Sophal is a retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She lives in a small town on the Mekong river that is famous for having a small population of freshwater dolphins. Sophal has five sons, one daughter, and fifteen grandchildren that keep her busy. Her husband has also retired from their rice farm. Their daughter lives with them and farms rice and lotus for a living. Sophal shared that some of her favorite activities include joining ceremonies at her local pagoda, cooking, and looking after her house. About seven months ago, Sophal developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go out on her own. When Sophal learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for eight and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 5th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure. Sophal shared: "I hope my vision improves, and I can do housework and get around easily by myself. I want to walk to the pagoda by myself."

Boniface is a 9-year-old student with two siblings. He started school late and enjoys taking part in science classes. Boniface likes to play soccer with his peers, but it is hard for him to play for long because of his leg condition. Boniface was diagnosed with genu valgus. His right knee knocks on his left knee. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Boniface. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 8th. Treatment will hopefully restore Boniface's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Boniface’s mother says, “It has been hard for him with his leg condition. He wishes to do more, but he is limited."

Maribeth is a caring mother from the Philippines. She's a full-time mom to her three children, while her husband works as a grinder. In May 2022, Maribeth began to experience troubling symptoms, including fatigue, trembling hands, and masses on her neck that were growing in size. These symptoms prevent her from being able to take care of her children and do her daily chores. Maribeth sought a medical checkup, where doctors told her to undergo a neck ultrasound and biopsy. Her results indicated that she is experiencing a multiple colloid adenomatous goiter. This condition occurs when tumor formation occurs, caused by an overgrowth of thyroid tissue cells. Maribeth needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Maribeth receive treatment. On November 11th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at WSFP's hospital. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of her treatment, and WSFP is raising $890 to cover the remaining cost of Maribeth's procedure and care. Maribeth says, "This free surgery is a big help for me because we don't have enough money to pay for my bills. To all the hospital staff who are helping me, to WATSI and World Surgical Foundation Philippines, thank you! May God bless you, and may you help more people in need."

Chheng is a 50-year-old construction worker. He is married, and has one son and four daughters. While his son is married, his four daughters remain at home with Chheng and his wife, who works at a local clothing factory. Chheng was in a motor vehicle collision in March 2020. He fractured both his left tibia and left femur, and was treated at a government hospital. Hardware was placed to stabilize the bones and to help the fractures heal properly. Now, the hardware is exposed, and he has an infected wound, causing him constant pain. In addition, he can only walk with the help of crutches. Chheng is concerned that he will be unable to continue supporting his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 12th, Chheng will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will cost $304. This procedure will help clear the infection and heal the wound on his leg, enabling him to return to work. Now he needs your help to fund the surgery. Chheng shared: "I hope after the hardware is gone, I will heal soon and can walk and work as before."

Samwel, a very social and hardworking Kenyan father of eight children, is an active maize farmer who likes spending most of his time on his farm. He works hard to meet the needs of his family. His wife takes care of their home and helps him in his daily farming activities. Samwel lives with his family in a semi-permanent house in their farm. His elder children are married, and they also work hard to meet their own families' basic needs. Samwel presented to the emergency department with cuts on his left wrist joint and on his knees after an assault with a machete by a person known to him. This was brought up by family conflicts due to land disputes. Doctors diagnosed that he had multiple tendon injuries with nerve injuries in his wrist and an open fracture of his left distal femur in his leg. He is in pain and cannot walk with ease. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help him heal and get active again. On September 5th, Samwel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Samwel will no longer experience pain. He will go back to his family and continue with his farm activities. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Samwel says, “I have so much pain, but I am happy to be alive. I hope to get treated, go back home and be with my family.”

Paw is 52-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, two daughters and son-in-law in a refugee camp. She and her husband are homemakers, while her eldest daughter and son-in-law are teachers. Her youngest daughter is a student. She has cataracts and she has blurred vision in both of her eyes. Because of her poor vision, she has difficulty walking around the refugee camp and she has had to stop weaving and selling traditional Karen clothes from her home-region of Burma. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Paw. On December 29th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Paw's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. "I hope that my treatment will be successful. I want to be able to see well. I want to continue weaving clothes in the future, and I want to live with my family for the rest of my life,” she said.

