Norah is a 70 year old small-scale farmer, and mother of five children. One of her two sons is a teacher, while the other is a casual laborer. Her three daughters are married. Currently, Norah and her husband - who suffered a stroke - live with one of their daughters. For the past twenty years, Norah has had troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling. It was never painful, but recently she started experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, pain when swallowing, and sweating at night. She was diagnosed with a cystic goiter, and surgery is necessary to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Norah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 4th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland during this procedure, which will cost $252. Norah and her family need your help to raise this money. Norah says: “Surgery is the only hope I am left with to get better. Without your support, I won’t be able to attain it because I don’t have the money needed. I kindly ask you for support.”

Princesse is a 7-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a small city in northwest Haiti. Princesse has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in her heart was severely damaged by an infection she suffered earlier in childhood; as a result, it cannot adequately pump blood through her body. Princesse will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 29th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will first try to repair her existing valve if possible; if not, they will remove it and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $14,000 to pay for surgery. Princesse's family needs help raising an additional $1,500 for surgery prep. The bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Princesse's family overseas. Her mother said: "Our family is very hopeful that this surgery will save our daughter's life and allow her to become healthy."

Mai is a 59-year-old rice farmer from Kompong Thom province who needs eye surgery. He is married and has one daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren. He and his wife are rice farmers, as are all of his children. Two years ago, Mai developed a pterygium in his right eye, which causes him to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, which is the mucous layer that lubricates the eye. When the conjunctiva is exposed to too much sun over time - as happened with Mai, who spent most of his working life outside - cells grow abnormally over the pupil of the eye, causing vision impairment. Mai needs surgery to remove the abnormal cells, which will be replaced by a conjunctival graft. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is here to help. On September 1st, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will operate on Mai, restoring his vision. The total cost of this procedure - including the medications, supplies and two days of inpatient care - is $225, and Mai needs your help to raise this money. Mai said: "I hope after surgery the irritation and red eye will go away. I want to go back to growing rice and see better."