Catherine is a 43-year-old woman and mother of four children from Uganda. She and her husband are teachers. Together, they work hard to provide for their family, meet their children's educational needs, and ensure that the household has its necessities. Their teaching careers are an important source of livelihood, although the demands of raising four children and meeting other family responsibilities require careful financial planning. Five years ago, Catherine began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent pain in her lower abdomen. Initially, she hoped that the discomfort would resolve with treatment, but unfortunately, the pain has continued over the years. She particularly experiences it during physical exertion, and despite receiving treatment, she has not obtained lasting relief. She was diagnosed with appendicitis. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo surgery that will address her symptoms and prevent future health complications on November 3rd. This procedure will cost $297, and Catherine and her family need your support. Catherine says, "For the past five years, I have lived with persistent pain in my lower abdomen. I have visited several health facilities and tried different treatments. This condition has caused me a lot of worry because I am a mother of four children and a teacher who still has many responsibilities to fulfil. I am afraid that if the problem is not properly treated, my condition may worsen and affect my ability to care for my family and continue working. I sincerely appeal to kind-hearted donors to support me in accessing the medical care I need. Your assistance would give me renewed hope of overcoming this pain, regaining my health, and returning to my normal life. I would be deeply grateful for your kindness and generosity."

Rodas is a four-year-old boy who lives in Ethiopia with his parents and younger brother. His father is a hardworking doctor who works hard to provide for his family and help sick people, and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. About one year ago, Rodas began to experience the symptoms of tonsillitis, which makes it difficult for him to breathe normally, and sleep well. His parents first noticed that he was snoring heavily, and often breathed through this mouth instead of his nose. The continued lack of sleep has been difficult for Rodas and his family, as he is often tired and emotional. Because Rodas's tonsillitis is failing to resolve on its own, doctors are recommending surgery to remove his tonsils. Without surgery, his symptoms will persist and possibly intensify. Doctors are also worried that the constant sleep deprivation will affect Rodas's growth and quality of life, and that the mouth breathing will affect the development of his jaw and face. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Rodas, which is scheduled to take place on September 20th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Rodas of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. His parents say, "We hope that Rodas can finally sleep soundly through the night, without loud snoring or trouble breathing. We also hope that he can enjoy a healthy, happy childhood."

Hervens is a 17-year-old high-school student from Haiti. He lives in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince with his parents, four brothers, and two sisters. His parents are both small-scale vendors. Hervens is in his second year of high school and likes art and literature. Hervens has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. Hervens needs fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 23rd, he will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is contributing to pay for surgery. Hervens's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Hervens's family overseas. Hervens says: "I am looking forward to having more energy, and to being stronger after my surgery!"