James is 48 years old and a father of three from Malawi. He works as a driver, but is now unable to work due to his health condition. Six months ago, James was diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia, a condition where abdominal tissue or fat pushes through weak spots in the lower abdominal wall on both sides of the pubic bone. This requires prompt medical attention because it causes pain and carries a risk of other health complications. Surgical support helps to save one's life. Fortunately, on July 1st, James will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund James's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. James looks forward to surgery that will bring back his life, enabling him to concentrate on his job and support his family. He shared, "Your support will save my life and my family's as I am the breadwinner."

Gregory is a 44-year-old husband and devoted father of five children from Malawi. As the family's sole breadwinner, he carries the immense responsibility of supporting his wife and children. His eldest child is currently a second-year university student, while his other children are in Form 4, Form 3, and Form 1, all relying on him for school fees, food, and daily necessities. The youngest is still an infant and depends entirely on his care and support. Gregory earns a living as a small-scale farmer, growing maize, Irish potatoes, vegetables, and rearing a few chickens. For many years, farming has been the foundation of his family's survival. Through hard work and determination, he has managed to provide food for his household and keep his children in school despite the many challenges of rural life. His health problems began when he noticed a small swelling in the upper part of his abdomen after carrying heavy metal objects. Initially, the swelling caused little concern, and he responded by avoiding heavy lifting. However, over time, the swelling became progressively larger and more painful, especially when performing strenuous farm work. Seeking medical attention, Gregory visited several healthcare facilities where he was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, which is a bulge occurring in the upper abdomen, caused by tissue pushing through weak abdominal muscles. Although surgery was recommended, repeated delays and busy surgical schedules at the public hospital meant that he never received the operation he needed. As the years passed, the hernia continued to worsen, causing increasing pain and limiting his ability to work. While still waiting for treatment, Gregory developed another problem two years ago. A soft swelling appeared on his back and rapidly increased in size. Doctors later identified it as a lipoma, a slow-growing fatty tumor located between the skin and muscle layer. Unfortunately, the mass has continued to grow and has now become so large that it interferes with the movement of his arm, making farming activities increasingly difficult and painful. Today, Gregory lives with constant discomfort from both conditions. The painful abdominal hernia affects him whenever he bends, lifts, coughs, strains, or works in the fields. At the same time, the large lipoma limits his mobility and makes routine farming tasks exhausting. Determined to find help, Gregory came to PIH after hearing that patients could receive timely surgical treatment. He hoped that surgery would finally free him from years of pain and allow him to resume caring for his family without limitation. Gregory was evaluated by the surgical team at PIH who confirmed that he required two surgical procedures, which could be done in the same operation: an Epigastric Hernia Repair and a Major Mass Excision (Removal of the Large Lipoma). If left untreated, the hernia could place him at risk of complications such as incarceration or strangulation. The large lipoma would also impact his daily activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gregory receive treatment. On August 19th, he will undergo the two procedures to relieve years of pain, restore his ability to earn a living, and give him the chance to continue supporting his family. Gregory is contributing to his care, but needs help to raise an additional $575 for his treatment. He says: "Your support will be highly appreciated, to restore my health and help me focus on my farm work."

Chilina is an eight-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family and lives with her parents in Battambang Province. Her father is an army, and her mother stays at home to manage household tasks. She is in the third grade and enjoys painting and reading fairy tales. Her favorite subject is mathematics, and she hopes to become a nurse when she grows up. Chilina was born with polydactyly of her right hand. This means that she was born with an extra thumb on her right hand. The extra thumb and stiffness of her right thumb make some hand movements more difficult. Although she can grip and pinch objects, the condition affects the appearance of her hand and causes her to feel shy when classmates and friends tease her. Fortunately, on July 21st, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra digit. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. After surgery, the removal of the extra thumb will improve the appearance and function of her right hand. She will be able to use her hand more comfortably, feel more confident, and participate in daily activities without feeling different from other children. Chilina's mother said, “Seeing my daughter feel shy because of her hand breaks my heart. I hope this surgery will help her feel confident and happy as she grows up.”