Saw Kaw is a 38-year-old man from Burma. He is a soldier for the Karen National Union (KNU) and moves around frequently. In December 2016, Saw Kaw was helping people repair parts of the road around their village by clearing trees for road work. He was cutting a tree when it fell on his upper leg. He was admitted to a local clinic for treatment, but after two months, his leg did not feel any better. The clinic sent him for an X-ray, which showed a broken femur. He was referred to Watsi's medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for evaluation and treatment. At the time of his interview with BCMF, Saw Kaw’s entire leg was swollen. He shared that he had been unable to walk since the injury occurred and was often in a lot of pain, especially at night. Saw Kaw needs help raising $1,500 to pay for an operation to repair his broken femur. During the operation, an orthopedic surgeon will insert a metal rod through the hollow center of the femur and secure it with screws. The rod will stabilize the broken bone until it is strong enough to support Saw Kaw's weight. Saw Kaw is scheduled to undergo surgery on February 17. Funding for Saw Kaw also covers the costs of seven nights in the hospital, lab tests, X-rays, physical therapy, surgical supplies, and crutches. "I really want to work for my community and the KNU, but I cannot do it right now," shares Saw Kaw. "I hope to recover fully so I can return to my village to work on the plantation with my family again."

Chanthou is a 54-year-old restaurant cleaner from Cambodia. She is married and has one son, three daughters, and three grandchildren. She likes to watch comedy, music shows, and the news on TV. One year ago, Chanthou developed a cataract in each of her eyes, which has led to blurred vision. Due to her blurred vision, Chanthou has trouble seeing things clearly and finds it difficult to work. Chanthou found out about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) from her neighbor. She traveled for one hour with her brother to reach CSC for treatment of her cataracts. On February 7, Chanthou will undergo vision-restoring cataract surgery. Surgeons will perform a phacoemulsification procedure and place an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund the procedure.

Khian is a thin, active 16-month-old boy. He lives in a village called San Francisco in Santa Catalina, Philippines, and loves to play with his siblings. He lives with his family in a bamboo house. Khian has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. "I hope that he will recover from malnutrition and be healthy," says his mother, who is very concerned for her son's wellbeing. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is requesting $268 to cover the cost of an in-home feeding program to treat Khian's malnutrition. This will pay for nutrient-enriched food packs, weekly visits from medical staff, and health education for family members. Khian is scheduled to begin treatment on February 21. After treatment, he will return to playing with his siblings.

Angel is a one-year-old infant from the Philippines. She lives in a bamboo house with her parents. They have electricity, and they get their water form a deep well. Her father, Glenn, is a collector in a lending company. She loves to talk and play with other kids. Angel has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Fortunately, on February 22, Angel will begin $184 malnutrition treatment. Angel will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope she recovers from malnutrition," says Angel's mother.

Jun-jun is a five-year-old boy. He loves to play with his older brothers and likes books. He lives in a small house made of bamboo with his parents and six siblings. His father is a laborer. Jun-jun has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 23. Jun-jun will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Jun-jun's mother says, "I hope that my child will become healthy, be healed, and have a good future. I am looking forward to ICM's treatment for him."

Kabugho is a 42-year old wife and mother of six children from Uganda. In 2008, Kabugho developed a swelling in her left groin region. The swelling continued to increase in size, and it became painful at the beginning of 2016. Thus, she went to our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, and was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia. Without treatment, she is at risk of intestinal obstruction and blockage of blood flow to the intestines. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo a repair surgery on January 4. Both Kabugho and her husband are farmers. Their income is limited and seasonal, and they pay for their children’s education in installments. Prior to the diagnosis, Kabugho had never visited a hospital due to lack of money. She was relieved to hear that Watsi could help her receive financial support. For this reason, our medical partner is requesting $249 to fund Kabugho's hernia repair. “I have a lot of pain, but I don’t have money for my surgery,” says Kabugho.

Josphat is a 25-year-old father from Kenya. He operates a motorcycle taxi business, and his wife works at home. The family lives in a two-room house in their ancestral land. This is a relatively dry region of the country, where agriculture is unreliable. On Christmas of 2016, Josphat fell from from his motorcycle. He was not wearing a helmet, so he sustained head injuries. He was brought to our medical partner's hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he received first aid and underwent a CT scan. Since then, Josphat has experienced a headache, and his eyes have swollen. He has spent two weeks in the hospital, which has prevented him from working and providing for his family. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo a craniotomy and frontal fracture repair on January 6. These procedures will repair the injuries in his skull. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,495 to fund this treatment. “I want to be well," says Josphat, "and to continue to provide for my family who need me."

