Agai is a nine-month-old baby boy and the youngest child of his mother's five children. Agai's father lives in a remote village where most people are Maasai and keep livestock for a living. His parents sell milk and cattle to support the family. Agai has clubfoot of his left foot, a condition in which his foot is twisted out of shape. His condition may cause him difficulty walking and even wearing shoes in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Agai receive treatment. On March 1st, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center. A successful treatment will ensure that he is able to walk easily when he gets older. Now, he and his family need help raising $935 to fund Agai's procedure and care. Agai’s mother shared, "when my stepdaughter told me there is a place where my son can have his foot corrected it was hard to believe. But after seeing other children with a similar condition, I realized it is not just my son."

Karen works as a guard at a secondary school in Cavite, Philippines. Her husband is a police officer, but even with their combined income to cost of the surgery she needs is out of reach. Five years ago, Karen began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty in swallowing and a swollen neck. She was diagnosed with goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Karen receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 4th at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,323, and she and her family need help raising money for this life-changing care. "This surgery will greatly improve my well-being, so I can continue working for my future without worry," Karen shared.

Afifi is a 25-year-old electrician. He lives at home with his parents and is the oldest child in his family. He has one younger brother, and two younger sisters. His parents work as rice farmers. In his spare time, he likes to play football and listen to popular songs on his phone. Three weeks ago, Afifi had a traumatic eye injury at work when a piece of metal flew into his eye. The retina of Afifi's left eye detached, causing him pain, and blurry vision. Surgeons suspect a globe tumor and/or a retinal detachment. When Afifi learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On December 13th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $648 procedure. Afifi shared, "I am worried I will lose my eye, and won't be able to work. I hope that I will be able to see again, and no longer have pain."

Dortensley is a 14-month-old baby from Haiti who is loved and cared for by his mother. Dortensley has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases pressure within the skull. As a result of his condition, Dortensley's head grew beyond his expected development and he experiences seizures. Without treatment, Dortensley will experience severe physical and developmental delays. On November 9th, Dortensley will undergo surgery at the care center of our medical partner, Project Medishare. Surgeons will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Dortensley's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. Upon recovery, Dortensley should develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Project Medishare is currently the only site in the country to offer this critical care and is requesting $957 to help fund Dortensley's procedure. Dortensley's mother shared that she could not afford surgery for her child, but is now feeling hopeful. She said: "There is a God after all. God bless everyone that is helping my child."

Naw Blut lives with her husband, toddler son, and parents in a refugee camp in northern Thailand. She is a homemaker, her parents are retired, and her husband works at the Water and Sanitation Department in the refugee camp. Their family's monthly income of 2,694 baht ($89.80 USD) is just enough to cover their daily needs as they currently have to buy formula milk for Naw Blut's toddler. Naw Blut has been receiving a antenatal care at the clinic at the refugee camp. Earlier this month, Naw Blut went for her follow-up appointment and since she was 37 weeks pregnant and had previously had an emergency C-section, she was told she would need to see a specialist about her delivery. The next day, staff from the organization that helps run the camp (Malteser International (MI) Thailand), brought her to Mae Sariang Hospital. After she met the doctor, the doctor said she could not give birth vaginally because of the status of her pregnancy and her last delivery. The team has scheduled her to undergo a c-section to safely delivery her baby. As Naw Blut cannot afford to pay for the procedure, MI staff referred her to our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund for financial support.

Ellon is a 22-year-old mother with one child. After graduating from high school, Ellon studied to be a secretary before getting married. She then separated from her husband. Ellon now works at her brother's shop to earn a living. Around one year ago, Ellon began to experience troubling symptoms, including breathing difficulties, neck swelling, and heart palpitations. She was diagnosed with nodular goitre, which affects her breathing and swallowing. Ellon went to a local hospital, and a scan confirmed the goitre diagnosis. Since the cost of care is high and above her means, our medical partner's care center, Nyakibale Hospital, referred her for Watsi's support to help her with the medical expense. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 6th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland in this procedure, which will cost $252. Our partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $252 to fund her care and restore her health. Ellon shares, “I wish to continue providing for my child and with poor health, that might not be possible. Please help me.”

