Susan, who is 25 years old, is a mother of two, living in Uganda. Being trustworthy, outgoing, and friendly, she spent her school vacations working at a local salon. Her dedication and willingness to learn impressed the salon owner, who took a personal interest in mentoring her in hairdressing. She quickly mastered the skill, and what began as a cleaning job eventually led to her being employed as a hairdresser. Unfortunately, during her second pregnancy, Susan's health declined, making it difficult for her to perform effectively at work, and she was forced to take a break. By the time she had delivered her baby and recovered, her position had already been filled, leaving her with no option but to stay at home and care for her family. Her husband works as a boda boda motorcycle taxi driver, but the family's financial situation remains strained because he acquired the motorcycle through a loan, and much of his income goes toward loan repayments. Two years ago, Susan began to experience troubling symptoms, including an increase in the size of her neck. At first she was not concerned, but recently she started experiencing significant changes in her health and daily life. She developed shortness of breath whenever she lay down to rest; difficulty breathing after walking long distances; an irritating cough-like sensation; and persistent dryness of the mouth. Susan was referred to our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in the front of your neck, which produces hormones that are responsible for your metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Susan needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Susan receive treatment. On November 9th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Susan and her family need your help raising the money. Susan said: “This condition has really ruined my life; first it was my job, now I am worried that it’s a cancer meant to take my life. I kindly appeal to you for support to have my surgery; that way, maybe one day I will be able to resume work.”

Yin is a loving 74-year-old grandfather from Kampong Speu province in Cambodia. He is married and has five sons, two daughters, and 20 grandchildren. He previously worked as a housekeeper, but now lives with his wife, who helps take care of their grandchildren, and his youngest daughter, who works in the garment industry. His favorite hobbies are attending ceremonies, listening to the radio, listening to monks pray, and visiting the pagoda. About a year ago, Yin developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Yin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 17th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Yin is able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but needs help raising an additonal $238 to fund the procedure. He said, "I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can see more clearly, attend ceremonies, visit the pagoda, and continue doing housework independently."

Rabecca is 26 years old and a mother of one from Malawi. Her husband is a cook, while she runs a small business. A year ago, Rabecca began to experience troubling symptoms, including a hoarse voice, frequent coughs, and painful swallowing. Her symptoms have gotten worse, affecting her ability to do daily tasks. She went to a hospital and was diagnosed with a goiter, the swelling 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 Rabecca receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 19th at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Rabecca shared, "I wish I could get better to enable me to continue doing my business in good health and concentrating on family support rather than spending on hospital visits."