We met 7-year-old Mishelle a few months ago in Malawi, the day before her fourth surgery. Mishelle has a tumour on her right eye. So far, the tumour is benign, but our doctors are keeping a close watch for any sign of cancerous cell mutation.

You can see from the picture just how swollen Mishelle’s eye is. You can imagine how much pressure must be on the nerves in this little girl’s eye socket.

“Pain” is how Mishelle described her eye condition to us.

Her mom, Linda tells us, “Sometimes she complains. Sometimes it’s something mucus-like that’s coming out of [the eye].”

Linda loves her daughter deeply. She’s proud of her girl, who is determined to be a nurse when she grows up. Linda encourages her daughter’s dream, buying Mishelle a toy stethoscope, letting her listen to her little sister’s heartbeat.

We asked Linda if she is able to sustain the family and Linda simply said, “I’m trying. Struggles may be there, but still I’m trying.” And after a moment, she adds: “Before this eye problem, I’ve never encountered any problem, to be honest. My money was just enough… but after failing to get the proper help, we went to the private institution where it was so costly… that has indeed affected my financial level so I’m having difficulty.”

Linda is out of money to treat her daughter’s ongoing, potentially life-threatening eye issue.

This is where you and I come in. This is the practical medical work we support through our gifts. It’s helping hardworking, loving moms like Linda care for the needs of the child she loves with all her heart. It’s funding medical care… and it’s funding masks so Mishelle can have the surgeries she needs.