Hope is is a confident and eloquent woman who carries a wealth of stories within her from Uganda. She is a mother and a nurturer to nine children, comprising four sons and five daughters. Despite the lack of emphasis on education during her generation, Hope, driven by a deep sense of determination, ensured that her children received the education she never had the opportunity to attain. Although formal education eluded her, she possesses the ability to read and write, a skill she acquired while educating her children. Hope's life revolves around her role as a farmer. In her free moments, she engages in domestic chores and finds solace in activities like weeding around her home. Her journey has been marked by challenges, including losing her father in 1987. Yet, through her dedication to farming, she managed to provide for her children, shaping their futures with the limited earnings she garnered from her agricultural endeavors. Recently, she faced a distressing health issue—a swelling around her shoulders, accompanied by numbness, paralysis, and pain upon touch. Over the past year, her condition has worsened to the point where she can no longer carry anything by hand. Initially, the swelling was painless, leading her to avoid seeking medical attention. However, as her symptoms intensified, she was brought to the hospital, where a doctor examined her and diagnosed her with a supra-scapular lipoma. On October 10th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Hope needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Hope says, “I hope the pain will be no more; I will be relieved from this and will be able to resume my farming.”

Oeun is a 19-year-old construction worker who lives with his parents and younger brother. Both of his parents are rice farmers, while Oeun and his brother stopped school when they reached the age of 16 in order to work and help support the family. His younger brother works as a motorbike mechanic, and Oeun recently got a job in construction. On October 10th, Oeun was leaving work on his motorbike when a tuk tuk turned a corner and crashed into him. He was rushed to a nearby clinic for a broken shoulder and the loss of one toe. A couple of days later, Oeun's mother brought him to a traditional healer in the village because of pain and swelling in his right shoulder. Since then, his pain has not improved. He is having difficulty sleeping because of the discomfort, and in performing every day activities, as he is unable to lift his arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On November 8th, Oeun will undergo a fracture repair procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will cost $483. This procedure will unite the fracture, and allow Oeun to move his arm easily again. Oeun shared: "I hope I can move my arm again and go back to work to help my family."

Samson is an eight-year-old boy from Mpanda, Tanzania. He is the third born in a family of six children. His father diligently tends to a small farm that supplies their food, while the mother undertakes various daily jobs to contribute to the household income and assist with household tasks. Nevertheless, these endeavors present difficulties in fully meeting the family's needs. Samson currently needs medical intervention due to a condition he has been experiencing that limits his mobility. At the age when he began walking, signs of bowed legs started to appear. Unfortunately, as he grew older, the condition worsened, causing concerns for his parents regarding his future. During one of our medical partner's outreach visits to Samson's village, we had the opportunity to inform his parents about a potential surgical treatment for their son's condition. They were overjoyed to learn there may be help for their son. Upon arrival at our medical partner's care center, Samson and his guardian were warmly welcomed by their team. After a brief intake procedure, he was sent for an assessment. Our medical partner's team subsequently diagnosed him with a left genu varus, which will require surgical treatment to correct his left leg and alleviate the discomfort he is currently facing. Samson's condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, often from contaminated drinking water. This condition has also posed difficulties for Samson in terms of starting and attending school, as the school is located approximately four kilometers away from their home. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Samson. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 6th. Treatment will restore Samson's mobility, allow him to participate in school and various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Samon's guardian says, "We wish that his condition gets better. We are praying for a better outcome from the treatment."