Sath is a 79-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two sons and two daughters who are also rice farmers. Sath currently lives with his wife and his youngest son, who supports them financially. While walking home one evening in 2019, Sath was hit by a car. He suffered a head injury and a fracture of his lower right leg. He underwent surgery, and his leg was casted, but when the cast was removed, the fracture remained unhealed. Because of the Covid pandemic, Sath was unable to travel, and his family didn't have the money to fund additional care, so he improvised, using a bamboo splint. However, he has continued to have an open wound on his right leg and is unable to walk. A friend in the village told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Sath and his wife traveled two hours for treatment. Doctors at CSC's care center diagnosed him with a chronic wound infection. His bone is exposed, and he needs debridement of the wound and a skin flap - a reconstructive surgery technique involving the transfer of skin from one area of the body to another. Sath's surgery is scheduled for August 8th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Sath is able to contribute $100 to his treatment, and needs help raising the remaining $991. This sum will cover the cost of his surgery, hospitalization, medications, and rehabilitation. Sath said: "After surgery, I hope that my wound closes and I can walk again."

Thorn is a 23 year-old who lives in Kandal province with his parents and two siblings. Three of his siblings have moved nearby with their families and visit often. Thorn enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, and checking out social media. On October 12th, Thorn was in a motorbike accident and wounded his right foot. He went to a nearby hospital and had wound debridement and regular dressings. Thorn returned home and continued to care for the wound, but it still has not healed and is now infected. He is in pain and cannot walk properly. On December 4th, Thorn will have a leg surgery to remove damaged tissue and reconstruct defects in the foot and ankle. After surgery, he will be able to walk more easily and eliminate pain from the infection. Our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $991 to fund this surgery. Thorn shared, "I hope I can feel better so I can go back to work and hope to play soccer again too."

Su said, "I gave up after I learned the surgery would cost more than we could ever pay. I thought about taking medications to control my symptoms until my time came to go. But now I feel less stressed. Thank you so much for releasing us from our financial problem. I am looking forward to returning to work once I recover." Su lives with her husband, who works as a baker. She stopped working as a factory worker in August due to her deteriorating health and is currently unemployed. Back in 2016, Su began experiencing occasional tiredness, which worsened with physical activity. She also has difficulty sleeping, irregular heartbeat, and loss of appetite. Subsequent investigations, including an ECHO and ECG, revealed she needs a heart surgery called mitral valve replacement. After the surgery, she will no longer experience tiredness, irregular heartbeat, or difficulty sleeping.

Rose is a 55-year-old woman from Kiambu County, Kenya. She is married with three grown-up children. Rose and her husband make a living by doing whatever odd jobs they can find in their neighborhood. However, there are times when work is scarce, leaving them without enough to eat. For the past month, Rose has been experiencing severe heartburn, regurgitation, and epigastric pains that sometimes become unbearable. She sought help at several health centers, but unfortunately, the relief was elusive. Rose walked 8 kilometers to seek treatment at Nazareth's Comprehensive Care Clinic. At the Care Clinic, Rose and her husband reported her health issue to the nurses, who promptly referred her to a doctor. Following an abdominal scan, she was diagnosed with Cholelithiasis. Cholelithiasis, or gallstones, are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. If left untreated, Rose's condition will continue to cause her suffering, and she may face complications like bile duct obstruction and pancreatitis. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Rose. AMH's doctors recommended Rose undergo a laparotomy treatment surgery to alleviate her pain. On August 3rd, AMH's doctors will perform a laparotomy on Rose. However, given their financial struggles, Rose and her family are in dire need of assistance to afford the necessary treatment. AMH is now asking for $788 to help fund this procedure. Rose says “I have no one to turn to. My husband is the only one struggling at least to get casual work so that we can put food on the table. I need your help to run my everyday life well and at least assist my husband in running our family."

