Provia is a 52-year-old mother of three. She went to primary school but eventually had to drop out due to the cost of tuition, but now owns and runs her own retail shop to meet her family’s needs. Her children are all grown now with careers of their own, but her youngest child is currently pursuing a degree in nursing at the local University and Provia is trying to assist her with tuition. Since 2021, Provia has been experiencing severe backaches and abdominal pain. When the pains persisted, she visited a doctor's office and was given medication. This helped her for a while, however, in January and February of this year, she started experiencing more severe lower abdominal pains and other worrying symptoms. The abdominal pains have become so severe and unbearable that she is often forced to stay in bed and is unable to run her small shop. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), was able to diagnose Provia with Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease with endometritis. AMH determined that she needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which the surgeons at AMH will remove her uterus. The surgery is currently scheduled for April 14th. AMH is requesting $319 to fund Provia's surgery. Once recovered, Provia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Provia says, “I pray that I may have a successful surgery. I believe I will have another chance to live a normal life again after surgery and be able to continue running my and supporting my family.”

Angela is a 32-year-old woman from Kenya. She is a single mother to four children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. Her husband left to marry another woman, and Angela works hard to provide for her children. She was fetching firewood to sell to hotels and homes but became too ill to carry out this work. She also worked in a hotel as a cleaner, but the income was insufficient for their needs. Now, after taking her children to school, Angela stays in the area to carry water and wash clothes for residents. She also receives some financial support from her family. Angela shared that life has been challenging, but she is thankful to be alive and raising support for her treatment needs. Angela first met our medical partner's surgical team during a medical camp they hosted in her hometown a few months ago. During that visit, she was diagnosed with a non-toxic multinodular goiter. Angela’s symptoms began a few years back, including experiencing swelling on her neck and difficulty eating, swallowing, and breathing. She cannot sleep at night and becomes fatigued quickly. Angela needs to undergo surgery to heal and prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Angela receive treatment. On March 16th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $936 to fund Angela’s surgery. Angela said: “Life is so hard, and sometimes I want to give up, but when I remember my children, I encourage myself to keep going only for their sake. When I get treated, I can work hard and provide for them without difficulty. Kindly help me.”

Seint, who is 34 years old, lives with her parents and her aunt in Ayeyarwaddy Division in Burma. Her parents and her aunt make and sell mats from their home. When Seint was 13-years old, she noticed she started to easily tire, experienced heart palpitations, and had barely enough energy to play with her friends. Her mother took her to a nearby clinic, where the doctor examined her and told them that she had congenital heart disease. The doctor gave Seint medication, which she used together with traditional medicine. Both helped her to feel better. In November 2022, Seint felt extremely tired and experienced heart palpitations while she was completing physical exercises with her students. She also had difficulty breathing, and her vision became blurred. Her mother took her to a clinic, where she received medications which helped her to feel better. A few days later, however, she started to experience pain in her back whenever she felt tired. She also started to have difficulty breathing again, and had heart palpitations. Her mother brought her to a hospital in Yangon, where she received an echocardiogram that allowed the doctor to diagnose her with atrial septal defect. After additional testing, the doctor scheduled her to undergo urgent heart surgery at Pun Hlaing Hospital. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is seeking $1,500 to fund Seint's surgery, which will allow her to regain her health, and to live symptom free. Seint said: "I would like to recover as soon as possible. In the future, I will continue to work as a teacher. I love teaching students and wearing our school uniform proudly."

James is a 13-year-old boy from Muranga County, Kenya. He is the second born in a family of three. James is in fifth grade, and he likes playing football and spending time with his friends. He aspires to become a pilot in the future. We met James at our main hospital, Kijabe, accompanied by a member of his church, Maina, who said “I know James as a hardworking and passionate boy in the church. I spotted him there doing presentations and performances and noticed that he had sustained a burn contracture on his neck which created a lot of discomfort because of the stiffness." James sustained burns when he was a child, which has caused him a lot of discomfort and prevents him from living a fully comfortable life. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping James receive treatment. On February 13th, surgeons at their care center will perform a single contracture release surgery on James; he will be able to move his neck more and be free from the stiffness. He will have a chance at a comfortable life. Now, he needs help to fund this $840 procedure. “Because of the challenges the family has, we are appealing for support to help this boy undergo surgery so he can be set free from neck stiffness and continue with his normal life,” Maina told us.

Hillary is a cool, caring 39-year-old man from Kenya. He is a middle child and lives at home with his parents and younger brother. Hillary experiences epilepsy and cannot talk or work due to his condition. His elderly parents are retired, and his brother practices small-scale farming and works labor jobs in the neighborhood to help earn a living for his family. Hillary recently fell from his bed and injured his arm and hand. He visited a nearby government facility and was diagnosed with a displaced fracture in his left humerus and received a splint. As Hillary is still experiencing pain, swelling, and discomfort in his arm, his family brought him to our medical partner's care center. Upon review, the doctor advised that Hillary needs surgery since the fracture is too displaced to heal with a splint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 16th, Hillary will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Hillary's brother says, "My brother has had a lot of challenges in his life, and when I see him crying with pain, I feel hurt. I am so hopeful that he will get treatment and that he will live comfortably once again. Kindly help him."

Thuon is a 63-year-old mother of seven sons and one daughter, and the grandmother of seven grandchildren. She lives in Kandal province with her husband, who is a security guard, and her son, who is a construction laborer. Thuon is a traditional khmer cake seller. About three months ago, Thuon developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, a cloudy lens, and light sensitivity. When Thuon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and half hours seeking treatment. On December 12th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, to break up and remove the cataract, and then implant a new lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Thuon says, "After surgery, I hope I can see clearly. I would like to make more of my cakes for selling to earn more money. And, I'd like to easily go anywhere outside."

In is a 66-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She has three sons, five daughters, and 17 grandchildren. Sadly, five years ago, her husband passed away due to hypertension. Now, she lives with one of her grandchildren. When In is not cooking, she enjoys listening to monks chant on the radio. Three months ago, In developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision with frequent tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When In learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 18th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help raising $253 to fund her procedure and care. In shared, "I hope I can see better so I can take care of myself. I want to go to the pagoda by myself and not be afraid."

Teresiah is a quiet but social mother of three children, who lives with her family in Kenya. She is a small-scale farmer while her husband works as a casual laborer. Teresiah's children are all in school and she has big hopes for their future. Teresiah started experiencing severe epigastric pains intermittently. She has visited many hospitals without much success. Finally, at Nazareth Hospital, an ultrasound scan examination was done, and it showed that Teresiah has Cholelithiasis - gall stones. In addition to the severe pain she is experiencing, Teresiah might also develop complications like inflammation of the pancreas, gall bladder, or gall bladder obstruction. The surgeons advised that she needs to undergo surgery to treat her condition. Teresiah is not in a position to fund her treatment and she therefore requests for help. She needs $788 to fund her surgery. Teresiah says, "Having kids in school and not being able to take care of them is very difficult. I humbly ask for assistance and medical attention. I want to take care of my family and return to my regular life."

Angelina is a mother of three children aged between 12 and 27 years old. She and her husband work as manual laborers in Kenya, but the income from this venture is inconsistent and negligible to pay for the proposed surgery. Angelina has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. Thus, doctors suggested she undergo a mastectomy to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. On February 3rd, Angelina will undergo a mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. After treatment, Angelina will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Angelina needs help raising $1,110 to fund her procedure and care. Angelina says, “I am still in shock after hearing this cancer news. I hope to get treatment soon to stop it.”