Prudence is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She and her husband have six kids, with their oldest twenty years old and in secondary school class three, and their youngest is six years old and in primary school class one. Prudence shared that she completed primary school class five before needing to leave due to high school fees. Together with her husband, they practice farming for their family’s sustenance. Sixteen years ago, Prudence developed a small swelling on her neck. It has been slowly increasing in size, and recently, Prudence has begun to experience troubling symptoms, including severe pains and headaches that make it impossible for her to farm. Additionally, she has a lot of ear pain and sometimes cannot hear properly. Prudence was diagnosed with a non-toxic goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Prudence receive treatment. On May 5th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $333 to fund this procedure. Prudence shared: “My current condition has greatly affected my productivity. I pray that I may get well through surgery. I will continue with farming after complete recovery.”

Shurem is an 8-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of four children. His mother is a housewife while his father is a casual laborer who herds cattle for people in his community. However, the ongoing drought in the region has made it difficult for him to find work. The family is unable to raise the required funds to pay for medical expenses. Shurem has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Shurem has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. When Shurem was two years old, he started experiencing fevers which were managed with medication. A few days later, his parents started to notice his head was increasing in size. Despite a review from the hospital and the administration of medication, his condition only became worse, and he stopped walking. Late last year the community referred his family to BethanyKids first mobile clinic in their hometown Garissa County, as they had stopped seeking treatment for Shurem for a few years. The mobile clinic referred Shurem to BethanyKids, where he was examined and diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Without treatment, Shurem will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Shurem that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 9th and will drain the excess fluid from Shurem's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Shurem will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Shurem’s father says, “I feel very bad for my son as I cannot help him in any way. I want him to be well and back in good health.”

Caroline is a 32-year-old Ugandan woman who lives with her husband in their two-roomed semi-permanent house. Caroline and her husband are small-scale farmers. For four years, Caroline has been having a backache which she has tried to mediate with medication. However, the pain has been persistent, thus she visited Nyakibale hospital to get a diagnosis. The surgeon suspected a mass and ordered a scan which confirmed the condition. The surgeon recommended she receive a curative laparotomy, a surgery where an incision is made in the abdomen to look into the abdominal cavity and treat necessary health conditions. On February 9th, Caroline will undergo surgery at the Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Carolina needs help raising $242 to fund her surgery and care. Caroline says “I will praise God and live to remember the day my health will be been brought back. I will live for better health as I resume my farming and strengthen my marriage hoping to deliver at one time.”