Mao is a retired rice farmer and widow from Kampong Thom province, where she lives with one of her daughters. Her other four children and grandchildren live nearby. After retiring from decades of work in the rice paddies, Mao started to help more around the house and with childcare for her grandkids. She enjoys spending time with family, and visiting the local pagoda to pray. About six months ago, Mao developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. When Mao learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On February 1st, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can do the housework easily and take good care of my grandchildren."

Damaris is a 48-year-old mother from Kenya. She resides in Ngarariga, in Kiambu County, with her husband and three children. Damaris is a homemaker, and her husband sells assorted items in Limuru. Their income is sufficient to pay for food and their children's education. For two years, Damaris has been experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding and cramping, this worsened in December 2023. It has worsened to the point of making caring for her children difficult and she is unable to socialize with her community. Damari went to the district hospital where she was diagnosed with fibroids of the uterus. The physicians recommend a hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus. If this condition is not treated, she could develop severe anemia and the fibroids may eventually become cancerous. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $718 to fund Damaris's surgery. On February 27th, she will undergo a hysterectomy at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Damaris will be able to resume her previous activities and care for her children. “I have no words to explain how I am suffering with this bleeding. I humbly request help so that I can get back to my normal life and be able to take care of my family,” said Damaris.

Mpapa is a 61-year-old man from a village in Malawi. He has four married children and lives with his wife and grandchildren. When he was young, Mpapa needed to stop attending primary school making it hard for him to secure a job. He depends on farming where he grows maize and groundnuts for his family and for commercial purposes to support their day-to-day costs. Mpapa was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and scheduled for surgery with our medical partner at Nkhoma Hospital. However, he cannot afford the entire cost of the surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the balance payment for his surgery. Mpapa says, “I hope to receive treatment and resume life without this condition.”