Patience is a primary school teacher from Uganda. Her husband also works as a teacher, and they have four children. Their oldest child is sixteen and in secondary class four, while their youngest is four and in the baby junior class at school. Patience shared that their combined income covers their children’s school fees but is limited in providing for their family’s needs. In addition to teaching, during her time off from the school year, Patience prepares and sells local sorghum porridge. Two years ago, Patience began to experience troubling symptoms, including swelling on her neck. While the swelling was initially painless, she started feeling neck pains as time went on. Currently, she experiences airway obstruction when she sleeps or raises her arms, and she can no longer carry heavy loads. Fortunately, Patience had a friend undergo thyroidectomy surgery at our medical partner’s care center, and they referred her for treatment. Patience’s condition was diagnosed as a non-toxic multinodular goiter. She needs to undergo surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Patience receive treatment. On January 3rd, she will undergo a thyroidectomy, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $333 to fund this surgery. Patience shared: “I hope to get well and look normal again through surgery. I will resume teaching as soon as possible after complete recovery.”

Geninah is a hard working farmer and a mother of 10 children; five sons and five daughters. Two of her sons run a small-scale business while three sons and all her daughters are farmers. Education was not valued for her generation, so she didn't have the opportunity for school. Her wish was to be a nurse if she had the opportunity to study. She is married and she and her husband were small-scale farmers, but they no longer farm much these days. Currently, they depend on their banana and coffee plantation's seasonal yields for some irregular income. She loves singing and attending church service in her free time. For many years, Geninah has experienced troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling, constant cough like sensation, shortness of breath when lying down, pain during swallowing, and profuse sweating at night. She was diagnosed with a giant goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Geninah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 28th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Geninah says “I hope to get relieved from the pain I have been having and with your support, I hope my surgery will surely be possible.”

Chom is a loving grandmother: a mother of three sons, four daughters, and has 13 grandchildren. She has lived in Svay Rieng province in Cambodia with her youngest daughter, a rice farmer, since her husband's passing. At home, she enjoys going to the pagoda with other villagers on holy days. Six years ago, Chom developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her vision to blur. She has difficulty seeing clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking. Thus, she is unable to travel places on her own anymore. When Chom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she came four and a half hours from her province seeking treatment. On January 24th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and implant an intraocular lens in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Chom needs help to raise $253 to fund her procedure and care. She said: "I hope after surgery I can see well again. I can walk and eat by myself and feel useful to my family."