Pan is a happy 76-year-old married man from Cambodia. He has a son, four daughters, and ten grandchildren. He enjoys listening to the monks praying and hearing the news on the radio. He also very much enjoys looking after his grandchildren. He traveled 3 hours with his daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Two years ago, Pan developed a cataract in each of his eyes. This condition is commonly seen in older adults, and it can severely affect his vision, lead to eye tearing, and cause photophobia. He can't see clearly, do work well, or go outside independently. So, he traveled three hours with his daughter to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Center, for treatment. After an ophthalmologist performs cataract surgery (ECCE and IOL) in each eye, Pan's clouded lenses that contain protein buildup will be replaced with clear, artificial lenses. He will be able to see clearly again and without any problems. $292 in funding will make this intraocular lens surgery possible for Pan, so that he may once again be able to look after his grandchildren and family.

Samuel is a ten-year-old boy from Kenya. When he was seven months old, he developed an inguinal hernia that was eventually repaired. All seemed well until earlier this year, when Samuel began to experience painful symptoms and disrupted urinary function. Samuel's parents sought medical advice from a local clinic. They were advised to visit our medical partner's hospital, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, to see a specialist. On October 21, 2016, Samuel underwent corrective surgery. This treatment should reduce his painful symptoms. Samuel’s parents are unemployed, and they provide for the family by taking jobs in farming, construction, or laundry. They are unable to raise the $535 required for their son's surgical care. “It is the joy of every parent to have a healthy baby," says Samuel's mother. "It is devastating to watch my son suffer, and there is nothing much I can do about it. Please help fund his treatment."

Meet Karla, a nine-month-old girl from Guatemala. Karla is the youngest of three children in her family and lives with her parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. She enjoys playing with a soccer ball. Her mother works at home, cooks, cleans, and takes care of the children. Her father is a day laborer in the fields, who makes only a couple dollars per day. Karla is below the average height and the average weight for her age due to malnutrition. She currently is not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result her physical growth is stunted, and we worry her 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 Karla needs to address her nutritional deficit and improve her low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Karla of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for her parents. With these combined efforts, Karla will recoup her weight and height and strengthen her immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

Alejandra, a nine-month-old baby, lives with her parents and her older in a one-room adobe house in Guatemala. Her favorite thing to do is to play with her dolls. Her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her and her siblings as well as helping Alejandra’s father cultivate corn in the nearby mountains. Although her parents work hard, they do not have the resources to feed her even one vegetable, piece of fruit, or egg—the minimum that she needs to reach a healthy height and weight. Alejandra’s parents are worried because they have noticed their daughter is not growing as well as the other children in their village, and almost never has an appetite. This is because she is malnourished, and her diet lacks the nutrients, calories, and protein she needs to grow and be healthy. If Alejandra does not receive treatment, she could face the consequences for the rest of her life—such as short stature as an adult, lower IQ, a harder time focusing, and trouble in school--all making it more likely that she will have lower-paying job as an adult and have children who face the same challenges. For $512, Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will provide Alejandra with growth monitoring, food supplements, and deworming medication which will help her grow, develop normally both mentally and physically, and overcome malnutrition. Her parents will receive nutrition education, so they can learn how to best feed Alejandra, even with the little resources they have. If she receives treatment now, she will be able to have normal mental and physical development, giving him a better chance to be a successful student and to one day be qualified for a well-paying job. "We hope that one day, she can have a university degree," says Alejandra's mother. With our help, this treatment will give Alejandra a better chance of escaping the cycle of malnutrition and poverty.

Born in Guatemala, Darwin is the first child to two loving parents. His father works as a day laborer, harvesting crops on large plantations, and wakes up long before dawn to look for firewood to sell, often making little more than a couple dollars per day. His mother works weaving traditional Mayan textiles, which she sells in a local market. Although both his parents work hard, they cannot afford to give him even one egg, vegetable, or fruit per day. Darwin's parents did not realize that their son was not growing well. Darwin is around three times below a normal size for his age and suffering from acute malnutrition. This is because the diet his parents can afford for him is mostly corn tortillas, which lacks protein, calories, and nutrients. If he does not receive treatment, the consequences could follow him for the rest of his life--leaving him with a low IQ, trouble focusing in school, and a greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension as an adult. All these factors make it less likely he will have a well-paying job as an adult. $512 will provide Darwin with growth monitoring, food supplements, and deworming medication. All measures will be taken to help him grow, develop both mentally and physically, and overcome malnutrition. Both of his parents are eager to learn how to make simple changes to their son's diet to help him grow and develop as he should. They will receive nutrition education so they can learn how to best feed Darwin, even with the little resources they have. If he receives treatment now, he will be able to have normal mental and physical development, giving him a better chance to be a successful student and to one day be qualified for a well-paying job. His mother shares with us, "I want to do everything possible so that my son grow up normally and become a good student in the future."

