Thavy is a 62-year-old woman with a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren. Thavy enjoys listening to the radio, reading dharma, visiting the pagoda, and taking care of her grandchildren. In May 2019, Thavy fell and fractured her left elbow. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand, and injuries to this network can result in loss of function and sensation. She was taken to a clinic where the fracture was healed but she still experiences numbness, pain, muscle atrophy, and lack of mobility of her left hand. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will perform a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she will able to freely use her left arm and hand again. Thavy shared, "I hope I can start to use my left hand again without numbness or pain."

Tho is 47-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She and her husband have four daughters together. Two of her daughters are married, and Tho now has three grandchildren in primary school. She works in the fields with her husband and her two unmarried daughters. She loves to cook, and uses the vegetables from her garden. Tho was in a motor accident eight years ago, resulting in a fractured left tibia. She went to a provincial hospital to receive treatment, but her fracture never healed correctly. The condition of her leg has deteriorated over time and now she can no longer walk unaided. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 3rd, Tho will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. With a successful surgery, the bone will heal properly and she will regain her ability to walk. Tho said, "After this surgery, I hope that my leg will finally be better, and I will be strong enough to walk by myself. I don't like to have my family take care of me all the time, so with no more pain, I can help them again."

Kruy is a 40-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons, two daughters, her husband is a fisherman. She likes to make food for her children and take care of their family's house. Fifteen years ago, Kruy had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Kruy experiences hearing loss, ringing, and ear discharge. She cannot hear clearly when she communicates with other people, and she cannot work outside the house independently. Kruy traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 7th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Kruy said, "I hope that after my operation, the infection will finally be gone, and I can feel what it is like to have clear hearing again."

Margaret is a university student in her second year of studies. However, since 2018, she has not been to school after suffering a road accident in the capital, Nairobi. She was hit by a vehicle while crossing the road, fracturing her right femur and suffering body lacerations. She spent a lengthy stay in a national hospital and received surgery. She required physiotherapy sessions which she could not start due to financial constraints. Last July, she noted an open wound on her surgical site which was painful and septic. Since then, she had been cleaning it with salty water. Margaret was brought by her friend to Watsi's partner Kijabe Hospital and diagnosed with chronic osteomyelitis, a bone infection. Doctors recommend she have a sequestrectomy and hardware removal surgery to treat her condition. Successful surgery will allow Margaret to be able to ambulate with ease and less pain. Margaret is the firstborn child in her family. Her two siblings and parents live in a three-roomed rental house in the city’s outskirts. Her father is a construction site laborer while her mother relies on casual jobs such as laundry in the estate. The family is not able to pay the required hospital bill of $1,500. Margaret says, “My hope is to go back to school once treated so that I can help my younger siblings.”

Lazaru was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation a day after birth. This is a condition where Lazaru was born without an anal opening. While changing his diapers, his mother noticed that Lazaru had not passed stool since he was born. His abdomen was distended and he was quite irritable. A closer look confirmed that their son lacked an anal opening. This was unheard of and discreetly, his parents rushed him to the nearest hospital. Lazaru was further referred and a colostomy put in place when he was three days old. A second surgery would be needed later on to create an anal opening. The funds they had were exhausted and thus could not afford to pay for the subsequent surgery. A previous Watsi beneficiary from their village advised them to visit BethanyKids Hospital where they could get assistance. With hopes high, they set out. The creation of an anal opening is needed without which, Lazaru risks scarring at the colostomy site due to occasional leakages and infection. Lazaru lives with his parents and elder brother in a one-room traditional house in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. His parents are subsistence farmers and own a few goats. His family was also advised to apply for national health insurance to support future needs, which they did not know was possible. They are appealing for help towards their son’s surgical care. “A friend told us that we would get help from here and we are happy even for the warm reception,” says Lazaru’s mother.

