47-year-old Edgadi is a small-scale farmer living in Uganda. She and her husband have one child, and also live with Edgadi's mother, who was recently widowed. Despite facing many hardships earlier in her life, Edgadi managed to complete Senior Four. To make ends meet, she and her husband do farming on their small piece of land, where they mostly grow food crops for home consumption, while selling any surplus to earn some income. Ten years ago, Edgadi began to experience troubling symptoms, including an anterior neck swelling, headaches, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and pain when swallowing. She first sought treatment at a local hospital, but found no relief. She later visited another medical center, where she was advised to undergo surgery. As she could not raise the required funds, she returned home. She then tried local remedies, but she still couldn't find any relief. Eventually, a friend who knew someone who had been treated for a similar condition, advised her to seek help at our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital Nyakibale. At the hospital, Edgadi was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck, which produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. Edgadi needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Edgadi receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 10th, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Edgadi and her family need your help to raise the funds. Edgadi says: “I have had this condition for a very long time, and even reaching this point, where I can hope for surgery, feels like a miracle. However, I am unable to raise the funds needed for the operation, and therefore, I kindly seek your support.”

Michelsa is a young student from Haiti. She is in the first grade and likes art and music. Michelsa lives with her mother, grandmother, and two siblings in a city on the west coast of Haiti. Her mother sews school uniforms for a living. Michelsa has a cardiac condition called pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in Michelsa's heart is too narrow, making it difficult for blood to flow through it and leading to heart failure. Michelsa will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 11th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a balloon on the end of a catheter to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Michelsa's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Michelsa's family overseas. Michelsa's mother shares, "Our family is very hopeful that after this surgery, we can let my daughter run and play without worrying about her health."

Jeremiah is a two-year-old baby boy born to humble small-scale farmers in Uganda. Since birth, Jeremiah has been suffering from hydrocele, a collection of fluid in the scrotal sac, which causes it to swell. The condition has been causing him much discomfort and pain, especially when playing with other children his age. As the condition persisted, Jeremiah’s mother became increasingly worried about his health and future well-being. Determined to seek help for her son despite the family’s financial hardships, she brought him to our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital for assessment. Jeremiah needs to undergo a hydrocelectomy, a surgery to correct the condition and prevent future complications. Doctors have explained that if the hydrocele is not treated in time, the accumulated fluid may later become infected and could expose Jeremiah to serious complications such as testicular torsion, chronic pain, and health problems that may interfere with his growth and development. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jeremiah receive treatment. On June 2nd, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery to restore his health, relieve pain, and help him grow into a healthy child like his peers. Now, Jeremiah's family needs help to fund this $220 procedure. His mother says, “Every mother dreams of seeing her child healthy and happy. I pray for support, so that my son can receive treatment and grow without pain.”