Abigael is an 8-year-old social girl - the 3rd and last born in her family hailing from Kiambu County. She was brought to Cure by her mother, Margaret, who is a homemaker, while her father is a laborer in a parcel company. She recently joined the school and is doing well in 1st grade. Abigael has clubfoot of both feet. Currently, she limps and sometimes falls while walking. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Abigael and her mother traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Abigael's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to stand upright and walk comfortably , and she will be able to continue with her studies without any interruption. Abigael's mother Margaret shared: “I am appealing for my daughter's help to undergo surgery so that she can walk comfortably. I wish to see her walking without falling and continue with school like other children.”

Sarin is a 53-year-old single woman who lives in Phnom Penh province and is the primary caregiver for her elderly parents. She has five living siblings (sadly, two of her siblings died young) who help to support her and her parents. Most of her day is taken up with caring for her parents, cooking, and cleaning. In the evenings, Sarin likes to practice dhamma - a form of Buddhist meditation - as well as listen to the village monks pray on the local radio station. For many years, Sarin had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. If untreated, a cholesteatoma can cause erosion of the three small bones located in the middle ear, resulting in nerve deterioration, imbalance, vertigo, and deafness. It can also affect and erode, through the enzymes it produces, the thin bone structure that isolates the top of the ear from the brain, risking further infection with serious complications. Sarin's cholesteatoma has caused her many problems. She suffers ear discharge, headaches, and a gradual loss of hearing. It is difficult for her to communicate with her family and other villagers, and she is embarrassed that she cannot hear well. She visited several hospitals seeking care but could not afford to pay for surgery. One of the hospitals suggested she visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Sarin traveled to CSC and, after examination, learned that she will be able to receive treatment. On October 17, the ENT surgeons at CSC will remove the cholesteatoma by performing a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. CSC is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sarin said: "I hopeful that this operation will improve my hearing and prevent a brain infection."

Faith, who is 29 years old, lives in Kenya with her young son. Both of her parents died when she was young, and she was raised by her grandmother. She was unable to pursue her education due to financial constraints, so today she washes clothes for a living. As her husband passed away two years ago in a traffic accident, she works hard to support herself and her son. Faith has lived with severe hearing loss throughout her whole life. Sadly, her grandmother couldn't afford to get Faith the help that she needed. But when Faith brought her son in to get care to address his hearing loss, the doctors determined that Faith needed help, as well. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,171 so that Faith can get hearing aids to treat the condition she has lived with for so long. She will be receiving care from AIC Kijabe Hospital. Faith says: “I have struggled with hearing loss since birth. I never had a chance to get treatment due to financial constraints. I hope to be able to hear well.“

Yusufu is a bright student. He is a young 8-year-old boy from Mpanda, Tanzania, with dreams of attending school. His parents work as farmers supporting their large family of ten children. As the ninth child in his family, his parents have made every effort to make ends meet. Yusufu has clubfoot of the right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Yusufu finds it hard to go to school because it is far from home, and he cannot help much on the farm. Financial hardships have made it nearly impossible for his parents to provide Yusufu with the urgent care he requires. Fortunately, Yusufu's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 15. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Yusufu's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Yusufu’s ability to walk will be restored and he will no longer experience severe pain. Yusufu can't wait to be treated so that he can go to school easily and help his family work on their farm. Yusufu says, "I wish to be able to play with my friends comfortably and help my parents around the farm.”

Thu Zar is a 47-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her daughter and son-in-law. She is a homemaker, her daughter is a babysitter and her son-in-law is a construction worker. Thu Zar spends most of her time doing household chores, allowing her daughter and son-in-law to concentrate on their work. Since March 2023, Thu Zar has been experiencing occasional heavy bleeding and a gradual enlargement of her abdomen which she had initially thought was caused from gaining weight. Now, she has been diagnosed with leiomyoma--a tumor in the uterus, also known as uterine fibroids. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thu Zar's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thu Zar is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on August 21st. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Thu Zar will no longer have her worrying symptoms. Thu Zar said, “Because of my condition, I feel worried, fearful, and sad. At the same time, I feel relieved and happy that my condition is treatable through surgery and that it is not cancerous. I am grateful to everyone for their support in facilitating my treatment."

Khin is 28-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two children, parents in-law, a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law in a village in Karen State. Khin, his parents, and his sister-in-law are subsistence farmers, while his daughter and brother-in-law are students. His son is too young to enroll in school. They also raise chickens and pigs for their own consumption, forage for vegetables and go fishing. To pay school fees, Khin sometimes is able to get work as a day labourer. On July 10th, Khin was picking dog fruit when suddenly the branch he was standing on broke. He fell out of the tree on to a wooden dwelling and broke his spine. With the help of Watsi donors, he received a CT scan of his back which showed that he had indeed fractured his spine, and he was told that he would need to undergo surgery to heal. He is in pain, and he cannot walk. With the help of our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BMC), Khin will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for July 19th and Khin needs help raising $1,500 to fund the surgery. This procedure will help him walk again. Khin shared, "I am not scared to receive surgery because I know I need to undergo it to recover."

Nuwampaire is a 24-year-old student from Uganda who is working to become a doctor in the future. She has an older sister, who is married and works as a farmer, and a younger sister studying in school. Nuwampaire's parents separated, and her mother financially supports the family with her earnings working as a hairdresser. For the last six years, Nuwampaire has had swelling towards the back of her neck. Her family was unable to afford treatment and decided to give it some time. However, a friend shared about our medical partner, and Nuwampaire was able to visit the hospital for support. She was diagnosed with a left lobe goiter. Her symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and palpitations. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Nuwampaire receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 6th, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $252 to fund this procedure. Nuwampaire said, "It's only our mother taking care of us; with her job, she earns less, yet my health is in bad shape. I request your support to make my surgery possible."

Dante is a hardworking father from the Philippines. He tirelessly supports his six children, brings them to school, and sustains their everyday needs. For ten years, Dante has dealt with an Inguinal Hernia. This condition causes him pain and swelling that limit his movement. The financial burden associated with medical care prevents him from seeking regular treatment, forcing him to endure the pain and prioritize the needs of his children instead. Despite his constant pain, he perseveres as a tricycle driver, ensuring his children have access to education and a better life. Dante was referred to our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, and he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center on June 2nd A portion of the cost of Dante's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1103 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Dante shared, "We're financially incapable to afford my needed treatment, but through your help, I'll be able to be operated on. I can't thank you enough for your support. May the Lord bless you, Watsi, and World Surgical Foundation Philippines!"

Hillary is a cool, caring 39-year-old man from Kenya. He is a middle child and lives at home with his parents and younger brother. Hillary experiences epilepsy and cannot talk or work due to his condition. His elderly parents are retired, and his brother practices small-scale farming and works labor jobs in the neighborhood to help earn a living for his family. Hillary recently fell from his bed and injured his arm and hand. He visited a nearby government facility and was diagnosed with a displaced fracture in his left humerus and received a splint. As Hillary is still experiencing pain, swelling, and discomfort in his arm, his family brought him to our medical partner's care center. Upon review, the doctor advised that Hillary needs surgery since the fracture is too displaced to heal with a splint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 16th, Hillary will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Hillary's brother says, "My brother has had a lot of challenges in his life, and when I see him crying with pain, I feel hurt. I am so hopeful that he will get treatment and that he will live comfortably once again. Kindly help him."