Jovitah is a 33-year-old farmer from Uganda. She is a slim, tall, and shy lady. She is a mother to two school-aged children, with the eldest in primary class one and the youngest in nursery school. She studied up to primary class four and remained at home farming for almost 10 years until she got married. She farms for a living, but due to limited land, she mostly does labor work in other people's gardens to complement her income. Her husband is a bricklayer, and they share a room in her father-in-law's house. Since she was born, Jovitah has had supra umbilical hernia. She has swelling above the umbilicus, and experiences pain after eating, bending over, or lifting heavy objects. This has made it challenging to work at the farm. Fortunately, on April 4th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Jovitah's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Jovitah says, “I hope I will be healed once am given your support to have surgery.”

Leo is a 50-year-old father of five children, with one child still in school. He works in the quarries and sometimes on farms for subsistence farming. His wife is a small-scale farmer, and they work hard to meet their family's daily needs. Three years ago, Leo developed a right inguinal hernia. This occurs when soft tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. He has pain and swelling, and is not able to do strenuous activities with ease, yet he is the breadwinner of the family. Leo went to Nyakibale Hospital and surgery was recommended to help him finally heal. Fortunately, on January 24th he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Leo's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Leo says, “I request support from donors to enable me to be treated and resume my day-to-day work with ease."

Luz is a sweet baby from Bolivia, where she lives with her parents and two older brothers in a small mountain village. Her parents work as farmers to support their family. Luz, in addition to being diagnosed with Down Syndrome, was born with a ventricular septal defect, a heart condition where a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. As a result, blood leaks through the hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Fortunately, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance who is expanding their work in Bolivia, is helping Luz receive treatment. On January 19th, Luz will undergo surgery where doctors will sew a patch over the hole, allowing for blood to flow completely through her heart and reach her lungs, obtaining oxygen and, ultimately, allowing her to grow as a healthy baby girl. Luz's family needs help raising $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. From Luz's mother: "Our family is all praying that after the surgery our daughter will be stronger and healthier."