65-year-old Masitala is has spent most of his life working the land in Dedza District in Malawi. A husband and father of seven children, six of whom now have families of their own, he has always relied on farming maize and soya beans to provide for his household. Eight months ago, the simple life he values began to change. Masitala started experiencing difficulty passing urine. As the condition worsened, he found himself making repeated visits to health facilities, where he received medication and catheterisation to manage the symptoms. While these measures brought temporary relief, they did not solve the underlying problem. Month after month, he continued living with discomfort, uncertainty, and the inconvenience of relying on a catheter. The condition made it harder for him to focus on farming and the daily responsibilities that help sustain his family. After several hospital visits, clinicians advised him to seek treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where he could access surgical care. Determined to find a lasting solution, Masitala made the journey despite having very little money. Unable to afford transportation, he walked for nearly three hours to reach the hospital. At Nkhoma Hospital, doctors diagnosed him with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and advised that he requires an open prostatectomy to restore normal urinary function and improve his quality of life. For Masitala, the diagnosis brought hope but also worry. The surgery he needs is beyond what he can afford. Like many small-scale farmers, his income depends on the harvest, and the resources available to him are barely enough to meet his family's basic needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the procedure for Masitala. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on June 3rd and, once completed, it will hopefully improve his quality of life. Masitala hopes that surgery will free him from months of discomfort and allow him to return to the fields, care for his family, and enjoy life without the burden of illness. He says, “I have endured this condition for many months because I had no other choice. I walked all the way to the hospital because I believed there would be help for me here. My wish is to get treated, and return to my family healthy and able to work again.”

Vantha is a 64-year-old woman from Cambodia. She enjoys doing household chores, feeding her pets, and growing vegetables around her home. Vantha lives with her husband, who is blind, and her children, who work in garment factories. She has four children, but sadly, two of them died in a traffic accident. On January 3rd, Vantha slipped and fell on a wet floor, causing her to fracture her right wrist. She experiences severe pain, especially when using her hand. This makes it difficult for her to perform daily activities, such as cooking, carrying objects, and doing other household tasks. After the injury, Vantha's family took her to a traditional Khmer practitioner for treatment. However, despite taking pain medication, she continues to experience severe pain. Since her condition did not improve, Vantha decided to go to Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) for further evaluation and management. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 18th, Vantha will undergo a fracture repair procedure. CSC is requesting $600 to cover the cost of her treatment. The surgery will significantly relieve Vantha's pain, restore movement in her wrist, and allow her to use her hand normally. This will help her perform daily activities more comfortably and independently. Vantha said, “I want to be free from pain and able to move my wrist easily again. I hope after the surgery, I can live more comfortably and not worry about the pain every time I use my hand.”

Meshack is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in his family. His mother is a preacher, and cares for her young children. Despite her responsibilities, she has made strong efforts to find specialized treatment for Meshack after noticing that his hand movement was becoming more restricted. When Meshack was very young, he sustained a burn injury on his right hand. Though the wound has healed, the scars have become tight over time, causing a burn scar contracture. The contracture has affected finger movement and palm opening, making it difficult for his hand to function normally as he grows. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Meshack receive treatment. On February 18th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and skin graft to greatly improve his hand development and future independence. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Meshack's mother says, “His hand cannot open well, and I worry about how he will use it as he grows. I am praying he can get treatment and use his hand freely.”