Brenda is a student from Tanzania who has had epileptic seizures since childhood. This has continued until now, though she is taking medication that is helping her manage the condition. She shared that she is not close to her parents as they are verbally abusive. She tries to keep her distance, but with her condition, it has been hard to depend on herself. After hearing about our health center and the work we do, she was hopeful that she is could get help. She had to take more than three buses to get to our center. “I am lucky. I did not have any seizure episodes during my journey," she says. She is at our center ready to receive treatment, but she cannot afford it. Earlier this year, Brenda had a seizure and fell on a hot stove. Her face was badly burned. Brenda received treatment, but after healing her face was left impacted. She has been living this way for four months now, hiding her face whenever she goes out. Her neighbor saw her one day and noticed that she was hiding her face. Thankfully, he told her about our health center and informed her that she could get help. It is hard for her to open her eyes fully, and due to the disfiguration, her self-esteem is affected. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Brenda receive treatment. On October 13th, surgeons there will perform a burn contracture release surgery, which will allow her to open her eyes fully, and will hopefully help improve her self-esteem. Now, she needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Brenda says, “I am a spiritual person. I know it was God’s will for me to get here and get help. Thank you.”

Vorn is a 78-year-old retired rice farmer. He has one son, one daughter, and five precious grandchildren. He lives with his wife and youngest daughter, who works as a waitress in a restaurant. Since Vorn can no longer work in the rice fields due to limited vision, he enjoys listening to the news on the radio or visiting his local pagoda to hear the chanting of the monks. A year ago, Vorn developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him burry vision and light sensitivity. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he cannot go out on his own. When Vorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 1st, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund Vorn's procedure. Vorn says: "After surgery, I hope I can see better and recognize faces. I want to help my wife with the housework so she doesn't have to do it all."

Mom is a 72-year-old retired fish seller from Cambodia. She has three sons, four daughters, and ten grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is a retired soldier. At home, she enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio and caring for her grandchildren. One year ago, Mom developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience eye tearing and blurry vision, both of which have disrupted her eyesight. 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 Mom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 3rd, doctors will perform cataract surgery and place 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. Mom says, "I hope after surgery I can see better, go outside by myself, and do housework."

Kon is a 51-year-old rice farmer. He is married and lives with his wife who is a garment worker in a local factory. Since he can no longer work in the rice fields due to limited vision, he enjoys listening to the news on the radio at home. He feels ashamed that he cannot work on the farm to supplement their income. One year ago, Kon developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him light sensitivity and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Kon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On October 24th, 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 his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Kon shared: "I hope that after surgery I can see better and be able to recognize faces. I want to be able to plant rice well again."

Daw Tin is a strong, hardworking 60-year-old woman from Burma who enjoys cleaning her home, visiting her local Buddhist temple, meditating, and praying. She lives on her own and supports herself by working as a day laborer, herding goats and collecting firewood to sell. However, her siblings have been supporting her since her recent injury because she is unable to work. This past May, Daw Tin stepped on a nail protruding from a wooden board while herding her neighbor’s goats. Over time, the wound on her right heel turned into a painful ulcer, and she could no longer work or walk. She was able to undergo wound debridement surgery in July thanks to donations collected from her community. However, her doctor told her that she would need to have a second surgery in order to fully heal her condition. Without treatment, Daw Tin is at risk of developing severe damage to underlying bone and tissue. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $851 to cover the cost of a local rotation flap procedure for Daw Tin, which is scheduled to take place on July 28th at BCMF's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will rotate a partially attached piece of skin onto the wound. This will allow for optimal vascularization, or the ability to grow blood vessels to improve oxygen and nutrient supply, as well as optimal tissue reconstruction. Daw Tin says, "I was so happy to hear that I would receive surgery with the help of donors and the organization. Without your help, I could never receive surgery."

