Saroeun is a 60-year-old farmer from Svay Rieng province. She has eight sons, one daughter, and fifteen grandchildren who keep her busy. She lives with her husband, who is a farmer, and her youngest son who is still studying in school. At home, she enjoys listening news on the radio. One year ago, Saroeun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision and light sensitivity. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Saroeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 2nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery which will break up the cataract with ultrasound, irrigate the eye, and remove the cataract through suction. Then they will implant a new lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Saroeun said: "I hope I can see everything and recognize faces clearly after surgery. I would like to plant more crops and go outside."

Prima is a 56 year old widowed mother of one child, living in Uganda. After losing her husband more than 20 years ago, Prima and her child moved to a three-roomed mud house that Prima built, and began a new life. Today, Prima works as a small scale farmer, and also crafts things by hand to sell for additional money. For the past five years, Prima has been experiencing lower abdominal pains associated with persistent and prolonged bleeding and pain. She reported to Rushoroza Hospital a few days ago, and was diagnosed with severe anemia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $319 to fund the hysterectomy that Prima needs to finally heal her condition. The surgery is scheduled to take place on December 2nd at Rushoroza Hospital. Once she has recovered, Prima will be able to resume a full and productive life, free from pain. Prima says: “I was not doing well; I thank God that I rushed to Rushoroza Hospital for treatment. I pray that my surgery goes well so that I may be able to resume farming and take good care of myself and family.”

Edith is a house-helper for a family in Nairobi. She goes to work for two days a week and is paid Ksh 1,000.00 (8 US dollars) per day. As a widow, this is the income she relies on to support herself and her two kids who are high school teenagers aged 17 and 15 years old. For some time now, Edith has been experiencing abdominal bleeding and lower back pain. She has been diagnosed with an intrauterine myoma (fibroids). She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1260 to fund Edith's surgery. On November 3rd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Edith will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain but she needs help to pay for this surgery. Edith says, “I started feeling weak and drained. I thought it is the long hours I work. It gradually became hard for me to endure working for a lengthy period and I could not walk for long distances. I was losing lots of blood. I was admitted to the hospital because my haemoglobin levels were so low. I need this surgery to correct these anomalies and get back to my normal life.”

Amumpaire is a 43-year-old tailor, living with her husband and five children in Uganda. She had dreamed of becoming a teacher, but she didn't have the money to cover her school fees, so she became a tailor instead. To supplement her income she also farms, alongside of her husband. About 15 years ago, Amumpaire began to experience shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. After visiting with a doctor, she was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. In order to ensure that her symptoms do not worsen, Amumpaire will require surgery. With the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Amumpaire is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 4th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, when surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Amumpaire needs your help to cover the $252 cost of the surgery. Amumpaire says: “I think I will be able to resume my activities in good health after being given your support to undergo my surgery.”

Samuel is a nine-year-old student who lives with his parents and three siblings in Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. He is currently in third grade and enjoys studying history and science. Samuel has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four different congenital heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Fortunately, Samuel is scheduled to travel to the United States where he will undergo cardiac surgery on September 14th at Akron Children's Hospital. During the procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart and remove the blockage from his valve. A portion of the cost of Samuel's treatment is being supported by Akron Children's Hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is raising the remaining $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery prep, which includes all labs, medication, check-up and follow-up appointments, and the passports needed for HCA’s social workers to accompany Samuel and his family overseas. Samuel's mother says, "I have been very worried about my son's health for many years. I am looking forward to being able to stop worrying so much after this surgery!"

Zeblom is a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves toys, playing football with his brother, and enjoys going to school. His twin brother is currently suffering from pneumonia and his parents are struggling to pay for medical treatment for both of them. His mother is currently not working as she is taking care of her kids, while Zeblom's father cuts wood for a living — his income is limited to providing basic needs for his family. They have not yet managed to get proper treatment for Zeblom due to these financial constraints. Zeblom was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of cancer and future infertility. Fortunately, Zeblom is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Zeblom's mother says, “After he goes through his surgery, I want to start working again and educate him. I hope he will be healthy like other children.“

Chantha is a 64-year-old grandmother. She is married and has two daughters, three sons, and 12 grandchildren. Chantha lives with her husband, who is a farmer. Due to an accident that occurred ten years ago, she lost function of her right leg and now requires crutches to walk. Because of this, she can no longer work. Chantha enjoys spending her time listening to monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Chantha developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience itchiness, eye tearing, and blurry vision. 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 Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for seven and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 14th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Chantha shares, "I need good eyesight to do my housework well. I hope to see well again."

Pan is a 60-year-old husband and father from Cambodia. His wife is a farmer who grows rainy day rice. The couple has a son, who is a construction worker, and a daughter in the seventh grade. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the news on the radio or watching television. For several years, Pan has experienced hip pain from osteonecrosis, where blood flow to a bone is interrupted. He has had surgery on both hips in the past, but still experiences chronic pain. He is unable to help his wife on the farm and stays inside because he cannot walk without assistance. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), are helping Pan receive treatment. He traveled two and a half hours to CSC's care center, where, on November 14th, surgeons plan to perform a right hip arthroplasty. During the procedure, the damaged bone and cartilage will be removed and replaced with prosthetic components. Now, Pan and his family need help raising $1,500 to fund his procedure and care. Pan shared, "I hope my right hip will have no pain after surgery, and I can walk and work for my family again."

Alpha is a recent graduate from her internship in medicine and surgery and is currently volunteering at Ruhija Health Centre in southwestern Uganda where her husband works as a nurse. Alpha is a mother to a four-year-old girl who is currently in preschool. Their family does not have a house of their own yet, but are able to stay in the facility's staff quarters. During her free time, Alpha enjoys spending time with her daughter. Four years ago ago, Alpha began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe lower abdominal pains. Alpha was first treated for infections twice after the delivery of her daughter. Alpha then started experiencing pain that was so severe that at times it leads to fainting. Alpha has been diagnosed with a right complex ovarian cystic mass. Alpha's day-to-day duties have been greatly impacted due to persistent abdominal pain. If not treated, Alpha could develop ovarian cancer and could fail to conceive again. Alpha needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Alpha receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a surgery to remove cancerous tissue on June 7th and AMH is raising $284 to fund Alpha's procedure. Alpha shared, “I pray that I may be considered for treatment because I can no longer practice my profession comfortably due to severe pain. I hope to get well again through surgery.”