Yadesa is an 80-year-old man from Ethiopia. He is a retired merchant who spent his life working hard and building an independent life. Since the deeply sad loss of his beloved wife, he has found comfort and support by moving in with one of his two brothers. One year ago, Yadesa developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision and burning sensation. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. For a man who spent his whole life actively connecting with the world through buying and selling, this slow darkening of his sight is truly heartbreaking. It has made it incredibly hard for him to talk and spend time with his loved ones, enjoy the world around him, and hold onto the dignity and independence that have always defined who he is. Fortunately, Yadesa is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Yadesa shared, "I hope to regain the independence I so deeply miss, allowing me to navigate my home and enjoy the company of my brother with newfound ease and confidence."

An is a 76-year-old man and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife both work on the farm. In his free time, An enjoys going to the pagoda and participating in religious ceremonies. About one year ago, An developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, similar to looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When An learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. An said, "I hope that after my cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can return to growing rice, travel to places that are farther away, and no longer worry about my vision."

Kenneth is 57 years old and a farmer from Malawi. He is married and has five children, three of whom are adults with their own families, and the youngest two are in school. He is also a grandfather to five grandchildren. About 16 years ago, Kenneth began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on his neck that grew over time. He has been experiencing difficulty swallowing, neck heaviness, and breathlessness, which have significantly affected his daily activities, resulting in reduced income. He has been to different hospitals but has not felt any improvement. In January this year, one of the beneficiaries noticed him struggling to breathe and encouraged him to seek care at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. He was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kenneth receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 4th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Kenneth shared, "I already have 100% hope that my healing has drawn nearer. I did not expect to be supported despite having nothing to offer. I will patiently wait for my surgery turn."