Hai is a 73-year-old man from Cambodia. He works in a rice mill. He is divorced and has two sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren. He lives with his daughter, who works in a garment factory. During his free time, he likes to watch the news on TV and listen to monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Hai developed a cataract in his left 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 he is not able to go places on his own. When Hai learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 19th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Hai said, "When I can see better again, I want to go to the pagoda, walk around my home, and take care of myself."

Generous is is a 65-year-old woman from Uganda. She is a widowed mother of two, and a grandmother of five. Generous currently lives with and helps care for two of her grandchildren. She has no stable source of income, and depends on small-scale farming, which generates very little income for household needs and the grandchildren under her care. In her free time, she enjoys weaving, although her condition has made it increasingly difficult for her to continue. About 40 years ago, Generous began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling. Over the years, the swelling progressively increased in size and became associated with difficulty swallowing and intermittent palpitations. The condition has caused longstanding discomfort and distress. The swelling has also significantly affected her physical appearance, confidence, and self-esteem. These challenges have reduced her enjoyment of activities she once loved, including weaving. Determined to seek treatment, she borrowed approximately USD 4 from her local village savings group for transport and travelled nearly two hours to reach Rushoroza Hospital after being encouraged by a friend who had previously received treatment there. She was diagnosed with bilateral multinodular goitre, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Generous receive treatment. On September 1st, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising the funds. Generous says, “I have lived with this swelling for almost my entire life, and it has taken away my confidence and comfort. I simply wish to live without the burden I have carried for so many years. I humbly request the donor program to help me receive this surgery. Your support will give me more than treatment, it will give me back my dignity, strength, and hope to continue caring for my grandchildren. May God richly bless you for standing with me.”

Yemariam is a social and active 3-year-old from Ethiopia who loves playing with her friends and toys. Her mother works as a secretary at a government institution, and her father works as a driver for a private company. Since birth, Yemariam has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which tissue pushes through a weakened area around the belly button. Her mother first noticed the swelling shortly after Yemariam was born. The doctors examined her condition and advised the family that she might need surgery in the future if the condition did not resolve on its own. As Yemariam grew older and started attending school, her parents became increasingly concerned about her condition and its impact on her physical and emotional well-being. Her parents searched for a way to get her the surgery she needed. They first took Yemariam to a private hospital. The cost of the procedure was too high, so they visited a nearby health center, where Yemariam was referred to a higher-level government hospital and was placed on a surgery waitlist for the next month. During this time, the hospital referred Yemariam to our medical partner's care center. When Yemariam and her mother arrived, her mother was concerned that her condition was too complicated and she would not be able to receive the treatment she needed. After an assessment, the medical team explained Yemariam's condition and informed her mother that she could undergo surgery. Fortunately, on September 30th, Yemariam will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $512 to fund Yemariam's procedure. Once completed, this surgery will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Yemariam's mother said, "Thank you so much to everyone who helped my daughter. I still can't believe it. I thank God for blessing you all. We had been waiting for four to five months, and now my daughter can receive the care she needed. Thank you so much to everyone and to all the Bethany Kids staff for your support and kindness."