Celestine is a 28-year-old single mother of one child, living in Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. She works as an informal teacher at a nearby primary school, under the Parents Teachers Association. Her income is KES 10,000 per month which she uses to support herself, her family and her child. Despite the challenges, she saves whenever possible and has a dream of one day she will be be formally employed, buy a cow and start practicing farming to improve her livelihood. For the past month, Celestine has been confined to a hospital bed. Her illness began after she slipped and injured her leg while crossing a river on her way home. Believing the injury to be minor, she did not seek urgent care and instead visited a nearby dispensary where her leg was dressed, and she was given some medications. Three days later, her leg became increasingly swollen and painful. She sought care at another facility, but as her condition worsened, she finally went to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rapidly progressive inflammatory infection that kills the body's soft tissues. Celestine was taken urgently to the theatre and underwent surgical debridement of the infected limb, and the procedure was successful. Postoperatively, she was managed in the ward with regular wound care and placed on a wound vacuum to promote healing. A further debridement was planned, and her wound has since become clean and suitable for definitive coverage with a flap and skin graft to allow proper healing and recovery. Unfortunately, Celestine's prolonged hospital stay has accumulated significant medical bills. Celestine is therefore seeking support to help her complete her treatment, regain her health, and return to caring for her child and rebuilding her life. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Celestine receive treatment. On January 6th, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery and skin graft, to promote wound coverage and bring her closer to discharge. Now, Celestine needs help to fund this $1,239 procedure. Celestine says, "I thank God for bringing me this far, and I see that I am approaching full closure of my wound. My doctor and the team are dedicated to make sure that my wound is getting better. I am hopeful that this will bring me closer to healing. I look forward to getting better so that I go back to teaching."

Hannah is a mother of four from Kenya. Her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, earns a modest income through casual construction work. Their older children, aged 14, 6, and 2, are currently under the care of a relative while he stays at the hospital to support Hannah and their newborn. Hannah is grateful to be alive after narrowly escaping death on the 22nd of November 2025. She was on her way home on a motorbike with her six-year-old son when a lorry lost control and struck them. At the time, Hannah was 33 weeks pregnant. Although both of them survived the crash, they were left badly injured. Well-wishers rushed them to a nearby hospital, where they received first aid. Over the next five days, Hannah and her son remained in severe pain with no improvement. Concerned, they came to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further evaluation. Scans revealed that Hannah had a fractured right leg requiring surgery. Even more alarming, it was discovered that her water had broken during the accident, something she had not noticed, putting her unborn baby at serious risk. Hannah and her son were immediately admitted for urgent care. On the same day, Hannah underwent an emergency caesarean section to safely deliver her baby, followed by external fixation surgery on her leg. Her son also received external fixation surgery to treat his leg injury. Thankfully, all procedures were successful, and after one week, both mother and child are making commendable progress. Hannah still requires a skin graft on her injured leg. She continues to experience significant pain and swelling, and the procedure is essential for her recovery. Unfortunately, her insurance coverage has been exhausted after paying for her surgeries and her son’s. With three outstanding medical bills, Hannah's and those of her two sons, her husband has been unable to gather the funds needed for the upcoming surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Hannah receive treatment. On December 10th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help heal her leg and regain her mobility. Now, Hannah needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Hannah shared, “I am still frightened when I recall how close we came to losing our lives. My greatest hope is to walk again and be present for my children."

SoPhorn is a 50-year-old man residing in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, with his wife and two children. Both of his children work in a garment factory, and his wife is a rice farmer. In his free time, Sophorn likes spending time with his family, chatting with his friends at a café, and doing home repair projects. About three years ago, Sophorn began experiencing pain in his right hip, which has caused difficulty walking and limited his ability to perform daily tasks independently. The condition developed naturally, without trauma or accident. He had previously undergone a total hip arthroplasty on his left hip in 2017 at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Sophorn went back to CSC for treatment on his right hip. On November 13th, Sophorn will undergo a hip replacement procedure, which is expected to relieve pain and improve mobility, allowing him to move comfortably and return to work in his fields. His family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $1,400 more to fund his procedure and post-operative care. Sophorn said, “I hope that I will be able to walk easily and no longer have hip pain, so I can go back to work and support my family.”

