Apofia is a 63-year-old farmer from Uganda. She has six children - three sons and three daughters. She and her husband have a small banana and coffee farm. The couple lives together and enjoys a peaceful and harmonious life, supporting each other in their daily activities. About a year ago, Apofia began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling at the front of her neck. The condition has progressively worsened and causes persistent headaches and difficulty sleeping due to episodes of shortness of breath. Apofia was diagnosed with a right thyroid goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Apofia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Apofia says, “There are nights I go without sleeping at all because of the discomfort it brings me. I need surgery for a complete recovery; however, with my income, I can’t raise the money needed and kindly appeal for your support.”

Srey Neang is a 22-year-old factory worker from Prey Veng, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers, and is the middle child of three siblings. Before her injury, she worked to help support her family. In her free time, she enjoyed listening to music and watching movies. In April 2025, Srey Neang was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that caused an open fracture of her left femur. She lost consciousness for about 12 hours and was hospitalized for two weeks. Over the past year, she has undergone 10 surgeries, but the fracture became infected and developed chronic osteomyelitis. During her most recent operation, doctors placed an external fixator and antibiotic bone cement to control the infection. Despite these treatments, she continues to have drainage from the pin sites, a large bone defect in her left femur, pain, and difficulty walking. Srey Neang was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for specialized care. On July 17th, she will undergo surgery to remove the antibiotic bone cement, perform bone grafting, reconstruct the femur with an external frame, and perform an osteotomy to gradually restore the missing bone. This complex limb reconstruction aims to eliminate the infection, promote new bone growth, improve her ability to walk, and help her return to work. However, she cannot afford the full cost of treatment and needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $483 more to fund her procedure and care. Srey Neang said, “After so many surgeries, I never gave up hope. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope this treatment will finally help my leg heal so I can walk again, return to work, and enjoy a normal life.”

Umali is a 34-year-old young man who lives with his parents in Malawi. Umali is the fourth-born in a family of five children, and works as a temporary salesman at a hardware store in town, earning a modest income that he uses not only to sustain himself but also to support his unemployed parents. Despite the financial challenges his family faces, Umali has always shouldered his responsibilities with dedication and resilience. Umali's health challenges began in 2024 when he noticed an intermittent swelling on the left side of his groin area. Concerned about the swelling and the discomfort it caused, he sought medical attention and was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. He was subsequently referred to a higher facility for further management. While receiving care at the referral hospital, doctors also identified that he had haemorrhoids, in addition to the hernia. Over time, the haemorrhoids began bleeding, leaving Umali weak and increasingly worried about his health. Doctors recommended surgical intervention for both conditions, giving him hope that relief was finally within reach. Unfortunately, however, Umali had his surgery canceled several times due to scheduling constraints at the public hospital, and a lack of resources. Each hospital visit came with high costs for transport, accommodation, food, and lost working days. After spending considerable amounts of money and enduring repeated disappointments, Umali became frustrated and discouraged. His condition continued to worsen, affecting his ability to work effectively and reducing his already limited income. As the pain and discomfort intensified, he was advised to seek help at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope (PIH). Umali hesitated for months, fearing that he would not be able to afford treatment. However, when the symptoms became increasingly unbearable, Umali gathered the courage to visit PIH. Umali's diagnosis was confirmed and he has been scheduled for a haemorrhoidectomy procedure. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $917 to fund Umali's procedure, which has been scheduled for August 6th. Umali says: "The pain is too much, I am unable to focus. I have been admitted thrice at the referral hospital, but was not operated on. Kindly help me to have my surgery, so I can get better, my joy can resume, and I can continue supporting my parents. You are my last hope."