Sangva is a 42-year-old taxi driver from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons and three daughters. During his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with his friends. In February, Sangva was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture of his left humerus, a bone in the arm. He went to an emergency clinic where doctors fixated hardware to heal his injury. The bone is now healed, and the hardware must be removed to prevent future complications. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 18th, Sangva will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This procedure will allow his arm to be fully healed. Sangva says, "I hope I will be able to return to work soon."

Su is 10-year-old girl who lives in Thailand. Both of her parents work for a community based organization helping others in their area. In her free time, Su likes to draw pictures and play with her friends. Su was born with clubfeet and a dislocated hip. She received corrective surgery in Chiang Mai with the help of our medical partner BCMF after she was born. During her last visit to the hospital when she was young, the doctor told her mother that they only had to return to the hospital when she outgrew her clubfeet correction shoes. However, her parents could never bring her back. In additional to financial constraints, their legal documents expired, and later when they had legal documents, they could not go to Chiang Mai due to covid-19 travel restrictions. In June 2022, Su started to experience pain in her right foot whenever she walked more than 10 minutes. She also experienced pain in her right hip for the first time when she walked. The doctor at Mae Sot Hospital diagnosed her with a dislocated hip and referred her to the larger hospital Chiang Mai for further treatment. In October an MRI was performed for Su and it was determined that she may need two surgeries: one for hrt hip and another for her clubfeet condition. The first surgery is for a hip replacement and the doctor scheduled her for surgery on November 25th so she can be out of pain as quickly as possible. Her family needs $1500 for her hip replacement surgery. Su's father said, "I am hopeful for my daughter to receive surgery soon. After surgery, I hope that she will be able to walk like other children and she will not be shy when she grows up. Now, when she goes to school, some of her friends tease her that she cannot walk properly like other children."

Samorn is a 22-year-old soldier with one younger sister who is currently in the 10th grade at public school. Samorn's mother is a farmer and his father repairs houses in order to earn a living. In his free time, Samorn enjoys singing, listening to music, exercising, and playing football. On April 10th, Samorn was in a motorcycle accident. He hit a tree and fractured his right clavicle and ulnar, as well as injured his right shoulder. As a result of the crash, Samorn has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to move his right arm, and cannot work. Fortunately, Samorn traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. On June 7th, Samorn will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery. After he has recovered, he will be able to use his arm again and get back to work in order to help his family. Samorn was able to contribute $100 towards his medical care. Now, our partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to help fund his procedure. Samorn says, "I hope I can use my arm so I can drive and work again."

Monicah is a shy four year old girl who loves being with her grandmother. She is the first born in a family of two. She hails from a village in Machakos county, Kenya. Monicah was diagnosed to have hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that paralyses one side of the body. She also has clubfoot of her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Monicah's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Monicah's clubfoot repair. The surgery will be impactful to her since she will be able to walk without pain and finally she will be able to step on the ground with her right foot. “I am pleading support for my daughter to undergo surgery. I would love to see her stepping on the ground confidently,” Monicah’s mother told us.

Jemimah is a 45 year old business woman who lives with her husband and five children in Uganda. She runs her family’s small furniture shop, where her husband works as a carpenter, to earn a living for their family. They have no house of their own, and live in their friend’s house as caretakers. Earlier this year, Jemimah began experiencing severe back pain, accompanied by other worrisome symptoms. As a result of her condition, she no longer feels able to take an active part in their family business. Jemimah has been diagnosed with abnormal uterine bleeding and endometrial hyperplasia. If her condition is left untreated, Jemimah could be at risk for developing uterine cancer. In order to treat her condition, Jemimah needs to undergo a hysterectomy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $319 to fund Jemimah's surgery, which is scheduled for May 13th at Rushroza Hospital. Once she has fully recovered, Jemimah will be able to resume her daily activities, free of pain. Jemimah says: “I am troubled because I can no longer do my duties like I used to before. I am in pain. I pray and hope to get well through surgery so that I may get back to my duties and continue taking care of my family.”