James, who is 51 years old, enjoys sharing entertaining stories that elicit laughter from those around him. He and his wife have four children, and live in Uganda. James teaches at a local secondary school, which provides him with a small salary to live from. His wife works as a farmer to help support their family. James also engages in farming when he isn't teaching. Thirty years ago, James began to experience troubling symptoms, including an anterior neck swelling. As the swelling was painless, he never considered seeking treatment. However, when he began experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and high blood pressure, he resorted to traditional remedies. Unfortunately, nothing he tried helped, so he decided to consult a doctor. He was diagnosed with bilateral thyroid nodules, and he has been told that he will need surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping James receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 8th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, during which surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and James and his family need your help to raise this money. James says: “I hope for a complete recovery, and I will be relieved from the symptoms I’ve been experiencing for so long."

Srey Pov is a 46-year-old garment worker. She has been divorced for ten years and has one son and one daughter who are both students. She and her children live in Phnom Penh City. When she is free from work, she likes to listen to music on her phone. About ten years ago, Srey Pov developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and poor vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Srey Pov learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. Srey Pov needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for April 28th. Srey Pov said: "I hope after surgery the irritation and burning in my eye will stop. I want to continue my work, do housework and go outside like before."

Ed is a 39-year-old father from Burma who lives with his wife and two sons. His sons are students, while his wife is a homemaker and volunteer at their church. In his spare time, Ed loves listening to gospel songs, reading the Bible, and preparing sermons for his congregation. In March 2023, Ed began passing blood in his urine and experiencing back pain in his left side. When medication from a pharmacy did not help, he sought treatment at a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a left ureter stone. Doctors want Ed to undergo Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), a procedure where high energy shock waves are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of sand. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), can help. On August 11th, Ed will undergo ESWL at BCMF's care center. BCMF is requesting $1,125 to fund the treatment and Ed's care. Ed said, "Because of my condition, I have not gone to church for two weeks. The church members are worried about me and pray for me".