Sinem is a 65-year-old vegetable seller. She lives with her daughter who also sells vegetables. Sinem shared that her husband passed away 10 years ago. She likes to listen to the news on the radio. Three years ago, Sinem developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her photophobia, blurry vision, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sinem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled across the country for seven hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Sinem says, "I hope after surgery my eye can see again. Then I can go back to selling vegetables with my daughter."

Srey Nang is a quiet six-year-old girl. Srey Nang is in kindergarten and lives with her grandmother. Her father works in construction and her mother is a farmer in a different province. She has a two-year-old brother who she adores. She enjoys playing with her friends, painting, and watching cartoons on TV. She loves to eat fried noodles and fresh orange juice. Ten months ago, Srey Nang was burned by hot water. She has developed skin contractures from the burn scars, and cannot bend her knees to sit or straighten them to stand. She is unable to walk well and is in constant pain. Her family shared that she no longer plays with her friends because she feels ashamed of her condition and afraid they will make fun of her. When Srey Nang's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On January 6th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to replace the scar tissue from the burns with healthy skin from her opposite leg. Now, Srey Nang's family needs help to fund this $474 procedure. Her grandmother said: "we are hopeful Srey Nang's scars will be better, and she will be able to attend school with the other children."

Lydia is a small-scale farmer and a mother of seven. Her husband is also a small-scale farmer and their eldest child is now 50 years old. They own a four-room mud house and work hard to try to make ends meet for their family. Over 20 years ago, Lydia began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck pains and a small swelling which she initially thought would disappear on its own but it did not. Currently, she suffers from airway obstruction and can no longer climb hills comfortably. She very much likes playing and dancing (traditional dances) with her grandchildren but no longer does so comfortably in her current condition. She was scheduled for a surgery appointment at Kabale Referral Hospital about four months ago, but had to cancel because she was unable to raise the funds for surgery. She has now come to Rushoroza Hospital to seek treatment for her multi-nodular goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lydia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 14th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and Lydia and her family need help raising money. Lydia says, “I hope to finally get relieved of the goitre through surgery because I have lived in this undesirable condition for quite long. I hope to continue with farming comfortably after my treatment.”