Srey Phorn is a 78-year-old woman from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Chnang province with her youngest daughter, who works as a rice farmer to support the household. Her husband passed away several years ago, and her seven other children have moved out and visit when possible. In her free time, Phorn enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio, and spending time with her grandchildren when they visit. She also enjoys staying active with small household tasks. About one month ago, Phorn slipped on a wet floor at home, resulting in a fracture of her left hip. Since the accident, she has been unable to walk and experiences persistent pain and stiffness extending from her hip down to her leg. Previously, she visited a private clinic, where she received painkiller injections, but could not afford further treatment. The doctor advised her to seek further treatment with our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), which provides orthopedic care for all ages. Phorn and her family traveled approximately two and a half hours to reach CSC. On October 8th, Phorn will undergo a hip fracture repair procedure, which will relieve her pain, and help her regain mobility and independence. Phorn's family can contribute $50, but needs help to raise $662 more to fund her procedure and care. Phorn shared, "I am happy to have surgery and I will be able to do more around the house and not feel so much pain."

John is a sociable 59-year-old man from Kenya who is married and has four children. John has always placed his pride and strength in supporting his family's well-being, doing everything he can to ensure his children succeed. He was born and raised in rural Kenya and, at an early age, embraced his spirit of independence and ingenuity. He has thrived working in the jua kali sector, where he works skillfully with metal to repair and sell items to support his family. John is also a farmer and grows potatoes and onions on his land and keeps two dairy cows. His wife, a devoted stay-at-home mother, manages a small garden of vegetables that supplements the family's meals. For many years, John enjoyed good health and has been known in his community for his strength, energy, and reliability. However, 15 years ago, his life began to change when he was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Despite the shock of the diagnosis, John adapted with discipline and managed his condition well for over a decade. It wasn't until early this year that John could no longer keep to the medication and dietary restrictions, and his blood sugar levels went out of control, and his health rapidly deteriorated. John developed a large, painful ulcer on his leg, with irregular margins and a necrotic base, which is a typical complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Recognizing the severity of his condition, John brought himself to the hospital. On arrival, he was critically ill, with dangerously high blood sugar levels and signs of serious infection. He was urgently admitted and began receiving intravenous antibiotics, wound dressings, and intensive glucose control with close monitoring by the medical team. His journey since then has been long and complex, and the surgical team was consulted concerning the big ulcer and the need for a series of debridements. Unfortunately, doctors also diagnosed chronic osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection that necessitated a sequestrectomy to remove the infected bone fragments. Today, John's wound is cleaner, but far from healed. He is currently being prepared for a flap and medial plantar artery surgery. However, the financial burden is beyond what he and his family can afford, and he is requesting support so that he can undergo the surgery with the hope that he will soon get better and be able to be on his feet once again. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping John receive treatment. On July 25th, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery. AMH is requesting $1,239 to fund this procedure. John said, "When I get out of the hospital, I will find a non-demanding business to run so that I can still earn my living despite my age and condition."

Thant is a four-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his aunt, younger sister, and two cousins in Tak Province, Thailand. He was born in Thailand, but his parents are from Burma. He and his younger sister were looked after by their aunt while both his parents had left to work in Bangkok a few months ago. They send money to support Thant and his sister, as well as his aunt's family. Since he was four months old, Thant has had an inguinal hernia. Currently, his right scrotum is swelling, and if he plays, he feels pain. This also affects his sleep. He cannot play much with friends and cannot be active because if he does, he feels more pain. Fortunately, on August 27th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Thant's hernia repair surgery. Once completed, it will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Thant's aunt said, "I am sad that I cannot help him. I have to look after him and his sister, as well as my own kids, which is very difficult for me sometimes, and also perform my household chores. After he recovers, I will send him to school, but for now, due to the pain, he can't go to school yet."

Mary is a 45-year-old mother of two from Malawi. She is a widow, having lost her husband in 2019. Her first child dropped out of school to help Mary with her small-scale business of selling plastic items such as pails, basins and buckets. Her second child is in Primary 5. Mary has been self-reliant, but occasionally her brother who is a soldier helps her out here and there. For nine months, Mary has been experiencing abdominal pain. She went to a local hospital where painkillers were prescribed, but when the pain got worse she went back to the hospital. She then underwent a scan that revealed uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will have to remove her uterus. Presently, Mary is experiencing weakness, tiredness, abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. Mary's illness has affected her ability to run her business and drained all her income due to frequent hospital visits. She now spends most of her time in bed due to the pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Mary receive treatment. On May 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery, enabling her to resume her daily activities free from pain. Mary is able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help raising $1,363 more to fund the procedure. She says: "Due to persistent abdominal pain, I am unable to work. I need assistance in obtaining treatment, as my children rely on me."

