depend on her. Her income is just enough to cover daily needs. We do not have extra money to save. When the accident happened, I decided not to get treatment at hospital because I think it will cost a lot and we do not have money. When I find out the cost of the treatment, I was shocked. I have never imaging having that much amount of money. I feel like I am a burden to my children and those who help me with the treatment cost. I asked not to get surgery, but the doctor told me that, if I do not do surgery, my hand cannot grab things. I still want to work and help around with the housework. Thank you so much for supporting with the treatment cost."