Albert is a 27-year-old man from Malawi. He is the third-born in a family of six. Before his illness, he was employed and actively supported his parents, but he is currently unable to work and relies on his brother for support. Four months ago, Albert developed severe abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a hollow viscus perforation — a tear in the wall of the intestine — caused by typhoid infection. Emergency surgery was performed, during which surgeons created a stoma, a surgically-made opening on the abdomen that diverts waste when the normal digestive pathway is compromised. While the stoma has allowed his bowel to heal, it has caused him significant discomfort and affected his daily life and confidence. Fortunately, on June 17th, Albert will undergo surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. This procedure will cost $1,244, and Albert needs your support to fund the surgery. "The stigma is too much and has taken away all my happiness due to isolation, bringing in more pains, both physical and psychological; your support will help me to recover," Albert shared.

Lida is a 12-year-old Grade 7 student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and two younger sisters. Her father works as an electrician, while her mother takes care of the household. Her favorite subject is mathematics, and she enjoys reading books and listening to music in her free time. She also likes sour fish soup and fried vegetables. For the past year, Lida has been experiencing daily headaches and a runny nose. Her frequent headaches and runny nose make her uncomfortable and make it difficult for her to concentrate on her studies. She hopes to feel better so she can focus on school and continue working toward her dream of becoming a teacher. Lida was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Lida, which is scheduled to take place on October 28th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Lida of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Lida's mother said, “I hope that my daughter will feel better after surgery and no longer suffer from frequent headaches. I want her to feel comfortable, focus on her studies, and enjoy her childhood.”

Deborah is a 27-year-old mother of two from Kenya. Her husband is a small-scale farmer, while she stays home to manage their household and care for their children. When Deborah was two years old, she lost her hearing. She had an ear infection, underwent treatment and surgeries, but her hearing was never restored. When she was seven years old, she received hearing aids donated by missionaries. Unfortunately, she misplaced one of the hearing aids and was never able to recover it. She relied on the remaining hearing aid throughout her primary school education. Over time, her only hearing aid stopped working, leaving her with profound hearing loss. Since then, Deborah has withdrawn from social interactions, often choosing to remain at home because communicating with others has become extremely difficult. She is unable to help her children as they begin learning and growing, something that deeply saddens her. On July 8th, Deborah will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking assistance in raising $1,171. This will allow her to reconnect with her family, regain her independence, and improve her quality of life. Deborah says, "I can't help my son with his homework, and it breaks my heart to feel left out of my children's lives."