Benson is a 68-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. He is a father to two children, sadly mentioning that three others have passed away. Benson worked in construction, but due to his age, he transitioned to farming. His wife contributes to farming as well. Recently Benson has experienced some health difficulties, and he said that his daughter's support has been crucial for him and his wife. For the past nine months, Benson has experienced swelling around his shoulder blade. The swelling also causes discomfort, numbness, and pins-and-needles sensations. He struggles to turn his head and experiences sleepless nights due to the pain and consistent headaches. After undergoing an examination, doctors discovered a mass in Benson's shoulder that is causing his symptoms. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. Benson traveled to AMH's care center and will undergo surgery to remove a mass in his shoulder on July 11th. Now, Benson needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Benson says, “I hope to be relieved from all the pain I’ve had once I am operated on.”

Besufikad is an energetic 4-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football with other children. He enjoys eating Shiro with injera, meat, and vegetables and loves drinking milk. He has one older sister; she is in grade three at a community school. Besufikad's mother used to work at a government office, but she had to stop working in order to care for him. People around her support her with food and house rent. They live with her sister, who is paralyzed. She and her family are dependent on unreliable support, thus they are unable to afford the recommended treatment for Besufikad. Besufikad was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Besufikad is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Besufikad's mother said, “If he gets the treatment and becomes well, I may be able to start working again. I will educate him. I hope he will become a doctor.”

Judith is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. When she was young, she was in school only up to the 7th grade due to limited financial support from her parents. She now does farming together with her husband and it is through the sale of their farm produce that they are able to pay school fees for their three children. They live in a three-room mud house that was given to them by her father-in-law. Six years ago, Judith began to experience neck swelling that was noticed by her friends. They advised her to use herbs but that did not help. The swelling is painless except when she touches it. She has mild airway obstruction especially when she walks up the hill and when singing in church, which she loves to do. Last year she visited a doctor at Kabale Referral Hospital to seek treatment. Judith was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Judith receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on September 22 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Judith says, “I believe that I will be singing in church comfortably again one day soon and hope to be able to proceed with farming for my family’s survival.”