Over four years ago, 38-year-old Nankya started feeling pain in her navel area. One year later, she was diagnosed with a supraumbilical hernia; a condition that occurs when tissues or organs bulge through a weak portion of the abdominal wall. The swelling causes her pain which gets worse when she’s carrying heavy items, during cold weather, or when she coughs. At the time of Nankya’s diagnosis, she was pregnant and medical providers advised her to wait to have the surgery after the baby was delivered. Post-delivery, Nankya was unable to save enough money for her treatment. Nankya worked in the fields for long hours, tended her garden, and weaved baskets for an income, but the hernia has hindered her from continuing. If her hernia is not treated, Nankya is at risk of serious complications such as obstruction of the intestine, incarceration or strangulation which will cause the intestinal tissue to die and can be fatal. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), can provide Nankya with a hernia repair at a treatment cost of $220. With her hernia preventing her from working, she cannot save the money for the treatment alone. Watsi funding will provide for the cost of treatment, the medicines, and her hospital stay. Doctors expect that after the treatment she will no longer experience any pain and there will be no more risk of complications. As a married mother of six, Nankya is looking forward to having the surgery, regaining her strength and returning to work to support her family. “Thank you for your assistance. God bless you,” she says.

Nai is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia who developed a cataract in both eyes one year ago. Now she is unable to see anything clearly, do her work, or go anywhere outside without tearing up. As the mother of six children and 16 grandchildren, she’s always busy supporting her family - cooking, planting vegetables around her home, or taking care of her grandchildren. Nai traveled 3 hours with her son to Children’s Surgical Centre where she learned she would need a phaco surgery and IOL implant in each eye to remove the cataracts. Surgery will provide Nai with artificial lenses that will allow her to see clearly again. She is unable to afford the $225 that will fund her treatment. After surgery, Nai hopes that she can continue her work outside on the fields as a rice farmer to support her family, and no longer be afraid of the sunshine.

Channy is a five-year-old girl who lives with her mother in Cambodia. She loves listening to music, watching movies, and playing outside with her friends. Channy has a patellar dislocation, which resulted from a poorly administered injection into her left thigh when she was two months old. Her dislocation means she unable to walk without pain. Channy has tried other treatments without effect, and now needs a quadriceplasty - a surgery that will permanently improve the range of motion of her knee. $378 will fund the necessary surgery at Children’s Surgical Centre. Let's help Channy fulfill her mother’s hopes that her “daughter will walk properly after surgery” and be able to play without pain.

Peter is a 13-year-old boy from the central region of Kenya. As the middle child of three siblings, he is an avid and energetic student. When he was 10, he began to notice that his left testis would routinely disappear at times. Within the past month, his left testis no longer descended and he developed pain in his inguinal region. Concerned, he was evaluated by a local surgeon that diagnosed Peter with cryptorchidism (undescended testicle). If left untreated, Peter was warned that he may also develop inguinal hernia, testicular torsion, and future issues with fertility. Treatment for Peter is an orchidopexy procedure, which will resolve his symptoms. The cost of treatment is $495. However, Peter's parents are unable to raise this amount. Peter's father works as a casual laborer while his mother sells sukuma wiki (kales). "Peter is very bright in school but this problem is affecting his studies. I hope Watsi will support us for a successful surgery so that he may have the opportunity of starting his own family," says Peter's mother.

“This bleeding is making me worried," Philis shares. "If it continues I feel like I am going to die. Please help me so that I can be safe. I have to be okay and be there for my family." Philis is a 51-year-old mother of five living in Kenya. She was healthy until she began experiencing heavy bleeding and abdominal pain few weeks ago. Philis went to the hospital at the first signs of her symptoms and was given medicine but the bleeding persisted. Philis was then referred to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), where she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and anemia. "If not treated, Philis will continue to bleed which could lead to severe anemia with other cardiovascular complications," AMHF shares. For $790, Philis will receive a hysterectomy to remove her uterus and the fibroids causing pain, excessive bleeding, and anemia. This surgery will allow Philis to get back on her feet and regain her energy to work as a small scale farmer, and also a mother to five loving children.

Seventeen-year-old Mony is a 10th grade student from Cambodia who enjoys playing football, watching movies, and reading books. “Mony has congenital clubfoot of his right foot,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. He was diagnosed at age three, but he didn't receive effective treatment to solve the condition permanently. “Now,” CSC continues, “it is still difficult and painful for Mony to walk normally.” With clubfoot, the foot twists out of position due to short tendons in the foot and ankle. Treatment for clubfoot is surgery to release these tendons in the involved foot and ankle. Doctors then move the foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. After the casts are removed, Mony may wear a brace for a year or more to maintain the proper position of his foot and ensure that his improvements are permanent. $266 covers the cost of surgery for Mony as well as the costs of two weeks of hospital care, imaging, physiotherapy, and six follow-up appointments during the first year after surgery. “After surgery,” says CSC, “Mony will be able to walk properly and without pain. He can return to his studies.” "I hope after surgery my son can walk better,” shares Mony’s mother.

Faraja is a three-year-old girl who is the daughter of two small-scale farmers in Tanzania. She loves being close to her mother, and on good days, carries her doll on her back. One year ago, Faraja experienced burns to multiple areas of her shoulder and arm after tripping and falling in a hot pot of tea. A year later, she now experiences contractures and scaring of the left arm and wrist, limiting her from normal use. A contracture release surgery, along with skin grafting, will help her gain normal use of her arm again. However, her family is unable to fund this procedure on their own. Faraja's treatment will cost $870, and includes all pre- and post-operative care. Her mother states: “I just hope my daughter will have a straight arm again.”

“When Juma is busy playing with other children he puts a beautiful smile on his face,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “He likes to clap his hands and since he recently started to walk, he likes to walk a lot.” Two-year-old Juma from Tanzania was born with hypospadias, a genital defect. This means that his penis is bent, and his urinary opening is located on the base of the organ, rather than on its head. This can make urination difficult, and “if not treated, as an adult Juma will have fertility problems,” AMHF details. Juma’s parents cannot afford the surgery he needs to remedy this birth defect. As small-scale farmers of maize and other grains and parents of three other children, “their income is not stable,” says AMHF. $837 covers the cost of hypospadias repair surgery, which will straighten Juma’s penis and extend his urinary channel through the length of the organ, relocating the urinary opening to the head. Funding also includes a ten-day hospital stay for Juma so he has adequate time to recover after the procedure. "I hope my son’s treatment will go well. I wish for him to have a good future and his own family,” says Juma’s mother.

Jane is a radiant woman who is expecting a child any day now. She wants to give her new baby the best chance at being healthy. Jane has been doing what she can to prepare, including attending the maternal health program at Lwala Community Alliance, but she is nervous. Most mothers in her region of the world give birth at home, without access to emergency medical services. Of all the births that occur in the world, 15% of them result in life-threatening emergencies, and for women who cannot afford basic maternal care, that often results in fatality. 99% of all maternal deaths occur in the developing world. Jane wants nothing more than a healthy family. $215 will provide the crucial medical care an expectant mother needs to deliver a healthy baby. The money raised here will cover Jane’s antennal care, a hospital delivery and post-birth checkup for mom and baby.