Flora is a single mother of a baby boy aged 1.5 years. She is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo who found herself in Malawi in the year 2022 in search of her sister Esperance. Flora grew up in her sister’s house since she lost all her parents through war. She shared that they got separated in 2016 during a war where Esperance's husband was killed and the family all scattered. Esperance, the sister, found herself in a refugee camp in Malawi in 2016 where Flora was able to trace her 6 years later. They both now run a saloon business which earns them a little income that helps to meet their needs. Flora was doing well until her recent pregnancy. During one of her antenatal clinics that was done at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), she was noted to have uterine fibroids through abdominal ultrasound scanning. She had a successful caesarian section in June 2022. However, since the birth of her child, Flora has been experiencing difficult symptoms leading to frequent blood transfusions due to anemia. Flora is weak at the moment and has been seeking medical attention frequently. On January 17th this year, Flora was taken back to KCH due a dangerous low blood level. She received three pints of whole blood, recovered, and was discharged home. On January 31st, she was seen by the gynecologist at KCH who recommended a hysterectomy but due to the long list at KCH, she is not able to be seen for many months. The gynecologist referred her to our medical partner's care center PIH for urgent attention due to her condition. Her sister brought her to PIH where the surgeon confirmed her diagnosis and the need for a total abdominal hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus, including the cervix. Flora was then referred to the Watsi program due to her financial status. Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in a woman's uterus. Fibroids might become quite large leading to severe abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. If left untreated, fibroids continue to grow, both in size and number worsening the symptoms. The heavy bleeding may become worse causing anemia which may be fatal. Flora needs help raising $1,363 to fund her hysterectomy surgery scheduled for February 3rd. After the surgery, it is expected that Flora will be able to live her normal life, and continue taking care of her baby as she works hand-in-hand with her sister. Flora Said, “Kindly help me to get better. I have already come through a lot in my life."

Moe is a nine-year-old girl from Burma who lives with her mother, grandparents, and siblings in a camp for internally displaced people in Burma. She is a student in grade two at the school in the camp. During her free time, Moe enjoys babysitting her younger siblings. On December 6th, while playing in her classroom, Moe fell off a bench and fractured her left forearm. She has been experiencing pain, swelling, and limited mobility in her left forearm ever since. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Moe will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 8th and will cost $1,500. Moe and her family need your help raising the money to fund her procedure and care. This surgery will not only alleviate her pain but also restore the functionality of her arm. Moe’s grandmother said, "Thank you for helping my granddaughter. Our family is facing financial limitations, and affording her treatment has been challenging. Without your help, I wouldn’t know how to manage to get her treated."

Douwensky is a 3-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, brother, and sister. Douwensky has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure, resulting in an increased head circumference. Without treatment, Douwensky will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Douwensky at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on November 9th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Douwensky's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Douwensky will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. His family is hopeful that the surgery will allow him to grow up healthy.

Yesica is an 8-year-old girl who lives with her parents and 2 younger brothers in a mining city high in the mountains of central Bolivia. Her father works in construction, and her mother is a homemaker. Yesica is in second grade and loves attending school and learning about science. Yesica was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Yesica needs surgery to heal this condition. Fortunately, our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance (ICA) can help. Yesica is scheduled for cardiac surgery on October 11th, during which doctors will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. After surgery, she will be able to be more active and grow up to be a strong young woman. Yesica's family and ICA need help raising $1,500 to fund the procedure and her follow-up medical care. Her mother shared, "Our family is very hopeful that Yesica will be stronger and healthier after her surgery."

Lydia finished high school last year and has dreams of attending university, but she started experiencing some pain in her abdomen last December. She experienced the pain for one month before going to the hospital for an examination. After an abdomen CT scan, Lydia was diagnosed with Cystic liver disease. She was booked for surgery after the family raised enough money through fundraising. During the surgery, Lydia experienced complications when anesthesia was being administered and the surgery had to be cancelled. She was admitted to the ICU for a few days, recovered, and was discharged, but all the money her family raised was used to pay the hospital bill, and the family had to get a loan to clear the bill. While at home, Lydia recovered well, and during the last clinic review, she was finally ready for liver surgery. Their family has completely exhausted their funds and is appealing for any financial help to facilitate their daughter's treatment, hoping that after her complete healing, she can pursue her dreams. Lydia shared, “I really want to be helpful at home and maybe get a job to help my family but I can’t. This condition is very painful. I hope I will be treated soon enough and recover well.”

