Vy, a 26-year-old man from Cambodia, was in a moto accident one year ago and fractured his left femur. He received treatment for seven months at a private clinic where they treated his open fracture and performed surgery. Even after his surgery, Vy was still in pain and unable to walk. He then traveled three hours with his mother to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), as he could no longer afford treatment at a private clinic. Doctors at CSC found that he has a chronic infection in his left tibia that requires an additional surgical procedure. Vy farms for a living, and he enjoys watching TV and listening to music in his free time. He has two sisters and two brothers. Due to the seasonal and unpredictable nature of Vy's work and income, he needs financial assistance for the $405 treatment that will rehabilitate his leg. Surgeons at CSC will remove the plate already in place in Vy's leg and perform a debridement, or a surgical removal of the infected and dead tissue. They will then perform open reduction internal fixation surgery, during which they will realign the fractured bone and fix it in place using rods, screws, and plates. Vy will be able to walk easily again after the surgery and he will no longer be in pain.

Kyalimpa is a 53-year-old man living in Uganda. He has six children, three of whom live with their grandmother and attend primary school, and the remaining three live with their mother. He is responsible for supporting his children’s education and living expenses. About three years ago, Kyalimpa developed a unilateral, unobstructed inguinal hernia, which has been causing him abdominal pain and swelling. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Kyalimpa thinks his pain started because he used to do hard labor such as brick making. He feels pain mostly when he lifts heavy items and digs. His pain has been severe enough that he had to reduce his driving hours and distances. A hernia occurs when an internal organ pokes through the abdomen wall, causing severe pain. Left untreated, a hernia can cause intestinal blockage or prevent blood from reaching vital parts of his intestines. Kyalimpa needs surgical intervention to repair the abdominal wall and reposition his herniated tissue. However, because of his reduced work hours, Kyalimpa is unable to afford surgery. “The swelling pains me,” Kyalimpa says, “but I don’t have the money for treatment.” For $220, Kyalimpa can receive the surgery he needs, including all supplies, medications, and inpatient care for two weeks. His risk of further complication will be significantly diminished, and he will be able to return to full-time work to better provide for his children. He looks forward to being able to make ends meet after full recovery.

Meet Louise, a 75-year-old grandmother from Kenya! When she was younger, Louise worked very hard to save enough money to purchase a small plot of farmland. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Louise now uses this land “to plant potatoes for her own consumption and sell any surplus at the local market.” However, due to breast cancer, Louise is no longer able to farm as much as she would like to. After discovering a growing lump in her right breast, Louise visited AMHF’s clinic and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, although the exact causes of the disease are not known. This cancer—which usually originates in the innermost part of the breast (where milk is produced)—may present itself in the form of a lump, a rash, redness or other unusual changes in the breast area. In addition to her cancer, Louise is also experiencing shoulder pain that “makes it difficult for Louise to work on the farm,” AMHF states. “Luckily, tests have shown that the cancer has not progressed aggressively over the last few years,” AMHF reports. “If treated soon, there is a very high chance that all of the cancer can be removed and Louise will not be at risk of the cancer spreading to her other organs.” With $740, Louise will receive a mastectomy to remove her right breast. As Louise has locally advanced breast cancer, this is an effective treatment to remove the cancerous tissue and prevent the problem from returning. Included as part of her treatment, Louise will receive six days of intensive hospital care to ease her into a safe recovery. Following her treatment and recovery, “We expect that Louise will be able to work on her farm again,” states AMHF. Indeed, after regaining her strength, Louise fully plans to return to farming her land once again. She shares, “I like being able to take care of myself. However, with this increasing shoulder pain, I can no longer work on my farm.”

Say hello to Bun, a 76-year-old man from Cambodia with a son, daughter, and five grandchildren. Our partner, the Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), says "he likes reading religious literature and listening to the monks praying." Due to the mature cataract in his right eye, Bun has trouble getting around and doing work at home. "He finds it hard to read, go outside, and is afraid his eye will become blind,” continues CSC. For $150, Bun will receive the cataract surgery he needs to have clear vision. He is excited to be able to help around the house and go to the pagoda by himself post surgery. Let's help Bun improve his eyesight and lead a more independent life!

This is Rachael, a 39-year-old woman from Kenya who lives with her three children and elderly mother. From a humble background, Rachael works as a casual laborer doing laundry or farm work for neighbors. Rachel has been experiencing almost continuous abdominal bleeding and pain, but didn't visit a doctor because she couldn't afford treatment. Rachael has uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths of the uterus. The bleeding has caused Rachael to become anemic, which means her body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. She has had to receive emergency blood transfusions as a result, but to permanently cure her, she needs a hysterectomy. When asked how she feels Rachael says, “I feel very desperate because my mother is old and I have left my children in her care. I hope Watsi will come to my aid so that I can be well again and have the strength to work for my children.” For $790 Rachael will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy, which means that her uterus and cervix will be surgically removed. This procedure will relieve her of the bleeding and pain and also treat her anemia. After Rachael recovers she will be able to go back to work, take care of her children, and lead a healthy life.

