Mao is a 60 year-old grandmother. She has two sons, two daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. Sadly, her husband passed away from lung cancer four years ago, and Mao has since moved in with her youngest daughter. She is mostly retired, but still takes care of cows in fields near her house. Her daughter and son-in-law help support her by working in construction, while Mao helps look after her grandchildren and does most of the cooking for their family. Around one year ago, Mao developed a cataract in her right eye-a clouding of the lens of the eye. This causes Mao to have blurry vision and difficulty keeping her balance. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Mao learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On September 6, 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 to fund this $253 procedure. She shared: "I hope I can see my family more clearly and be more useful around our house."

Linah, a baby girl from Arusha, was born with clubfoot, a condition characterized by the foot being twisted out of shape. To provide her with an opportunity for a healthy and active life, medical intervention is necessary. Unfortunately, her parents, who are self-employed, are unable to shoulder the financial weight of her treatment. Linah's mother earns a living by selling vegetables at the local market, while her father supports the family through small-scale farming. Despite their modest income, they are determined to provide the best possible future for their children. Linah has an older brother who is just one year old, and her parents are acutely aware of the potential lifelong consequences of untreated clubfoot. They believe that pursuing early treatment will allow Linah to grow up without enduring any disabilities or the social impact. Her father's personal experience influenced the decision to bring Linah to our medical partner's care center: Plaster House. He was also once treated at the facility, and the positive outcome of his treatment has instilled confidence in their family regarding Plaster House's expertise and commitment to providing quality care. Linah's mother wishes to see her daughter receive the same level of treatment and care that her spouse received in the past. However, due to the family's limited financial resources, they cannot afford the costs associated with Linah's treatment. Thankfully, Linah had the opportunity to visit Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, our medical partner's care center. On June 13th, skilled surgeons will perform a clubfoot repair surgery for her. Our medical partner is seeking $935 to cover the costs of Linah's treatment. Following the intervention, she will be able to lead a rewarding life without the burdens imposed by clubfoot. Linah’s mother says, "I wish for my daughter to get good care and the best treatment that will give her a chance to live a life free from disability."

Prudence is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She and her husband have six kids, with their oldest twenty years old and in secondary school class three, and their youngest is six years old and in primary school class one. Prudence shared that she completed primary school class five before needing to leave due to high school fees. Together with her husband, they practice farming for their family’s sustenance. Sixteen years ago, Prudence developed a small swelling on her neck. It has been slowly increasing in size, and recently, Prudence has begun to experience troubling symptoms, including severe pains and headaches that make it impossible for her to farm. Additionally, she has a lot of ear pain and sometimes cannot hear properly. Prudence was diagnosed with a non-toxic goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Prudence receive treatment. On May 5th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $333 to fund this procedure. Prudence shared: “My current condition has greatly affected my productivity. I pray that I may get well through surgery. I will continue with farming after complete recovery.”