Naw Eh is a 11-year-old girl who lives with her mother, five brother and two sisters in a refugee camp. She and her siblings study in the refugee camp while her mother weaves traditional indigenous Karen shirts to earn extra income for their household. In her free time, Naw Eh loves to play with her younger brother at home. Sometimes, she will play with her friends close to her house. She wants to be an English teacher at a primary school in the future. In late July 2021, Naw Eh went out to buy some snacks from a shop. On the way to the shop, she slipped and fell on the muddy road. When she fell she hurt her left leg. Since she was able to walk slowly, the medic in the camp did not think her leg was broken and only gave her pain medication. On 19 August 2021, Naw Eh lost her grip when she was sitting down in a chair and fell down. This time she could not stand up or walk. After a doctor at Mae Sariang Hospital diagnosed her with a fractured femur, she was referred to Chiang Mai Hospital for further treatment. At that hospital, the doctor told Naw Eh's brother that they want to do an MRI of her leg to check if she has any underlying conditions that caused her to break her femur so easily. With support from Watsi, the MRI was possible and now the surgeon has determined that surgery is required to help her leg heal properly. Currently, Naw Eh suffers from pain in her left leg and she cannot move or put weight on that leg. If she moves her leg, the pain increases. Her brother needs to help her use the bedpan as she cannot walk to the toilet. He also needs to help her get dressed. She is taking pain medication to help her sleep at night. She is worried that if her condition is not treated properly, she will never be able to walk again. She misses going to school and wants to continue her studies in grade four once her school reopens. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Eh will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for September 2nd and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Naw Eh will no longer experience pain in her leg and she will be able to get herself dress and be able to walk to the toilet. Naw Eh said, "I am worried that if I do not receive surgery and receive proper treatment, I will not be able to walk again."

Sok is a 64-year-old clothes seller from Cambodia. He has five children and eight grandchildren. His wife recently passed away, so he currently lives on his own. To make a living, Sok sells clothes at a local market, but when he is not working he stays home and listens to news on the radio. Five years ago, Sok developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, photophobia, and itchiness. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sok learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there seeking treatment. On July 8th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Sok shared, "I hope I can see well after surgery so that I can work by myself more. I also hope my children do not worry about me and I can take care of myself again."

Robert is a matatu, or public transportation, driver and the father of two children aged 16 and 7 years. He recently separated from his wife, so Robert currently lives alone in their home in Magina, Kenya. On the June 26th, Robert was injured in a road accident and sustained twin fractures on his thigh and leg. Robert is now unable to walk on his own. Fortunately, our partner surgeons can help. On June 30th, Robert is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, to help him walk again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $672 to fund this procedure. Robert is anxious to return to work, "My legs are my source of livelihood. I need this surgery to be able to get back on my feet and fend for myself and my kids.”

Veronica is a cheerful, married 29-year-old mother of two children. Veronica shared that she left school in primary school, because her parents could not afford her school fees. Her husband earns a living through helping people lift heavy luggage at a local bus station, and he also does a variety of other jobs when he has the opportunity. Veronica enjoys spending time with her two children, ages two and four; they give her joy and fulfillment as a mother. Her family lives in a one-bedroom rented house. In 2009, Veronica developed a swelling on her neck. She ignored it, thinking it would soon go away, but in 2014, the swelling grew. In 2015, she was diagnosed with a goiter, or enlarged thyroid, and surgery was recommended. As the goiter continues to grow, she has experienced coughing, difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing. She can no longer sing in church or carry heavy things on her head, and she shared that she can no longer eat hard foods like msima, a Malawian staple. Veronica also told us that the condition has changed her appearance and has impacted her self-esteem. Veronica has visited the government hospital more than 15 times since her diagnosis, but her surgery was always rescheduled. Two weeks ago, she went to a different hospital and was referred to our medical partner's care center, where a surgeon recommended a thyroidectomy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Veronica receive treatment. On May 25th, Veronica will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH's care center. Now, AMH is requesting $1,015 to fund her procedure. The surgery is expected to improve her life and heal her symptoms. With a hopeful smile, Veronica shared, “I am overwhelmed with this opportunity to be sponsored for this operation. After the operation, I hope to live normally and care for my children properly. I believe I should be able to eat hard msima [the Malawi staple food] or raw cassava and potatoes which I now miss greatly. I look forward to sleeping without struggles after this surgery, much appreciation!”

Kurinampa is a 27-year-old farmer who is 36 weeks pregnant. She is the fifth child in her family and attended school through secondary grades. She and her husband practice subsistence farming, and they have two children. She hopes to deliver a healthy third child soon. Kurinampa recently experienced discomfort and visited a local hospital. She was examined and learned that the baby is in breech position, and she was also diagnosed with placenta previa. Doctors recommend she have a C-Section to prevent complications and risks for her and her baby. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $252 to cover the cost of Kurinampa's surgery. Kurinampa shared, “I will really be glad if my delivery is done under your support because I can’t afford the cost of my delivery, yet the doctor had advised me to deliver through caesarean section for the safety of my baby. I hope to continue with farming once I have fully recovered.”

Vincent is a six-year-old boy and the oldest of three children. Vincent and his siblings live with their grandmother in Southern Kenya. Vincent has bilateral equinus deformity, which means he has difficulty walking and often tiptoes as he walks, or even crawls. He has visited clinics in the past and undergone casting, but there has been no significant improvement. To correct his condition, Vincent is scheduled to undergo Achilles Tendon Lengthening (ATL) surgery on April 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to fund Vincent's life-changing procedure. Vincent's grandmother shared, "I would love to see my grandson walk on his own. Any help will be highly appreciated.”