Keth is a 38-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Her husband is also a rice farmer, and they have two sons: a twelve-year-old boy in 6th grade and a five-year-old boy who is not in school just yet. Keth's free time is spent keeping her house clean, cooking for her family, and helping her children with homework. Eight months ago, a mass appeared on the right side of Keth's neck. It did not bother her until it became very itchy. Keth could not afford to visit a hospital and saw a Khmer healer for assistance. The mass has continued to grow and has become infected, causing her to experience irritation, feel sick, and have difficulty farming or caring for her family. Keth traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 14th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Keth needs help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. Keth contributed $80 to her care. Keth said: "I hope the doctors can remove this mass, and it will not be infected anymore."

Baraka is a 15-year-old boy who is in fifth grade, and resides with his uncle in Arusha. Seven of Baraka's ten siblings have passed away, as has his mother, after a prolonged bout of ill health. Baraka's father lives in a different region of the country, and has entrusted his care to the uncle, who has six children of his own. When Baraka was a young child, he fell onto a lighted stack of firewood while playing. He sustained severe burns - which were successfully treated - but which have left him with residual scar contractures around his mouth, and on and under his arm. Baraka lived with these contractures for a long time, until he met a neighbor, who told Baraka and his uncle about Plaster House. Baraka's uncle was unable to bring Baraka to Plaster House, so their neighbor, Charles, undertook to do so. Baraka is looking forward to treatment, as the contractures have negatively affected his confidence when he is interacting with other people. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Baraka receive the care that he needs. On August 16th, surgeons will perform burn contracture release surgery, which will enable Baraka to have improved mobility, functionality and appearance. Now, he needs your help to fund this $874 procedure. Baraka says: “I desire an improvement in my facial appearance. Right now, I lack confidence in how I look. I hold the hope that this treatment will bring about a substantial transformation in my appearance.”

Doreen is a 45-year-old woman from Uganda. She has three children, with whom she shares a room in her parent's home. Doreen farms, focusing her efforts on cultivating crops for domestic consumption. In an effort to support her family, she also manages a small tearoom. For two months, Doreen has been experiencing continuous bleeding in a sensitive area. This condition, accompanied by a two year history of abnormal bleeding episodes, lower abdominal pain, backache, and unusual discharge, has taken a toll on her health. Her symptoms have not improved, despite Doreen's visits to the doctor. Initially, she was misdiagnosed as having a urinary tract infection. However, Doreen sought the expertise of a specialist when her symptoms persisted, and it was determined that she suffers from adenomyosis: a gynecologic condition that causes endometrial tissue in the lining of the uterus to grow into the muscular wall of the uterus. She will need to undergo surgery in order to resolve her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $219 to fund Doreen's surgery. On August 8th, she will undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. Once she has recovered, Doreen will be able to resume her daily activities free of symptoms. Doreen says: “I am the breadwinner to my family but with such poor health, I am limited, because I have no energy to work. But I hope with your support, I will be treated and will surely get better.”