Salome is a six-year-old girl from Malawi, and a Primary 2 student. To earn a living, her mother sells freezies in town, while her father does casual work. Three years ago, Salome was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. Due to the condition, she has been experiencing abdominal pain, loss of appetite, on and off swelling episodes that have affected her daily living. Her parents cannot afford surgery treatment, and it's also taken a toll on Salome's mother's business, as she spends most of her time attending to Salome. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Salome receive treatment. On September 9th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Salome's mother is hopeful for her daughter's better health. The family is seeking to raise $575 to fund the procedure. Salome's mother says: "I believe surgery will change the life of my daughter, by bringing comfort to her life. You are my last hope, and I believe my child's life will not be the same post-surgery, enabling me to concentrate on my business, while she puts more effort into her education."

Samuel is a 68-year-old father of five from Uganda. He and his wife earn a living through small-scale farming, growing bananas and beans to support their family. However, the farming activities generate only a limited income, which is barely enough to meet his family's basic needs. For about a year now, Samuel has had a hydrocele. He presented at Uganda Martyr's Ibanda Hospital experiencing swelling and pain, which has been causing him much discomfort. Surgery was recommended, but he is unable to afford the treatment cost, which has placed him in a difficult situation, as he is worried about providing for his family. Fortunately, on October 29th, Samuel is scheduled to undergo repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $201 to fund Samuel's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Samuel says, “I am grateful to the medical team at Ibanda Hospital for the care they have given me. However, I cannot afford the cost of my recommended surgery, and I humbly appeal to the donor program for financial assistance. Following recovery, I will continue farming and work hard to improve my family’s standard of living.”

Ester is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her parents, her younger brother, and two younger sisters in a village in Karen State, Burma. Ester and her three younger siblings go to school while their parents are small-scale farmers. They also raise chickens and pigs, and they forage for vegetables in the forest for their own consumption. They also have a small garden where they grow betel nut trees, and they sell some of the betel nuts to earn a small income. Sometimes, Ester’s father also finds work as an agricultural day laborer. In her free time, Ester loves to help her mother with household chores and also play with her friends at school. She wants to become a teacher when she grows up. Ester was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Ester is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 7th to correct her condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Ester's procedure and care. Ester's mother shared, "I would like to thank BCMF and your donors for your kindness and willingness to support my daughter. Without you, my daughter would not receive treatment as the cost is too high for us, and we cannot borrow such a large amount of money from our neighbours. On behalf of our family and our daughter, thank you to your donors and everyone willing to help my daughter.”