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.”

Pich is a 17-year-old young man from Cambodia. He is the youngest of two siblings and lives with his parents in Kampong Cham Province. His father works as a day laborer on a rubber farm, while his mother works in a garment factory. He left school while in Grade 10 and now works alongside his father to help the family. His favorite dish is korko fish soup. During his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and football with his friends in the village. In April 2026, Pich was involved in a motorbike accident that caused serious injuries and nerve damage to his left arm. He lost consciousness and received stitches for multiple wounds on his left upper arm. He later sought traditional Khmer treatment, but his arm did not improve as he had hoped. Approximately six months after the accident, he has regained some movement in his shoulder and elbow, but he still cannot bend his elbow normally or move his wrist and fingers. He also experiences numbness in his left forearm and hand. He needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Pich receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure on October 22nd. His family can contribute $37.50, but needs help raising $664 more to help fund his procedure and care. Pich said, “Since my accident, I haven’t been able to use my left arm the way I used to, and it has made my daily life and work very difficult. I’m still young, and I want to regain movement in my arm so I can work and take care of myself again. I hope this surgery will give me a chance to improve and move toward a better future.”

Zewditu is a 42-year-old mother of six from Ethiopia, who is a devoted wife and home maker. Her husband works as a day laborer, earning just enough money to provide food and shelter for the family. About four years ago, Zewditu developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her reduced eye sight and cloudy vision. The condition has made daily tasks like cooking and caring for her children much more difficult. Zewditu needs to undergo surgery to restore her sight, and be able to perform her daily activities with ease. Fortunately, our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is helping Zewditu receive treatment. On July 12th, she will undergo cataract surgery where surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Zewditu needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. She says: "I hope to be able to handle my household tasks with ease again, and embrace my role as a mother with newfound energy."