Lay is a 29-year-old mother from Thailand. She lives with her husband, son, uncle, aunt and two cousins in a refugee camp. Originally from Karen State, Burma, they fled to the refugee camp in March 2023 due to airstrikes in their village. Lay is a homemaker; her husband, uncle and aunt are unemployed, while her son is in preschool. One of her cousins is a teacher, while the other one is a student. During her free time, Lay enjoys weaving Karen shirts and bags for her family, as well as occasionally to sell. She also enjoys raising chickens and pigs and foraging vegetables in the forest. Lay is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section (C-section) because she gave birth previously through a C-section. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is helping Lay undergo a C-section scheduled on August 11th. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Lay and BCMF are asking for your support to fund the surgery. Lay shared, "I want to stay in the refugee camp. If I have the opportunity to do so, I would love to be resettled in another country.”

Anastasia is a 12-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three older siblings in a small village in eastern Haiti where her parents are both farmers. Anastasia has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, meaning that a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Anastasia also has Down syndrome. Our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) is helping Anastasia which is especially challenging as the treatment she needs is not available within Haiti. On August 2nd, she will fly to the Dominican Republic to undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch so that blood can no longer leak through it. HCA is subsidizing $8,000 of the cost of transportation and treatment, and Anastasia's family is asking for $1,500 to help to fund the costs of surgery prep, labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It will support passport obtainment and the social workers from HCA who will accompany Anastasia's family overseas. Anastasia's mother shared, "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping to fix our daughter's heart."

Billy is a 14-year-old student from a rural area named Migori in Kenya. He is in grade six, and loves playing football. He is the last born in a family of 6 kids. He comes from a family that depends on their small-scale farming for sustenance and live together in a mud house. Three months ago, Billy was playing with other boys using bicycles. Unfortunately, one of the boys pushed his bike down a hill, and Billy fell into a ditch. He was hurt in the right leg and was taken to Migori Referral, where a Plaster cast was applied. The bones had not united when it was removed, but the family decided to seek traditional medicine. In spite of the traditional medicine, which involved massaging his leg, Billy cannot walk properly. He is in a lot of pain; he has difficulties walking and engaging in day-to-day activities. Dr. Owen, a Medical Officer, heard about Billy when he visited Migori. He decided to request and pay for an X-Ray, which showed the bones are not united yet. The doctor brought Billy to Nazareth Hospital for evaluation by Watsi's local rep. When he was seen at Nazareth, the surgeon determined that a fracture surgery is needed to correct his condition, but the cost is very out of reach for this family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 4th, Billy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. When treated, Billy will no longer be in pain, he will be able to walk, and his leg will heal without deformity as he continues to grow. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1049 to fund this procedure. “I thank Dr Owen for what he has done. I hope my brother can get help so that his leg can recover so that he can go back to school,” said Billy’s brother quietly.

Besufikad is an energetic 4-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football with other children. He enjoys eating Shiro with injera, meat, and vegetables and loves drinking milk. He has one older sister; she is in grade three at a community school. Besufikad's mother used to work at a government office, but she had to stop working in order to care for him. People around her support her with food and house rent. They live with her sister, who is paralyzed. She and her family are dependent on unreliable support, thus they are unable to afford the recommended treatment for Besufikad. Besufikad was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Besufikad is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Besufikad's mother said, “If he gets the treatment and becomes well, I may be able to start working again. I will educate him. I hope he will become a doctor.”

Marissa, who is 48 years old, is a hardworking vegetable vendor from the Philippines. In 2022, Marissa began to experience troubling symptoms, including excruciating abdominal pain, which have made it difficult for her to continue with her daily activities. After several months of enduring the pain, Marissa finally consulted a doctor, who diagnosed her with chronic calculous cholecystitis- an inflamed gallbladder complicated by gallstones- which needs to be treated surgically. Unfortunately, even with financial help from her sons, Marissa could not afford the cost of the surgery. As a result, she deferred her treatment, hoping that her condition would improve over time. However, the pain has persisted, making it increasingly difficult for her to continue working and providing for her family. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Marissa is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 18th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, but Marissa and her family still need help raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Marissa's surgery and care, which will prevent her condition from deteriorating. Marissa shared: "We are incredibly grateful to World Surgical Foundation Philippines and WATSI for the support they are providing. Without their help, I may have continued to suffer in silence."