Zaw is a 52-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and two children. He used to work as a taxi driver, and his wife has a small business buying and selling clothes. Their combined income is usually enough for the family. About four years ago, Zaw was diagnosed with a cataract in both eyes. He underwent corrective surgery. Not long after his surgery, he started to have blurry vision in his left eye. He visited the same ophthalmologist and was diagnosed with retinal detachment. This condition has a great impact on his work, as he doesn't dare to drive anymore. His loss of vision has started to become a financial burden for his family. Zaw learned of a former eye patient who was sponsored by our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). That patient was treated for the same retinal detachment problem and can now see clearly. Zaw decided to make the seven-hour journey to Mae Tao Clinic, BCMF's care center. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Zaw’s eye surgery. The funding includes a three-day hospital stay and transportation back home from the hospital. “I look forward to getting better and driving my taxi again. My children are still in school, and I want to be able to support them,” says Zaw.

Turyahikayo is a 51-year-old farmer from Uganda. Her husband is a laborer, and they have eight children. About one year ago, Turyahikayo developed a swelling in a sensitive area that has been growing every since. Upon coming to the hospital, she was diagnosed with an anal tag and recommended to undergo surgery in order to have it removed. Without treatment, the mass will continue to cause Turyahikayo great discomfort. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $187 to fund Turyahikayo’s mass excision surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 29 and, once completed, will hopefully relieve Turyahikayo of her pain and improve her quality of life. Turyahikayo says, "I hope to have comfort and continue with farming after surgery."

Savuth is a 35-year-old married father of four children. He enjoys visiting his rice farm, gardening, and relaxing at home when he is not working. In June 2014, Savuth injured his left hip during a fall. He took painkillers for six months, but his symptoms did not improve. He eventually underwent a total hip replacement at a private clinic. In April of this year, Savuth fractured his prosthesis, making it difficult for him to walk. He has not been able to work since then. Savuth traveled with his wife to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Doctors at CSC diagnosed Savuth with osteonecrosis. This is a medical condition where the bones become weaker and break down as a result of reduced blood flow to the joints. On April 28, surgeons perform hip replacement surgery to remove the fractured prosthesis and replace it with a new one. We can help Savuth to walk easily again by raising $781 in donations.

Andy is the second child in his family. They live near Lake Atitlan in rural Guatemala. Andy's mother is a housewife, and his father works as a public transportation assistant. Andy has been diagnosed with severe stunting as a result of malnutrition. He is underweight and small for his age. Andy’s mother says that her son rarely finishes his food and is often sick. Fortunately, malnutrition is easily treatable. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), will start Andy's treatment program on March 13. Andy will receive food and micronutrient supplements. Community health workers will monitor Andy's growth and progress regularly, and they will also teach his mother how to prepare nutrient-rich meals for her son. Andy's parents are very worried about their son, but they do not have the resources to pay for his treatment. WK is asking for donations to fund his $492 malnutrition treatment. Andy's mother shares, "I hope for him to grow up and be a good student in the future." Let's help Andy develop into a strong and healthy young boy!

Justus is an eight-month-old baby boy from Kenya. Unfortunately, he was born with meningitis and spent most of his first few days in the hospital. A few weeks after being discharged, his family noticed that Justus's head had increased abnormally in size and that he had lost a lot of weight. His parents thought these symptoms could be due to poor feeding, but six months later, they also noticed that he was missing his developmental milestones. For example, he could not hold up his head or sit like other children his age. His family took him to the local hospital to receive a scan, which revealed that Justus has hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebral spinal fluid is retained in the brain. They were immediately referred to our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital, for specialized treatment. The doctors recommended surgery, but his parents could not raise the required funds. If the condition remains untreated, Justus will be at risk of brain damage and vision loss. Justus's family of three children lives in a one-roomed house. His parents are employed as tea pickers, but their income barely sustains their family's needs. For this reason, our medical partner is requesting $685 to fund the surgery. This surgery will eliminate the high pressure on his brain and ultimately improve his quality of his life.

