Rosemary is a mother of five children. She lives with her husband, their two youngest children, and 6 grandchildren. Rosemary enjoys chatting with her grandchildren and eating nsima, a porridge made from maize flour and served with local chicken and vegetables. Five years ago, Rosemary started experiencing swelling near her abdomen After visits to different hospitals and clinics, she was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and was recommended to have surgery. Her symptoms worsened as she delayed treatment and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, a condition that occurs when part of the stomach protrudes up into the chest through the diaphragm because of the weakening of surrounding tissues. Rosemary could no longer walk long distances and was experiencing frequent vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, heartburn, discomfort, and pain in her chest and abdomen. Rosemary can hardly do anything at home due to worsening pains during activities that add more pressure to the painful area. Rosemary was later taken to Partners in Hope Medical Center and doctors explained the need for a surgical intervention called Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication, a surgery that treats Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). In GORD, acid from the stomach leaks up into the esophagus (gullet) due to the weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter which leads to failure to close properly. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On May 7th, Rosemary will undergo surgery that will help relieve her of her symptoms and improve her quality of life. AMH is requesting $1,244 to fund this procedure. Rosemary said, “I can now smile again and look forward to a successful surgery, for me to be well again.”

Thy Cheng is a 37-year-old mother from Cambodia. She lives with her husband and three children in rural Koh Krong province, near the border with Thailand. Her husband works in construction, while Thy Cheng sells fish in the local market. While at home, she likes gardening and spending time with her kids. When she was a toddler, Thy Cheng had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, an abnormal collection of skin cells, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Thy Cheng has been experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to communicate with people, and she is unable to work full-time due to frequent discomfort. Thy Cheng traveled to our medical partner's care center, Children's Surgical Centre, to receive treatment. On May 2nd, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure to remove the cholesteatoma. Thy Cheng is able to contribute $100 towards the cost of her treatment, and needs help raising $826 more to fund the procedure. Thy Cheng says, "I hope that my hearing will improve, so I can communicate better with my family and my customers."

Siltan is a 4-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She loves to play with her mom and her dolls. Her parents are farmers and the income from their harvest is used to sustain the basic needs of the family. Siltan was born with an anorectal malformation, a condition where there is a complete or partial intestinal blockage causing bowel obstruction. Siltan is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Siltan's procedure and care. After her recovery, Siltan will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Siltan's dad said, “I have hopes that she will heal. I will educate her and help her to be a doctor.”