Amanyire is a 22-year-old man from Uganda. He is the youngest of four children. Amanyire earns a living doing manual labor. He also sells goats. He did not receive an education because he could not afford to go to school when he was younger. In 2011, Amanyire developed a swelling in his upper abdomen, causing him pain and preventing him from digging or lifting heavy objects. Over the years, the swelling increased in size. Amanyire became unable to eat whole meals. Last year, he visited a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia. A hernia occurs when an internal organ pokes through the wall of the abdomen, causing severe pain. Left untreated, a hernia can cause intestinal blockage or prevent blood from reaching vital parts of the intestines. Fortunately, Amanyire visited our medical partner's hospital, Holy Family Virika Hospital. On November 16, doctors performed surgery to repair the abdominal wall, remove the bulging tissue in his abdomen, and reposition his herniated tissue. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 in funding. This fee covers the procedural costs, supplies, medications, and three days of inpatient care. Following recovery, Amanyire's pain will cease, and he will return to work.

Vorn is a 69-year-old farmer with three sons and two daughters. He likes to watch TV and listen to the radio. Vorn has been experiencing knee pain for two years. In October, Vorn injured his right foot on sheet metal, causing a laceration and severed nerves. It became even more difficult for Vorn to move around, and he was in pain. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Vorn traveled for three hours with his son to reach CSC for treatment. On October 27, surgeons repaired three tendons in his right foot. After recovery, he should be able to walk easily. Now, he needs help to fund this $450 procedure. "I hope I can walk normally again and without pain," says Vorn.

Mugisa is a 66 years old married man from Uganda, and a father of six. All of his children are now adults and casual laborers. Mugisa has a small banana plantation where he gets food for his family, selling the surplus to get money to support his family. In 2006, Mugisa developed painful swelling in his inguinal (groin) area. He visited a hospital once where he was diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia, a condition where part of his intestine is protruding through his inner groin area in both sides. He was advised to have surgery, which he cannot afford. Mugisa has been using herbs but he has had no relief. Due to pain, he is unable to lift or carry heavy items. He also cannot dig and or walk long distances. If not treated, the hernia could become stuck, leading to damage to the intestine or even the stomach. $249 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Mugisa needs. After surgery, he hopes to regain his strength and work hard to rehabilitate his banana plantation, so that it can produce good bananas.

Meet Gari, a 19-month-old infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), shares: “Gari lives with his older sister and his parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. He enjoys playing with his toy car and eating refried beans. His mother works at home, cooks, cleans, and takes care of the children. His father is a day laborer in the fields, who makes only a couple dollars per day.” Due to acute malnutrition, “Gari is below the average height and the average weight for his age,” WK reports, ”He currently is not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result his physical growth is stunted, and we worry his mental growth will be stunted as well.” As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Gari needs to address his nutritional deficit and improve his low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Gari of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for his parents. With these combined efforts, Gari will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

Zaw is a 30-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and son at his parent in-law’s home. Though they live together, household income and expenses are not intermingled as his in-laws have their own children to care for. His wife stays at home to take care of their son while he works as a agriculture day laborer. In 2014, Zaw became aware of the symptoms caused by his condition. Whenever he tried to do heavy lifting he would experience laboured breathing. He became especially alarmed when he began walking from sleep due to his difficulty breathing. Besides feeling weak and tiring easily, his legs would sometimes tremble. On January 10, 2015 Zaw and his wife went to the National Heart & Lung Centre in Rangoon, which performed a cardiogram and referred him to Asia Royal Hospital for further testing. The doctor gave Zaw an appointment date to go back but because he ran out of money, he had to travel back home to borrow more money. Returning on time for their appointment, Asia Royal Hospital conducted a CT carotid angiogram. Zaw was told that treatment for his condition could cost 5,000,000 kyat (approx. 5,000 USD), Zaw and his wife returned home. Back in their village, concerned neighbors recommended Zaw travel to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), a Watsi partner. Departing from Mon State and accompanied by his wife and two aunts, they made a costly journey to Thailand. Upon arrival at MTC in July 2016, staff conducted an echocardiogram and diagnosed Zaw with a heart condition called Mitral valve regurgitation. He requires surgery to correct the condition and get healthy again. When Zaw isn’t working, he looks forward to spending time with his son. Because work is hard, he rests during his time off and occasionally the family will go on outings to visit relatives. "I look forward to returning to the days when I can work and provide for my family as I once did in the past," Zaw shared.