“I thank the doctors who are going to work on me to take away my pain,” shares Shaban. “But most especially, I thank the people that are donating their resources toward my surgery.” Shaban is a 30-year-old farmer from rural Uganda. During his free time, he likes to listen to the radio and watch soccer—especially games in which his favorite team, Chelsea United, is winning. For a decade now, Shaban has been battling a scrotal hernia, meaning part of his abdominal tissue has pushed through a weak spot in his stomach and into his genital region. This past year, the hernia has gotten substantially worse. The pain has become so pronounced that he can no longer complete the housework and farming tasks that he shares with his parents. Fortunately, there is hope for Shaban. He will undergo hernia repair surgery on February 4. This operation will relieve his pain and remove the risk of complications. However, he needs our help to pay for this $228 procedure. After recovery, Shaban hopes to save up money to start a small business. Let’s help get him back to a pain-free life so he can achieve that goal!

Myint is a 53-year-old woman from Burma. In her free time, Myint loves to plant vegetables and dry palm leaves to sell as material for thatched roofs. She also enjoys making donations to the village temple. In December, Myint noticed a painful bulge in her lower abdomen. She went to a nearby village clinic, where they identified the mass but could not treat it. After returning home, Myint relied on traditional medicines, but they did not provide relief. Her pain has continued, making sitting uncomfortable. This month, Myint traveled with her daughter to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. There, doctors performed a blood test and an ultrasound. On January 18, she will also undergo a CT scan. The results of this scan will help her doctors form a treatment plan. Our medical partner is requesting $414 to fund this procedure.

Pich is a 44-year-old farmer with four sons and one daughter. He likes to watch the news on TV and listen to old songs on the radio. In November 2016, Pich fell from his motorbike and dislocated his left shoulder. He was in pain and unable to work. When Pich learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for five hours to seek treatment. On December 1, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure on Pich's shoulder. After recovery, he will be able to use his left arm easily. Now, CSC is requesting $411 to fund this surgery. "I hope that I can work again to support my family," says Pich.

Klint Jhon, a four-year-old boy, lives with his parents and three brothers in a bamboo house. His father works as a corn mill operator. Klint Jhon loves to play with his brothers. Klint Jhon has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. He began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 20. He is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope that he will recover from malnutrition and will be able to finish his studies," says Klint Jhon's mother.

Chea is an 83-year-old woman from Cambodia who is married with one son, three daughters, and five grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. Chea heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from a neighbor who had surger there before. She traveled for four hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Chea developed a cataract in each eye about three years ago, causing blurred vision and tearing. It is difficult for her to see things clearly and to go anywhere on her own. A small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and an intraocular lens (IOL) implant in each eye will allow Chea see clearly again. $292 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Chea needs. Chea says, "I hope that I can see everything more clear than now so that I can go to the pagoda and join ceremonies or go anywhere outside more easily than now."

Alfredy is 6 years old and is identical to his twin brother. He doesn’t like to play as much as his twin brother, but they are both happy and like to smile. When in the mood to play, Alfredy likes to push an old tire as well as kicking ball. Alfredy’s mother is a casual laborer, mostly doing some farm work. She separated from her husband a while back and is now taking care of her four children alone. Alfredy’s mother saw her son’s legs were abnormally bowing outwards when he was almost three years old. With time the condition keeps getting worse. If not treated, Alfredy will be at risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Alfredy and his siblings were all attending school, but Alfredy has stopped going to kindergarten when the long walk became too difficult, and his twin brother has refused to go without him. Alfredy will receive three surgeries to correct his bowed legs and be in the hospital for two weeks, costing $940. Alfredy’s mother needs financial support so that her son can get proper treatment. “I just pray that my son’s legs can be straightened to allow him to walk properly. That way he will attend school and maybe later he will be able to support me,” said Alfredy’s mother.

Ann is a middle aged woman from Nakuru, Kenya. She is a mother to two children. Her husband has hip problems and has not been able to work since 2013. The family relies on help from neighbors, and they live in a four roomed house, which is incomplete as the husband got sick before its completion. He was the sole provider of the family. Ann used to sell cakes to supplement her family income. She has since stopped as she is not able to walk with ease. In 2013 September, Ann complained of back pains and made several visits to the hospital. She was given pain management drugs. She needed an x-ray which she took after several months due to financial burdens. The images indicated swollen veins and muscle on her back and legs. In 2015, after several clinical visits, she had an MRI done which indicated that Ann had arthritis. Ann is not able to walk or move with ease and has thus stopped working. She has to rely on friends to assist her as her husband is bedridden. If not treated, Ann will continue having a lot of pain and numbness. She risks having permanent disability. Surgery was recommended but she has not been able to raise the amount needed. A spinal fusion will cost $1500, and is expected to significantly improve Ann's condition. “I want to be well to work and provide for my family," Ann shared.