Jemrose is a happy and hardworking young woman from the Philippines. Her mother left when Jemrose was eight years old, leaving her and her siblings to the care of her father, who works as a land laborer. She was not able to finish high school, because her father could not sustain sending them all to school. Jemrose has thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland. The condition is characterized by a painful goiter [abnormal enlargement of the thyroid]. At the age of 14, she started working as a housemaid. At the age of 16, she started to get sick easily, and her neck started to swell. She was able to send herself to a doctor with the help of her sister, but could not sustain the daily medications. She cannot afford treatment because her family's income can barely sustain their daily needs. Having a goiter at a young age, without a mother to take care of their family, has been difficult for Jemrose. Whenever she is under stress or has a long day of work, her throat and chest get tight and uncomfortable so that she can't work well. She also easily gets nervous with little stimuli. Her condition has forced her to stop working. Before qualifying for surgery, she felt hopeless that she would not be able to get the treatment she needs. With $365, Jemrose can undergo a procedure to treat her thyroiditis. "The lump in her neck will be removed, and she will no longer experience pain and discomfort. Through the treatment, her condition will be prevented from progressing and becoming worse. She is now excited that after the surgery, she will be able to look for a stable job and have a chance to finish school. Jemrose shares, "Thank you so much for this help, because we really can't afford this treatment. I was eight years old when my mother left us and my father has worked so hard for us. I want to help him. I hope that after treatment, I can find a stable job to sustain our family's needs."

Mugisa is 66 years old, a widower, and father of seven living in Uganda. He is a peasant farmer, but he has no source of income because currently he is unable to dig. This is due to an inguinal hernia. Currently, he depends on the mercy of his friends and children. Mugisa developed a small swelling in his right inguinal area in 1989, and since then the swelling has continued to increase in size. The swelling is painful when he lifts heavy items, climbs a hill, or when he walks for a long distance. He also experiences pain in his right leg. In the past, Mugisa visited a hospital where he was given painkillers which didn’t help him. Recently his neighbor told him about assistance for surgery at Virika hospital, a Watsi partner site, and he decided to come and seek for that help. If the right inguinal hernia is not repaired, Mugisa may suffer intestinal incarceration, obstruction and/or blockage. For $220, Mugisa will receive hernia repair surgery, during which the doctor will use surgical mesh to support the weakened area in his abdominal wall. After surgery, Mugisa hopes to get well and resume digging as well as have good health. "I want to have surgery so that I can have at least 10 more years of life," shares Mugisa. Let's help make it happen!

At one-month-old, Ana is the youngest of eight children. Her father works as a laborer harvesting coffee in their native Guatemala, and “does not make enough money to even buy basic foods for his family, let alone expensive infant formula,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). Ana's mother cannot produce breastmilk, and because the family is unable to afford formula, Ana is now acutely malnourished. "Her life is in danger if she does not receive formula," explains WK. Ana’s hunger causes her to cry frequently, and she frequently has diarrhea, a common symptom of malnutrition. “In the long term,” WK explains, “she could face permanent brain damage, have developmental delays, and have stunted growth if she does not receive treatment.” For $1016, we can fund a multi-pronged treatment plan that will restore her health. “Ana’s mother will receive deliveries of formula every week for a year, and will have in-home motivational nutrition classes to teach her about what Ana needs to be healthy,” WK reports. “This treatment will help Ana grow, strengthen her immune system, and help her avoid life-threatening seizures and diarrhea.” Ana’s mother is optimistic about Ana’s future. “Now that we can receive your help, we are sure that our daughter will be able to grow healthy. We hope that she will be a very intelligent girl and will become a professional."

27-year-old Maryam lives with her mother in Nigeria. She loves to knit, and has just started a business as a trader. Recently, Maryam was found to have uterine fibroids, or noncancerous growths of the uterus that typically form during child-bearing years. "Maryam experiences heavy menstrual bleeding, excessive pain, and frequent urination," our medical partner, Hope for West Africa (HWA), reports. Though fibroids are not cancerous, they do cause great discomfort and can lead to other conditions, such as anemia. For Maryam, they have impeded her ability to work and help her mother with the family business. To cure Maryam of the fibroids, she will need to undergo surgery. $1,500 will pay for her surgery and a seven-day stay in the hospital for follow up appointments. After the procedure, "Maryam will be able to work and improve her business," HWA tells us. A vibrant young woman, Maryam is most excited to no longer experience pain or a prolonged menstrual flow. "I am looking forward to when I can assist my mother without complaining of pains and to not feel self-conscious," Maryam shares.

40-year-old Taw is a farmer who lives with her husband, son, and four daughters in Burma. Her family practices swidden agriculture—a rotational farming method in which different plots of land are cleared for cultivation each year—to grow rice, green beans, and cucumbers to feed themselves. Taw spent several months away from her husband and children while receiving treatment for choriocarcinoma, a cancer of the uterus that occurs during pregnancy. The fast-growing cancer cells develop within the tissue that becomes the placenta. Costs associated with Taw’s previous medical care have left the family with a large amount of debt. With no income from the farm and no external sources of financial support, they have no means of paying for additional treatment for Taw or even education fees or clothes for the children. In addition, the shifting of roles within the family has decreased productivity on the farm and puts them at risk of not producing enough food to feed themselves. “Taw’s current symptoms include gripping abdominal pain and tight muscle spasms in her lower back that force her to lie down,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us. “She experiences ongoing bleeding, has spells of dizziness and headaches, and is easily fatigued.” “Taw has been unable to work, and her husband has taken time off to care for her and their sick daughter,” BBP continues. “This has forced their 14-year-old daughter to drop out of school and to take up considerable responsibility to support the family.” For $1500, Taw will undergo a hysterectomy to remove her uterus. Funding also covers the costs of pre- and post-surgical consultations, seven days of hospital care, and transportation to and from the hospital. “It is hoped that surgery will improve the health condition and comfort of Taw so that she can return to her family,” says BBP. “When I recover, I will work hard to provide for my children," Taw shares.