Amala is a 19-year-old young man from Mali. He is a student and is his mother's first child. During his free time, he enjoys playing sports. Two days ago, Amala began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain and a fever. He was diagnosed with appendicitis and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Muso, is helping Amala receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on October 31st. This procedure will cost $413, and Amala and his family need your support. Amala's mother shared, "We will be very happy to see him in good health after this procedure. Thank you for your support."

Christine is a 44-year-old mother from Uganda. She has two children, both of whom are enrolled in school. Early on in her marriage, her husband passed away. As a widow, Christine relies on subsistence farming to provide food and financial support for her family. To earn extra income, she occasionally works as a casual laborer on other farms. These additional earnings help her afford essential household necessities such as soap, salt, and other daily requirements. Christine finds joy in seeing her children pursue their education, hoping it will open doors to future professional opportunities. Five years ago, Christine began to experience troubling symptoms, notably a swelling at the front of her neck. Although initially painless, the swelling began to cause her discomfort. Over time, Christine began to experience difficulty with swallowing and breathing, shortness of breath, and palpitations after engaging in laborious tasks. Her condition limited her ability to work on her farm and carry out daily responsibilities, significantly affecting her quality of life. Due to financial constraints, Christine initially resorted to local herbs and traditional remedies to manage her condition. However, the interventions provided no relief, and she underwent screening at Nyakibale Hospital. There, Christine was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in front of your neck and produces hormones that are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Christine requires surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Christine receive treatment. On November 1st, Christine will undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons may remove all or a portion of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Christine says, “Having my surgery with your support will be a blessing. Once I am back on my feet, I am sure I will be able to keep up with farming and will continue working at my best to keep my children in school. I can’t do this on my own and kindly appeal to you for support.”

Feyisa is a 74-year-old farmer from Ethiopia who has spent his whole life working the land with his wife, who farms alongside him. Together they raised three children, one son and two daughters. His children are grown now and have built their lives elsewhere, but he remains close to his family and shares his home with his wife and his grandson. One year ago, doctors found cataracts in both of his eyes. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. At the time, his eyes were not ready for surgery, so he had to wait. Through those long months, his sight kept fading. He can no longer judge distances or see clearly where he is going. Walking around his own home has become risky, and he can barely make out the faces of the people he loves. He depends on his wife and his grandson to guide him through each day and care for him. Fortunately, Feyisa is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery on October 28th. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens in both eyes. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is asking for help to raise $300 to fund this procedure. Feyisa's wife shared, "After a long year of waiting in the blur, we look forward to the day he sees clearly again, moves around safely, and lives on his own terms."