Meet Francis, a 36 year old mechanic and father of three, living in Uganda. Before being orphaned as a young boy, Francis had aspired to becoming a veterinarian. Due to the loss of his parents, Francis discontinued his education, and began working in a garage to train as a mechanic. While he has had to stop his work of repairing motorcycles for the past three months, he has done some small scale farming, in order to sustain his family. His wife sells roasted maize on the roadside to help support their family. Ten years ago, Francis developed an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him weakness and pain, which has interfered with his ability to work, and to earn a stable livelihood. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Francis is scheduled for hernia repair surgery on October 4th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. After he has fully recovered, Francis should be able to return to his work, and to enjoying life with his family. Now he needs your support to fund the $230 procedure. Francis says: “This condition has really thrown me into a terrible situation. I no longer work, meaning I can’t even provide for my family, but I hope with your support, I will be able to regain my health to continue working like I was before.”

Mpirirwe is a 41-year-old mother of four children, who are all studying in different classes in primary school. She is a soft-spoken and determined lady, who walked six kms. to seek support. Mpirirwe had hoped to be an accountant, but instead earns a living from small-scale farming, along with her husband. They normally grow food for their own needs, because they have limited land to do large-scale farming. They live in a small, semi-permanent house along with her late brother-in-law's two orphaned children. During her free time, Mpirirwe enjoys spending time with her family. She is currently expecting a child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section so doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mpirirwe undergo a C-Section on November 1st. This procedure will cost $252, and Mpirirwe needs your support. Mpririrwe says, “I have always had a hard time with my deliveries and being able to cover the hospital bill. I decided to come to try out my luck to see if I could be supported because, by myself, I won’t be able to raise the money needed for my surgery.”

Phak is a loving grandmother and retired farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, three daughters, and seven grandchildren. Her husband has unfortunately passed away, so she now lives with her daughter, who is a garment worker. In her free time, Phak enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Phak developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience blindness. She cannot see things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking. Because of this, she is not able to go places on her own. When Phak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 19th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help funding this $253 procedure. Phak shares, "I hope I can see well enough to take care of my myself and go places on my own."

Merida is a 63-year-old small-scale farmer. She has five children ranging in age from 20 years old to 40 years old. Her husband passed away about six years ago. She shared that her children could not attend school beyond class five and that their responsibilities limit them from providing financial support. About ten years ago, Merida experienced swelling in her neck that increased in size over time. Merida is unable to bend down comfortably and experiences airway blockage when she carries heavy loads and has heaviness in her shoulders. She can also no longer breathe well while sleeping. She has used herbs for healing and recently visited the hospital at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). The doctors diagnosed her condition as a goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. They recommended a thyroidectomy, which will address her symptoms and prevent the risk that the condition may become cancerous and cause difficulty breathing and eating over time. On November 9th, Merida will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $333 to fund Merida’s surgery. Merida shared, “I pray that I may be considered for treatment so that I may get relief from the swollen neck that I have carried for a very long time. I hope to look normal again and live a better, happy, and enjoyable life for the rest of my life. I will resume farming as soon as possible.”

Scolla is a small-scale businesswoman. She shared that she has two living children and lost three children, once due to a miscarriage and twice shortly after birth. Her oldest child is 22-years-old, and her youngest is 15-years-old in secondary school class two. Scolla lives with her parents and receives minimal support from her husband, who works as a laborer at a teachers’ college. Since late 2020, Scolla has had a supra-umbilical hernia. She had a successful hysterectomy in October 2020 with support from the Watsi community. After the surgery, she developed swelling and pain around the umbilical area and thought it might be at the incision site. As the swelling and pain have not decreased, she has difficulty bending down and running her business normally. Doctors determined she needs to undergo surgery to address the risk of hernia strangulation or obstruction. Fortunately, on December 21st, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at the care center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). This procedure will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. AMFH is requesting $170 to fund Scolla’s surgery. Scolla shared, “I pray that I may be considered again for treatment, having had massive support from donors in October last year. I will continue to thank you and also hope to continue with my day-to-day duties after treatment.”