Adija is a 74-year-old woman from Malawi who is married and has two children. She grows rice on a small scale and is mainly supported by her granddaughter. Ten years ago, Adija began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck. Though small, she still reported to the hospital for support, but they incorrectly treated the condition as tonsilitis, and the swelling kept on growing bigger. Not tiring in her journey to get help, Adija returned to the hospital three years later after noticing that swallowing was becoming tough. She was then diagnosed with a goiter and referred to the national hospital for proper management. For the past seven years, she has been visiting the hospital for surgery to no avail. At the beginning of this year, Adija's condition became worse -- she could not breathe well, could not walk long distances, had frequent coughs, and sometimes could choke while sleeping, altogether making it challenging for her to live peacefully and eat comfortably. Fortunately, when she was taken to the hospital in May due to her condition, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope, for urgent attention. There, the doctors performed tests, and she was diagnosed with a colloid goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Adija needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Adija receive treatment. On June 24th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy at Partners in Hope, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. She contributed a co-pay toward her care and needs help raising $1,015 to fund her treatment. Adija said, "If only I can be assisted, I will be very happy again. As an old woman, I wish to live a happy life in my last days of life."

Isaya is a cheerful 10-year-old from Tanzania. Curious and sociable, he enjoys making conversation and quickly builds rapport with those around him. During his time at our medical partner's care center, Isaya kept up an animated dialogue, showing his natural ease with people. At home, Isaya lives in a large extended family. His father, who has three wives and over fifteen children, provides for the family through livestock keeping and farming. They live communally and share responsibilities, but quality medical care is inaccessible without a stable income. Isaya has clubfoot on the left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. For Isaya, the condition causes him pain and limits his ability to walk and participate in social, school, and community activities. Fortunately, Isaya's family traveled to our medical partner's care center, where surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on May 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Isaya's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk comfortably and enjoy a more active childhood. Isaya said, "I am grateful knowing I won't have to live with this defect for the rest of my life."

Htun is a 12-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother and four older siblings. His sister attends school, and his mother and two older brothers work as cooks in small restaurants. Htun himself stopped going to school in August 2024 because of his condition. The family’s income is insufficient to cover their daily expenses, let alone their basic healthcare needs. Htun is still enrolled in a Thai school, which covers a certain amount of medical treatment costs per school year for each student. On August 13, 2024, on a rainy day, Htun was riding his bicycle home from school when he slipped and hit his head on the asphalt as he fell to the ground. He lost consciousness immediately, and bystanders who witnessed the accident called the ambulance, which took him to the hospital. When his friends informed his mother about what happened, she rushed to the hospital, where the doctors had already conducted an X-ray and determined that, except for his head, he did not suffer any other injuries. As the doctor performed an MRI on Htun’s head shortly after, he found a tumor or a cystic lesion on the midline of his forehead, which was filled with fluid. Currently, Htun has a hard time going outside and cannot attend school since he is overwhelmed very quickly, which makes him vomit and lose consciousness. His mother has to say things repeatedly since Htun forgets most things immediately. His coordination has become unstable, and he can no longer walk straight. He also gets tired easily. Htun sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on April 18th. BCMF requests $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Htun's mother said, “Before his accident, Htun enjoyed drawing, but now he has become too weak even to hold a pencil. He misses all his classes too. I want him to be healthy again and become educated.” She added, “I cannot afford to help my child, so I want to thank you, Burma Children's Medical Fund, and Watsi donors for supporting us. It makes me feel thrilled and relieved.”

Tabiya is a 45-year-old mother of two children from Malawi. Her husband is a casual worker, while she cooks and sells donuts for income. Tabiya derives much pleasure in baking, and her favorite meal is chips and chicken. For the past four years, Tabiya has had a hard mass on the right side of her abdomen. Initially, she did not experience any pain and was advised by some of her female friends that it was likely a sign of pregnancy. Over time, however, she began experiencing some troubling symptoms including pain, backaches, prolonged heavy bleeding, body weakness, and numbness where the mass was located. She decided to seek a medical consultation at our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center. A series of tests were conducted, and Tabiya was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and advised to undergo a hysterectomy, a surgical removal of her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tabiya receive treatment. On April 4th, she will undergo the surgery and once recovered, Tabiya will be able to resume her daily activities free from pain. She and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $1,363 more to fund the procedure. Tabiya says, "The pain has become unbearable and has affected my work. I am hopeful that after surgery, I will recover and be able to fulfill my responsibilities as a supportive mother to my family."

Deisy is a little girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother and her older brother. Her father is a driver who is mostly away traveling between cities. Deisy loves to play, but she gets tired very easily. Deisy has a cardiac condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On February 25th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Deisy's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Deisy's mother shared, "Deisy is such a sweet and caring little girl. I was so scared of the surgery, but I know it is the best thing for her, so she can have a healthy life."