Mary is a 45-year-old small-scale farmer, living in Uganda. She is a single mother of five, with her first-born 30 years old and her last-born 14. She owns a two-room mud house for shelter and grows sweet potatoes, sorghum, and cabbage on her small piece of land. Six years ago, Mary began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and swelling in her neck. She recently visited Rushoroza Hospital after being referred by a friend and was diagnosed with a nodular goiter. The neck swelling has continued to increase in size. She experiences fatigue quickly, affecting her ability to work. Additionally, she has experienced airway obstruction and has been told that she needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mary receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 9th at Rushoroza Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland, a procedure that will cost $333. Mary needs your help to raise the funds to cover the cost of her care. Mary says: “I had lost hope of living a normal life again until a well-wisher referred me to Rushoroza hospital for surgical help under the donor fund. I hope to resume farming comfortably after surgery.”

Rajai is a 13-year-old student from Tanzania. He loves science classes and enjoys playing football and racing track at school. At home, his parents and two older siblings are farmers who rely on the crop yield to support the family. When Rajai was 8 years old, he stumbled while playing with his siblings and fell, injuring his left arm. Although his parents rushed him to the hospital, the skin and fingers on his left hand were damaged. As a result, he isn't able to use his arm in most of his day-to-day activities. At school, he feels self-conscious when new people are shocked upon seeing his injury. Rajai would also like to help more around the farm at home, but feels that his hand limits him. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Rajai with treatment. On March 9th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him use his hand freely again. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Rajai says, “I am hopeful that this treatment will increase my confidence around new people.”

Jemusi is a 29-year-old man from Kabwazi Village in Dedza District in Malawi. Jemusi lives with his mother and brother. He has one child from his previous marriage, who lives with his former wife. Jemusi works hard to support his child through small-scale farming. Since he was young, Jemusi has experienced painful swelling on the left side of his scrotum. He was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia and underwent hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital in 2012. Recently, Jemusi noticed that the painful swelling has returned and he went back to Nkhoma Hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent left inguinal hernia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $500 to fund repeat hernia repair surgery for Jemusi, which is scheduled to take place on April 19th at Nkhoma Hospital. Jemusi's hernia has impacted his life negatively, causing him constant pain and discomfort. Treatment is essential to improving Jemusi's quality of life and ensuring that he doesn't suffer any serious complications in the future. Jemusi says: “I am glad that help has been found for me to receive treatment. I am looking forward to finally getting healed of this condition.”