Sopheakdey is a 42 year old tuk-tuk driver, living with his wife and two children in Kandal province, Cambodia. Sopheakdey's wife works in a clothes factory, while Sopheakdey stays at home with their five year old daughter, since his condition prevents him from being able to work. For the past four years, Sopheakdey has been suffering from chronic back pain. While he has no history of trauma, it is difficult for him to bend, twist, or stoop down; any work or activity causes pain. His legs feel weak and clumsy, so he stays home. Because he cannot work, he worries about being able to feed his family. Fortunately, a relative told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Surgeons have diagnosed him with spondylolysis, a weakness or stress fracture in one of the vertebrae, the small bones that make up the spinal column. This weakness can occur with no known injury. The most common cause in adults is degenerative arthritis. On August 3rd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre plan to do a posterolateral lumbar fusion, to stabilize his spine and decrease his pain. Now, Sopheakdey needs your help to defray the cost of the $1500 operation. The money he receives will cover surgery, medication, and post-operative care. Sopheakdey said: "I hope that my pain will be less after surgery, and I can go back to work to help my wife and children."

Peter is a 28-year-old artisan from Kenya. He creates and sells lampshades made from recycled materials to support his family. Peter's wife stays at home with their three-year-old daughter. In his free time, Peter and his friends run a boxing group that helps keep unemployed youths around his home area busy. One month ago, Peter sustained a fracture to his right pinky while boxing. He went to a local health facility where he received pain medication. However, Peter saw no improvement in his pain. He currently can't work or grip using his right hand and is at risk for future complications. Peter sought out care again, and his doctors recommended he undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. However, Peter's medical coverage is not currently active and he can't afford the surgery on his own. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 21st, Peter will undergo surgery to repair his fracture. After surgery, he will be able to grip objects again and resume work. Now, AMH is requesting $979 to fund this procedure. Peter says, “I use my hand to work. I am unable to make the lampshades because my hand is injured, this is what I use to earn a living. I hope to get treatment to be able to go back to my Jua-Kali work and feed my family

Aung is a 34 year old office clerk who lives on his own in Yangon, Burma. In November 2019, Aung started to tire easily. At first he thought it was due to working too much, but when he started to feel tired after walking short distances, he became concerned. He told his employer about his symptoms, and they suggested that he might have a heart condition. Aung then went to a heart specialist, where he was diagnosed with atrial septal defect, which is a hole in the upper chambers of his heart. Because he could not afford to pay for treatment, Aung traveled to Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, where he was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. Now they are seeking $1,500 for the operation that Aung needs to close the hole in his heart. Surgery is scheduled for May 20th, at Pun Hlaing Hospital. Until he has this procedure, Aung will continue having shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and chest pain - worsening with time. "In the future, I hope I can find a higher paying job so that I can help support my mother and my younger sisters who live in another city," said Aung as he dreamed about his future when he feels well again.

Priscillah, who is 61 years old, is a mother of six and a grandmother of three living in the arid region of Baringo County, Kenya. Despite being a retired ECD teacher, Priscillah does not have a pension because she was employed on contract. She and her husband work as millet and mango farmers in order to earn an income. A month ago, Priscillah visited the doctor, complaining about a neck mass that she first noticed 20 years ago. Recently, Priscillah began to experience troubling symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, and breathlessness. Her neighbor convinced her to be evaluated and after lab tests and an ultrasound were done, Priscillah was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter. As it was toxic, she was immediately placed on medications to prepare her for surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Priscillah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 4th at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland, which should ensure that she will be able to live a healthy and more comfortable life. Priscillah and her family need your help to raise $936 to cover the cost of this procedure. Priscillah happily said: "I never knew I would ever undergo surgery; I was ready to live with the condition until my death. Thank you for giving me this chance."