Sineth is 35 years old and a mother of two from Cambodia. Her 12-year-old son has Down syndrome and cannot speak yet. Her husband works in the military, and she stays at home to care for her children, especially her son. Despite limited income and family challenges, she remains devoted to supporting her family. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the news. Since childhood, Sineth had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Sineth experiences hearing loss, recurrent ear discharge, and occasional discomfort. Due to her hearing loss, she has difficulty communicating clearly with others and sometimes cannot hear her children properly. This makes it harder for her to care for her son, who requires special attention, and manage daily responsibilities at home. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sineth receive treatment. On February 23rd, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise the remaining $263 more to fund her procedure and care. Sineth said, “I hope after the surgery I will be able to hear clearly again, so I can care for my children better and communicate with my family without difficulty. I am very thankful for this opportunity.”

Boxter is a farmer from Malawi. He is a husband and father of three from Dzungu village in Dowa District. He grows maize, tomatoes, and other crops to support his family. Three years ago, Boxter started experiencing urinary retention. It is a condition he chose to keep to himself, not sharing it even with those closest to him. Despite the discomfort, he continued working and providing for his family, doing his best to manage the situation quietly. Recently, he came to Nkhoma Hospital and waited in the surgical clinic to be seen. He was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Doctors explained that he needs a surgery, known as TURP, to relieve his condition and restore normal function. While this gave him a clear solution, it also brought worry. Boxter began making phone calls to family members, hoping they could help him raise the money for surgery. In the end, they were only able to gather a little, which is not enough to cover the full cost. He was advised to return home and wait until more funds could be found. Still in need and uncertain of what to do next, Boxter was referred to the SAFE Program for consideration. This has given him a chance to be heard and a renewed sense of hope. He now looks forward to the possibility of receiving treatment and returning to his normal life without the burden he has carried in silence for so long. Physicians at Nkhoma Hospital determined that Boxter should undergo a prostatectomy. A prostatectomy is a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on April 29th. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Boxter's quality of life. Boxter said, “I have stayed with this problem for a long time without telling anyone. I was afraid and did not know how I would manage it. Now that I have a chance to be treated, I am hoping for support. I want to be well again and live without this condition.”

Matiyas is a two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His mother is a homemaker who looks after Matiyas and his younger sister, while his father is a taxi driver. Since birth, he has been fighting a severe, ongoing battle with chronic tonsillitis, a condition that deeply impacts his daily life and overall well-being. His struggle is at its worst during the night. Because his tonsils are constantly swollen, he faces significant airway blockage that makes it nearly impossible for him to breathe through his nose while he sleeps. Instead of resting peacefully, he spends his nights gasping for air and struggling to catch his breath, leaving both him and his parents exhausted and worried. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Matiyas, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Matiyas of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Matiyas's parents shared, "Our deepest hope is for our little boy to finally breathe easily, sleep peacefully through the night, and wake up refreshed instead of gasping for air."