Paulo is a young man from Tanzania. He is a friendly boy and very social. He is the first born child to his mother who has four children. His father is polygamous and has two wives. The second wife has two children making it a family of six children. He was only able to go to school until class three and due to financial challenges. Paulo suffers form seizures and two years ago he was involved in a fire accident after getting a seizure and sustaining severe burns on his stomach and on his right side of his arm. This has left him with contracture on the axilla which is limiting his arm movement thus making him have challenges carrying out his daily life activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Paulo receive treatment. On January 31st, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him move and use his arm freely again. Now, he needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Paulo’s mother says, “Our son needs this treatment but we can’t afford the cost, kindly help us.”

Joseph is a young boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth born child in a family of 7 children and also comes from a polygamous family and has 10 siblings inclusive of his step-siblings. His parents are small scale farmers in Northern Tanzania. His father often traverses into Kenya to sell Masai herbal medicine to supplement income and meet the daily demands of his big family. When Joseph was two years old, he slipped by boiling tea in his mother's hut. He suffered burns on his right hand and right side of his head. He spent several months in the hospital recuperating from the burns. Unfortunately, he healed with contractures on his right hand that has limited his ability to use his right hand. Joseph had surgery in October to release his wrist and now he needs to have another surgery to have his fingers released. Joseph is struggling to write in his class one studies due to contractures on his right hand. He has to learn how to write with his left hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Joseph receive treatment. On January 7th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to he will be able to use his hand and even move his fingers independently. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Joseph says, “I like how my hand looks now, and I am able to use my hand to carry things. I hope that if I get another surgery it will look more okay.”

Rebecca is a two-week-old baby girl from Tanzania who was born with spina bifida. She was delivered in a local hospital and referred to the district hospital for better management. Rebecca has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Rebecca has been experiencing a swell on her back. Without treatment, Rebecca will experience severe physical and developmental delays. She had surgery recommended but her family was not able to raise the money needed. Rebecca's parents were referred to our facility by a friend where she was enrolled in the program for surgical funding. Rebecca's parents are peasant farmers. Their reliance on small scale farming limits their ability to raise sufficient funds for her treatment. They appeal for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Rebecca that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure will drain the excess fluid from Rebecca's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Rebecca will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Rebecca’s mother says, “our daughter needs this surgery but the cost if very high for us to afford please help us.”

Ngwe is a 47-year-old woman from Thailand. She works on a farm. Since May 2019, Ngwe has been experiencing tightness in her abdomen and other symptoms. She has been diagnosed with an ovarian tumor. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ngwe's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ngwe is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on August 13. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After surgery, Ngwe will be able to work again. Ngwe said, “I will continue to work after I recover.”

Simon is a child from Tanzania. He is the second born child to a family of four children. Simon’s parents depend on small scale farming of maize, beans and cassavas for their living. Simon has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Simon has been experiencing an increasing head circumference and inter-cranial pressure. Without treatment, Simon will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $728 to cover the cost of surgery for Simon that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 2nd and will drain the excess fluid from Simon's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Simon will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Simon’s mother says, “My son was doing so well after the surgery but now he is going through a lot of pain, he can’t eat well please help my son.”

Sokmy is a 41-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has three daughters, and enjoys helping with the housework and feeding the animals nearby the house. In April 2019, Sokmy was involved in a motorcycle accident, fracturing his right femur. His right leg is now shorter than the other, and he has difficulty walking without support and has limited flexibility in his knee. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On August 7, Sokmy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. Surgery will help to realign the femur bones and allow them to heal properly. He will be able to walk easily again and relieve the pressure on his knee. He says, "I hope that my condition will improve and that I will no longer have anymore pain, and I can return to work and help my family."

Ner is a 56-year-old man from Burma. He is a subsistence farmer, and he likes to listen religious sermons in his free time. Ner has had a hernia for five years. Fortunately, on June 28, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Ner's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 28 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Ner said, “When I am completely healed, I will work on my farm again. I will continue to go to the temple and do some merit activities.”