Sophea is a 29-year-old tailor from Cambodia. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching movies on television. When she was three years old, Sophea had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Sophea experiences hearing loss, headache, ear infection, discharge, and itchiness. She is unable to hear others and finds it difficult to communicate with those around her. Sophea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 18th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sophea said, "I hope that after the operation, my hearing will improve and the ear infection will stop."

Phylis is a 34 year old housewife from Kenya. She is married, has four children aged between 14 years and 18 months, and her husband works as a mechanic. Three months ago, Phylis began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Phylis receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 19th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $625, and she and her family need help raising money. “I look forward to raising my children and especially my baby without my family having to worry about my health,” says Phylis.

Elizabeth is a casual laborer from Kenya. She washes clothes in other people households so that she can raise money to buy food and pay her monthly bills. She got married previously, but separated with her husband after she was unable to conceive. Elizabeth lives in rented single-room house alone. Two years ago, Elizabeth experienced pelvic pain. She has been diagnosed with bulky uterus, multiple fibroids, and bilateral hydrosalpinx. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $630 to fund Elizabeth's surgery. On January 14th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Elizabeth will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Elizabeth says, “I want this pain removed so that I can be able to work.”