Edina, a 41-year-old mother of seven, works as a vegetable seller, earning about $2.97 per day for her family's upkeep. She finds joy interacting with her customers and has a fondness for chicken and nsima, a Malawian staple porridge made from maize flour. Four years ago, Edina discovered a small, painless swelling on the right side of her neck. After seeking medical advice at a nearby hospital, she was diagnosed with goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She was instructed to wait for an opportunity for surgery, but her condition has worsened, causing breathlessness, neck pain, and difficulty lifting heavy objects. This has affected her work capacity and resulted in a decrease in income. Inspired by a fellow community member's journey to seek help, Edina visited our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre, where a surgeon reconfirmed the need for a thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Faced with financial hardships, Edina is seeking support for her surgery treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edina receive treatment. On March 20th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to relieve her symptoms and help her resume her vegetable business at full capacity. Now, Edina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Edina says, “I feel so fortunate to get the opportunity for support. Thank you so much, I believe surgery will help me get back to normal life."

Sok Noeun is a 22-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. She lives at home with her mother and four siblings in Kampong Speu province. She has one older sister and three younger brothers; her father is not in her life. Only she and her older sister have jobs, her other brothers aren't currently working. At home, she and her older sister help their mother with house cleaning and cooking. In November 2022, during a heavy rainstorm, Sok Noeun experienced an unfortunate incident when she lost control of her motorbike on her way home from work, resulting in a fractured right tibia. Her sister took her to a local clinic where she had surgery to secure the bone with metal plates and support healing. Now, the bone is united and she needs the hardware removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 5th, Sok Noeun will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This procedure will remove the ache she still has in her leg. Sok Noeun believes that metal in the body can interfere with the flow of energy and cause health problems such as fatigue or joint pain. Sok Noeun said: "I hope after surgery I will have no pain or infection and my leg will be strong again."

Two-month-old Dayana is the first child of her mother, who is a food vendor, and her father, who works in construction. She battles a condition called coarctation of the aorta. One of Dayana's major blood vessels connected to her heart is too narrow, this causes blood to back up into her heart, which can lead to heart failure. Fortunately there is a treatment than can cure her condition. During surgery, doctors will expand the aorta to allow blood to flow normally. She is scheduled for treatment on February 8th and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is helping her family to raise $1,500 to support the cost of care. Dayana's mother says, "We have been very afraid for our daughter's life ever since she was born, and so we are so glad to have this opportunity!"