Dorica is a 30-year-old woman from Malawi, married with one daughter aged nine. Her husband works as a bicycle technician, repairing bicycles and motorcycles. Dorica used to engage in casual farm work, but is currently unable to due to her illness. Six years ago, Dorica began to experience troubling symptoms, which started with a small painless neck swelling. Over time, the swelling grew larger and Dorica also started experiencing breathlessness. She went to a local hospital to seek medical care and was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter. Presently, she experiences a heaviness on her neck, is unable to carry anything on her head and is unable to carry out her household chores. The doctors referred her to our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre (PiH) where surgery was recommended, but Dorica is unable to raise funds for the treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Dorica receive treatment. On April 17th, surgeons at PiH will perform a thyroidectomy to remove all or part of her thyroid gland, treat her condition and to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Now, Dorica needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Dorica says, “Kindly help me to resume my daily activities, and responsibly care for my family.”

Nyunt is a 50-year-old father of three from Burma. Nyunt and his wife stay home and care for the kids and their nephew. They cultivate and sell bananas and beetle nuts for a living. During his leisure time, Nyunt enjoys spending time with his family. Nyunt is a former patient of Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) who received surgery for his renal stone problem with the help of Watsi in 2020. He had been in good health until earlier this year when he suddenly started experiencing difficulty passing urine. The doctor diagnosed him with bladder stones after conducting an X-ray and ultrasound. Doctors want Nyunt to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which X-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Nyunt's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 5th. Nyunt said, "When I get healthy, I want to continue planting more beetle nut and banana plants on my property, as space still exists. They need some years to grow, but I think I can sell the fruits in the future."

Valentino is a preschooler from Bolivia who lives with his mother and four older brothers. He loves to watch cartoons and enjoys his mother's s cooking. However, it is difficult for him to gain weight. Valentino has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 16th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 for this procedure. Valentino's mother says, "Our family will be so much happier and less stressed once we know that our son is normal and healthy."