Chrissie is a 50-year-old single mother and primary school teacher. She enjoys spending time with her three adult children who live with her. Chrissie has been experiencing abdominal pain, back pain, and other worrying symptoms. After an ultrasound, she was found to have uterine fibroids or abnormal growths that develop in the uterus. Her condition has affected her daily activities and her work as a teacher. Chrissie needs to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy to address the pain, other symptoms, and future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, will perform the surgery at Partners in Hope (PIH) Medical Center on March 2nd. They are requesting $1,363 for the treatment. After the surgery, it is expected that Chrissie will no longer be in pain, enabling her to perform her daily functions and go back to teaching. Chrissie said, “I am very happy to be seen at PIH and hope that the surgery will help me get better.”

Sa Ki is a 43-year-old woman who lives with her parents and son in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. Her parents are retired and her son is a mullah in the refugee camp. Sa Ki works as a case worker for a community organisation. In June 2022, Sa Ki began experiencing worrying symptoms including lower abdominal pain and back pain. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy which involves the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Sa Ki's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications. Sa Ki is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on February 22nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain and she will be able to return to work without any discomfort. Sa Ki said: "When I heard that I need surgery, I started to feel worried and scared. I also worried that if I could not get proper treatment, I would not be able to look after and support my parents."

Catherine is a 38-year-old woman from Malawi. She was born into a family of six children, but tragically, both her parents passed away. Catherine presently works as a sales representative and lives alone, but has two dependents: one in secondary school and the other in primary school. Four years ago, Catherine began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling and pain in the neck. More recently, the pain has worsened, affecting both her shoulders which is greatly impacting her well-being. She sought medical attention at a local hospital where different tests were done. She was diagnosed with a goiter and was scheduled for surgery. In the waiting period, Catherine was advised by a friend to seek medical treatment at our partner care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH). On April 22nd, she was reviewed at PIH and the goiter diagnosis was confirmed. The surgeon recommended a thyroidectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of part or all of the thyroid gland. However, Catherine is unable to afford the surgical treatment costs. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 7th to relieve the pain and swelling, and prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Now, Catherine needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Catherine says: "Facing the hurdles of life alone has not dimmed my determination. Despite the challenges, I am hopeful that I will overcome this obstacle and I am committed to providing for my dependents. With the upcoming surgery, I see a path back to normalcy, where I can excel in my role as a sales representative and confidently pursue my goals once more."