"I hope to deliver safely and continue selling vegetables to support my family without any difficulty," says Judith, a 30-year-old woman from Kenya who is expecting a child soon. Already a mother of four, she enjoys cooking, sitting under a shady tree, and traveling with her children and husband. "Judith says that she experiences a heavy stomach, her feet swell after sitting for a long time and she has back pain after hard work," her medical team writes. "This prevents her from going to the farm as usual." Judith hopes for a safe delivery in a health facility, but with work slowing down, she cannot afford to pay for it. With $290, Judith will be given necessary prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care in case of any complications. Let's help Lwala help Judith out and welcome her baby safely into the world.

“All I desire is to have treatment and be able to report back to school,” shares Daniel, a 16-year-old boy who lives with his parents and two younger siblings in Kenya. “Daniel has a mass that has formed on his brain due to fibrous dysplasia; a disease that destroys and replaces normal bone with fibrous bone tissue,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Daniel is the oldest child in his family. His father is a casual at a flower farm, while his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Daniel started complaining of headaches eight months ago and after several visits to the hospital, doctors discovered the mass in his brain. “If the surgery is not done, he is likely to suffer brain damage or premature death due to the increased intra-cranial pressure caused by the mass.” $1,260 will cover the cost of the surgery that will remove the mass and save Daniel’s life. Let’s help him out and make his dream of returning to school come true!

Meet Irma, a 17-year-old young woman who lives with her parents in Guatemala. According to our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, “Irma is in the middle of high school and enjoys studying and hopes to pursue a professional career.” “Irma has a large mass in her right breast,” Wuqu’ Kawoq continues. “She has a family history of breast cancer and she needs a workup to evaluate the mass and exclude the possibility of breast cancer.” $310 covers a breast biopsy for Irma, which will allow her to know if she is healthy or if future treatment is needed. “This is scary for me,” Irma shares. “I feel better knowing that you are helping me figure out what is going on.”

Paw Day lives with her 18-year-old daughter in rural Burma. Her daughter has polio and is physically disabled; as a result she requires a great deal of care from her mother. Paw Day and her husband often have to rely on the rest of their family for financial assistance in order to pay for their daughter’s medication and other needs. But recently, Paw Day herself has been dealing with health issues. She was diagnosed with uterine prolapse three years ago, a condition which causes the uterus to fall past the pelvic floor and is characterized by considerable pain in the abdomen and pelvic region, along with difficulty passing urine, back pain, and constipation. In addition to these symptoms, Paw Day feels weak and gets tired very easily, making it very challenging for her to care of herself and her daughter in addition to doing physical labor and household chores. Paw Day needs a hysterectomy, which costs $1,500. Our medical partner expects that once Paw Day undergoes surgery and recovers from her treatment she will regain her strength and be free of pain and discomfort. "She will be able to do household chores and taking care of her daughter and herself. When she is healthy she will be happy again," they write.

Say hello to Ma Khin, a 44-year-old woman from Burma! She’s living with rheumatic heart disease, which means she frequently experiences chest pain, heart palpitations and difficulty breathing. It’s hard for her to walk long distances, and she gets tired very quickly. As a result, she’s unable to leave the house without assistance, and had to close her small shop. Ma Khin lives with her mother and 20-year-old son. Her husband left eight months ago without taking responsibility for her health care, and her illness is causing stress for her other family members. Ma Khin’s older brother provided some money towards her medical expenses, but he is unable to pay for any more treatment. For $1500, Ma Khin can have valve replacement surgery which will stop her chest pain, fatigue and other symptoms. She will have the strength to re-open her shop and support her son so he can continue his studies. She said she’s grateful to have this opportunity for treatment, and would like to return to a normal, healthy life. Let’s help her out!

Pauline is a 28-year-old woman currently expecting her third child. Pauline’s husband is a farmer. He works day in and day out in the fields to support their family. Although they are both hardworking individuals, they cannot afford the health care services needed to ensure Pauline a safe pregnancy. Pauline feels strongly that pregnant women should get the care they need to avoid preventable diseases. She is hoping to deliver in a hospital, not only to reduce the risk of complications but also to learn from doctors how to keep her baby healthy in its important early months. For $215, both Pauline and her baby will receive advanced medical care should any complications arise, as well as education on how to stay healthy together. Let’s help Pauline welcome her child safely!

Meet Hugo, a two-year-old boy from Guatemala! Hugo was born with birth complications that resulted in improper brain development. In addition to his developmental delays, Hugo is malnourished. His mother has been overwhelmed with his healthcare needs and has not been able to provide him with proper nutrition. She cares for Hugo with all of her heart, but since she has not had a medical advocate through this process, she has felt lost in Guatemala's system. Our medical partners at Wuqu’ Kawoq are determined to work with Hugo and his mother to make sure they receive proper healthcare. By raising $850, we can help them connect with regular physical therapy, and improve his nutrition and weight gain. Let’s help Hugo receive the care he needs to start down a healthy path for the rest of his life.