Hoy is a 64-year-old retired Khmer cake seller from Cambodia. Sadly, Hoy's husband passed away during the Khmer Rouge. She has two sons, three daughters, and five grandchildren, and her children support her. She enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio and joining ceremonies at the pagoda in her free time. Three years ago, Hoy developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Hoy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 15th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help raising $253 to fund her procedure and care. Hoy shared, "I hope after surgery I can see better, do housework and visit our local pagoda by myself."

Deodanta is a 77-year-old mother from Uganda. She has nine children, but has sadly lost two. In 2013, she also sadly lost her husband. She lives in a four-room mud house, and her children range in age from 32 to 51 years old. Deodanta practices small-scale farming for a living. When she was about 20 years old, Deodanta began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain in her neck. When she gave birth, she developed a small painless swelling in her neck. Over time, her condition worsened, as the swelling grew in size and became painful. Now, most of the time, she experiences headaches and she can no longer hear properly. She also gets fatigued easily and has difficulty breathing when sleeping. She has had to stop farming due to her condition. Deodanta has been diagnosed with a non-toxic multinodular goiter, and requires surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Deodanta receive treatment. On January 6th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH's care center, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Now, she and her family need help raising $333 to fund her procedure and care. Deodanta shared, “I hope and pray that I may get well through surgery so that I may be able to take care of myself. I hope to be able to supervise my crop fields after complete recovery.”

Gerald, a 36-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda, is married with three children. Gerald and his wife make their living through farming. For the past three months, Gerald has been suffering from a right abdominal hernia. This hernia causes him pain when farming and swelling when he does heavy work. He is no longer able to work for long periods at a time, a direct impact on his livelihood, which has prompted him to seek medical attention. Gerald sought medical attention at Rushoroza Hospital from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Gerald's doctors recommended a hernia repair surgery. Fortunately, on February 15th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Rushoroza Hospital. AMH is requesting $170 to fund Gerald's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Gerald says, “I am in pain, and I need help. I hope that my productivity through farming will increase after surgery.”