Seraphin is a 36-year-old woman from Kenya who has two children—one in nursery school and the other in high school. In July 2015, Seraphin started complaining of diminishing eyesight in both eyes. She sought medical care that month, and doctors recommended a CT scan. Because she was not able to raise the amount of money needed for the scan, she did not obtain the scan until May 2016, when her nephew took her to the hospital. After the CT scan, she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. As a result of the tumor, Seraphin has lost completely lost her vision in one eye and has partial vision in the other. She complains of migraines and loss of balance. A former domestic worker, Seraphin has been unable to work to provide for her children. Since January 2016, she and her children have lived with her parents. To remove the tumor from Seraphin's brain, doctors plan to perform a craniotomy to remove a portion of her skull to access the tumor. Seraphin cannot afford to pay for the surgery, but if not treated, she may become completely blind and unable to take care of her children. $1,205 pays for surgery for Seraphin as well as six days of hospital care—two days in intensive care and four days in the general ward—after surgery. Funding also covers the costs of medicine, blood work, and pathology. Seraphin's family and friends are contributing $313 to pay for additional costs associated with her care. “My hope is to have my eyesight restored to be able to provide for my children," shares Seraphin. "I want the best for them."

Bene, a 48-year-old woman, is a merry person and likes to socialize and mingle with people and tell them about her experiences in life. Bene first experienced dysmenorrhea, heavy bleeding, and had felt a small lump in her lower abdomen in 2013. She had sought medical help and had found out that she had an ovarian cyst, myoma and an abscess, and was advised to have hysterectomy surgery. Because of this, she worries a lot because her family only has limited funds and cannot provide for her surgery. Despite her condition, she travels a lot for her small business, but she stopped when she encountered an accident last July 2015. ​Because of the accident, she became handicapped, thus, the husband is the only earner in the family. Though she tried helping her husband who is a fish vendor, she finds it really difficult to go from place to place because she is using crutches. With that, the income is barely enough for their family's daily needs and their son's school allowance, clothing, and school requirements. The hysterectomy surgery would not just relieve the signs and symptoms of the condition she experiences, but it would also prevent her from having worst complications such as cancer and metastasis. For $668, Bene will undergo a hysterectomy to remove her uterus. "I would like to thank you first for helping me to have my surgery," shares Bene. "I am actually ready for any surgery because I believe it is the best for me. I don't have any fears as long as it would lengthen my life so that I can be with my family longer. After this surgery I am planning to give attention also to my handicap and find ways to help my husband."​

Chantha is 31-years-old, and married with one son and one daughter. She works selling vegetables at the market and enjoys staying at home and looking after her children. Chantha fell down stairs on March 31, 2016 and fractured her left forearm. She is in pain and can't use her left arm. She received Khmer traditional medicine treatment for three months, but her fracture has not healed. She traveled three hours with her brother to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. For $405, surgeons at CSC will perform an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) procedure to realign the fractured bones in her forearm. After the surgery, she will regain the ability to move her arm. "When I am better, I will go home and continue to work at my business," shares Chantha.

Meet Kachope, a 77-year-old father of six who lives in Uganda. He spent his life working as a farmer, but now is mainly supported by his children who are self-employed. Kachope has had a swelling in his right scrotal for a long time. The swelling has increased in size over the years, and although it does not cause him much pain it does make him feel very uncomfortable especially when he is walking. Kachope visited a hospital once where he was diagnosed with hydrocele-- a fluid filled sac that surrounds the testicle-- and was advised to have surgery. However, Kachope was unable to pay for the operation, He decided to just live with the condition, but if not treated, Kachope will continue experiencing discomfort and the swelling could continue growing. For $215, doctors will surgically remove the sac of fluid and Kachope will be relieved of the swelling and discomfort. After surgery Kachope hopes to recover and have good health in his old age.