Loyce is a 48-year-old wife and mother of four from Malawi. Two of her children are married with families of their own, while the other two assist with farming work at home. For many years, Loyce has contributed to her family's livelihood through her small charcoal-selling business, while her husband works as a builder. Together, they have worked tirelessly to provide for their family. For the last 18 months, Loyce has been living with uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths that develop within or on the wall of the uterus and can cause symptoms such as heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, fatigue, and anemia. When symptoms become severe, surgical intervention is often necessary to relieve pain, prevent complications, and improve quality of life. Loyce's journey toward care began when she first sought medical attention at a nearby health facility, where the doctors suspected the presence of uterine fibroids and referred her to another hospital for further assessment and confirmation. Despite receiving medical care at the time, her symptoms continued to worsen. She experienced ongoing lower abdominal pain, backache, dizziness, weakness, and increasing discomfort that interfered with her daily activities and quality of life. At the initial referral hospital, the doctors scheduled her for surgery in October 2026. However, in June 2026, her condition took a serious turn when she developed worrisome bleeding and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. After her condition stabilized, Loyce was discharged and advised to return immediately if her symptoms worsened. Unfortunately, her symptoms persisted, and in late July 2026, Loyce returned to the hospital. Due to the high volume of emergency cases requiring urgent attention, Loyce was referred to our medical partner's hospital, Partners in Hope (PIH) Hospital, for immediate surgical evaluation and management. At PIH, Loyce learned about the surgery program and, for the first time in many months, felt hopeful upon learning her surgery could be performed quickly without the prolonged delays she had previously experienced. Understanding the importance of her treatment and despite her financial hardships, Loyce voluntarily offered to contribute a co-pay of MWK 100,000 ($57.11 UDS) toward the cost of her care. On August 5th, Loyce will undergo a hysterectomy at PIH. Once recovered, Loyce will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. PIH is requesting $1,363 to fund her surgery. For Loyce, this surgery represents more than medical treatment. It is an opportunity to regain her strength, restore her health, and return to the activities that support her family. She dreams of returning to her charcoal business, helping with household responsibilities, and living free from the pain and uncertainty that have overshadowed the past year and a half. Loyce shared, "I would rather lose my womb than suffer and die. Kindly help me to move on with my life while I serve my family in good health; I already have enough children and grandchildren, so I don't have to suffer for nothing."

Aye Aye is a 36-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband in a refugee camp in Thailand. She and her family moved to the camp in 2024 due to the conflict in her village in Karen State, Burma. She and her husband are teachers at the same school, earning a modest monthly income. The family’s combined income is enough to cover their daily expenses, and they receive basic health care at the hospital in the camp for free, but they cannot afford expensive treatment costs for advanced procedures. Aye Aye also periodically supports her mother, who remains in Burma, with financial assistance. During her free time, she loves to listen to gospel music while planning her teaching lessons, and enjoys going to church on Saturdays. Aye Aye is currently expecting her first child, and her baby is in a breech position. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child during delivery. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, has scheduled Aye Aye for a C-Section on August 13th at their care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. The procedure will cost $1500. Aye Aye said, “When I heard that I need to give birth through a C-section, I became so worried, and my husband is running around to ask for help as we both cannot afford this high cost. However, when the medic later informed us that there is an organization and they will find donors to help us with the delivery cost, we both felt so happy that we don't know how to explain how we feel. Thank you for helping me as a refugee. We can’t imagine how life would go without your support. Thank you very much, and I pray that you will be blessed, wealthy, and healthy in your life for your kind support.”

Christina is a farmer from Malawi. She is married and a mother of six. Four of her children have completed high school but are currently unemployed. The other two of her kids are still in high school. Christina's income from farm produce caters to their household upkeep and her children’s education, making it financially impossible for the family to raise funds for surgery. Since 2001, Christina has been experiencing uncomfortable gynecological symptoms. She visited several health facilities over the years. However, no definitive diagnosis was made. A cervical biopsy was performed earlier this year. It was determined that Christina needs a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus, to return to good health. Christina believes that undergoing surgery will restore her health and enable her to continue supporting her family. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is able to help fund Christina's surgery. They are requesting $1,363 for her care. On April 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Christina will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and reduce her risk of future complications including cancer. "Your support will save my life," shared Christina.