Sarah is a Ugandan retailer and mother of five. She has a bachelor’s degree in procurement and logistics but could not find a suitable job after graduating. She runs her family’s retail shop to provide for her family. Her husband works with Kabale municipal council in Uganda as a private auditor. Their firstborn is 13 years old and in secondary school class one, while the lastborn is 3 months old. Thirteen years ago, Sarah began to experience troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling that has increased in size progressively over time. She found out about it during her first pregnancy, when a friend noticed her neck was swollen. Initially, she attributed the swelling to the pregnancy and believed it would subside after giving birth. However, that was not the case. Eventually, she decided to visit a hospital where surgery was recommended to address the issue. Frightened by the prospect of undergoing surgery, she decided not to proceed with the operation. Over time, the swelling continued to grow in size, reaching a point where she became anxious about attending public gatherings and chose to stay home instead. Four years ago, she underwent a cancer test, which yielded negative results. Although she doesn't experience any complications, such as airway blockage, the swelling has become so prominent that it makes her feel extremely self-conscious in public. She was diagnosed with nontoxic goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sarah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 13th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Sarah says, “I hope and believe that I can look normal again through surgery. I pray that I may be able to live a normal life once again. I will continue to run my family’s retail shop after complete recovery.”

Channa is a 6-year-old first-grader from Cambodia. She lives at home with her parents and two siblings. Her father is a construction worker, and her mom stays home to take care of the children. Channa loves to paint, eat fried eggs, and is enjoying learning to read. Since last year, Channa has been experiencing recurring sore throats, difficulty breathing, sneezing, and a persistent runny nose. The frequent illness causes her to miss school. Channa was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Channa, which is scheduled to take place on February 2nd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Channa of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Her mom said, "I hope after surgery she can feel okay again."

Maureen is a playful 5-year-old from Tanzania. Her favorite activities are watching television, helping her mother do laundry or fetch water, and pretend play - she loves pretending to be a nurse! She has three siblings, and her parents work full-time for the local government. They also tried running a business to increase their earnings, but it was unsustainable alongside paying for Maureen's treatment needs. Maureen was in a fire accident when she was two years old. She received treatment for the burns she sustained on the right side of her body; however, she has burn scar contractures after the wound healed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Maureen receive treatment. On February 27th, surgeons at AMH's care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to allow her to use her right hand again. AMH is requesting $639 to fund this procedure. Maureen’s mother says, “We are very concerned about her condition because we see how it affects her physically and emotionally.”