Vireak is an 18-year-old student. He is the elder brother to two younger sisters. Both of Vireak's parents work in construction. In his free time, Vireak enjoys reading books, exercising, listening to music, and helping his family with cooking and taking care of his younger sisters. Vireak has been diagnosed with lumbar scoliosis. He has a curved spine causing back pain and has difficulty walking and sitting. On November 12th, surgeons at the Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) will perform an orthopedic repair surgery on Vireak to alleviate his scoliosis pain. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund his spinal surgery. Once recovered, his quality of life will significantly improve and he will be able to return to life as normal. Vireak shared, "I hope after my surgery my back gets better and I can have a straight spine and be free of discomfort."

35-year-old Maria has been a patient in a diabetes program for over two years now, and recently found out that she was pregnant. Since she is diabetic, blood sugar control as well as regular appointments with an obstetrician in a hospital are incredibly important to prevent life-threatening complications. She is now about 23 weeks pregnant, entering into the most risky period of her pregnancy. Maria lives with her spouse, her son, and her mother-in-law in a small adobe house with a tin roof. She is from a rural village in the mountains of Guatemala. This means that she lives far away from a hospital, and speaks little Spanish, the only language spoken in hospitals. She weaves traditional Maya blouses. She also raises rabbits and chickens to be able to buy food when her husband is without work. Her husband works as a day laborer, making little money each day there is work. This means that the costs of transport to the hospital, medications, and labs are far out of reach for their family. $281 will provide transport for Maria from her house to the hospital, translation and advocacy services for her while she's in the hospital, and the labs and medications she needs to prevent life-threatening complications for her and her baby. A medical team will work with her to make a birth plan so her and her family will feel comfortable going to the hospital to give birth, allowing her to receive life-saving care. Maria says, "I am happy with my family and my new pregnancy. I will do my part so that everything turns out well."

Meet Fadumo, an 18-year-old girl from Somalia. She is the first-born of nine children. Eight years ago, Fadumo was milking her father's goat when she sustained a head injury. Since then, frequent seizures, headaches, and medical travel have caused her difficulty in school. She cannot bend over to perform household tasks. Fadumo has visited several hospitals in Addis Ababa and Hargesia without success. At one point, she was even told that there are no treatment plans for girls in Africa. Finally, a missionary referred Fadumo to our medical partner's hospital in Kenya, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Fadumo and her father journeyed to Kenya, where they stayed with a host family of the same religion. Fadumo learned that she had a mucocele, or a mucus-filled mass, in her sinus. Without treatment, the mucocele would increase in size, putting Fadumo at risk of vision loss. She would also continue to experience seizures and headaches. Fortunately, on October 25, 2016, doctors performed a craniotomy to remove the mucocele. Fadumo’s father teaches religion, and her mother is a housewife. The family lives in traditional Somali temporary houses. They are unable to pay for Fadumo's $1,495 treatment––which includes surgical costs, medications, and hospital stay––so they need our help. “I want to be well to provide for my parents and get a quality education to help needy people at home," says Fadumo.

Noem is an 80-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married with two sons, one daughter, and ten grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. Noem heard about the Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), a Watsi medical partner, from a neighbor who had surgery there before. She traveled for three hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Noem developed a cataract in each eye about one year ago. This has caused blurred vision, cloudy lenses, and tearing. It is difficult for her to see things clearly and go places on her own. A phacoemulsification procedure, to break up and remove the cataracts, and an intraocular lens (IOL) implant in each eye will allow Noem to see clearly again. $292 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Noem needs. Noem says, "I hope I can see everything more clear than now so that I can easily go to ceremonies and the pagoda or anywhere else outside."