Swansen is retired business worker from Malawi. He lives with his wife, and they have seven grown children and many grandchildren. Since Swansen is retired, he and his wife live on his small pension and he spends much of his time working with his local church and enjoying football matches. Since two years ago, Swansen has been experiencing incredibly frequent urination. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Swansen's surgery. On March 15, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Swansen was thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded. Because of the family's fixed income, he was worried he would not be able to have his procedure. He says, "I give thanks to you!"

Lov is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sisters and four brothers. She likes to clean and relax at home. In infancy, Lov 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, Lov experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and recurrent infection. It is difficult for her to hear, and she has painful infections often. Lov traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 12, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my ear heals and I can go home and spend time with my family."

Sim is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has four children and four grandchildren. She likes watching Cambodian comedy TV shows in her free time. Two years ago, she started experiencing pain in her knee. She can only walk about 15 meters, and it's causing pain and discomfort. Fortunately, Sim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Sim of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 10, and Sim needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I hope I can help the pain on my knee and take care of my grandchildren."

Stephanie is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and younger brothers and sisters in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in the tenth grade and hopes to become a doctor when she grows up. Stephanie has a cardiac condition called severe mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in her heart was severely damaged from a rheumatic fever she suffered in childhood. It can no longer pump blood adequately through her body, leaving her in heart failure. Stephanie will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On December 15, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will either repair the damaged valve, or replace it with an implanted artificial valve. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $24,000 to pay for surgery. Stephanie's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Stephanie's family overseas. She says, "I am happy to have this surgery so that I can walk to and from school without getting tired."

Mya is a 52-year-old woman who lives with her husband and grandson in Thailand. Originally she lived in Burma, but after her family’s house and land were washed away during a flood in 2002, she moved to Mae Sot with her family. Currently, Mya’s husband is the only one who supports the family, as Mya lost her job because of her condition. In 2016, Mya started to experience discomfort in her abdomen. In March 2017, Mya felt excruciating pain on her right side. That same night, she was rushed to a private clinic by her daughter. She received an ultrasound and was diagnosed with gallstones. Mya finally was referred to our medical partner's are center, Mae Sot Hospital, for surgery. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Mya is scheduled to receive her treatment on August 3. Now, she needs help raising $1,500.

Abibatu is a girl from Sierra Leone. Abibatu lives in Freetown, the capital, with her parents and two older brothers. She likes to dress up and to go to church with her family. She has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage in one of the heart's valves. As a result, not enough oxygen is delivered to her body, leaving her sickly and weak. Without surgery, the condition would be fatal. Abibatu will fly to the Narayana Institute Of Cardiac Sciences in Bangalore, India to receive treatment. On July 27, she will undergo cardiac surgery. Abibatu's family also needs help to fund the costs of travel. The $1,343 bill covers her flight to the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, will also provide support to the family as they travel overseas. Her mother says, "Our family is all very excited that there is hope for Kamara to become healthy!"

Yeimy is a fun-loving 11-year-old girl from Guatemala. She lives with her parents and sister. Yeimy loves playing with her little sister and going to school. At school she enjoys playing with friends and pretending to be a ballerina. She hopes to one day become a nurse. When Yeimy was a newborn, she sustained an injury that caused the loss of one of her legs. On July 19, Yeimy will be fitted for a custom prosthetic leg at our medical partner's care center, Hospital Regional de Zacapa. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $1,166 to cover the cost of her prosthetic leg. Having a prosthetic will allow Yeimy to dance like she's never danced before! “I am so excited to receive this prosthetic because then I won’t get tired anymore," says Yeimy. "Now I know that I will achieve my dreams.”

Mynor is an eight-year-old boy who lives with his parents and brother in Guatemala. Mynor’s father works several days a week, and Mynor’s mother contributes to the family income by preparing snacks and other foods for local schools and organizations. Mynor has strabismus. This means his eyes do not align in the same direction, and appear crossed. Mynor has complained of problems with his vision for years. He often has difficulty seeing the blackboard in his classroom, and reading is a struggle. Mynor’s parents are very worried about their son’s eyesight, knowing how difficult it is for Mynor in school. Other symptoms of strabismus include double vision, uncoordinated eye movements, fatigue, headache, and loss of vision or depth perception. If left untreated, Mynor’s vision could be permanently damaged. Mynor will receive a strabismus surgery on the muscles around his eyes to alter the way they align. As part of his treatment, he will receive a consultation with an eye specialist before and after surgery, and he will be accompanied by a staff member from our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, throughout the entire process. The surgery itself is fairly simple, and requires a day or two in the hospital. With this treatment, Mynor will have healthy eyes for the first time in his life. He will be able to see clearly, which will help him in his studies and impact his life for years to come. Mynor’s mother says, “I feel a great happiness and gratitude for this amazing support that you are giving to my son. Thank you for helping people like us and for worrying about our health.” Watsi is requesting $1,500 to fund Mynor's procedure.

Thin is a 71-year-old grandmother with 15 grandchildren. She enjoys listening to the monks pray, participating in religious ceremonies, and caring for her grandchildren. Two years ago, Thin developed a cataract in each eye, which lead to blurry vision, tearing, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). It is difficult for Thin to recognize faces, do any type of work, and go anywhere on her own. Thin traveled four hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. On May 24, Thin will receive surgery to replace the lenses in her eyes with artificial ones. CSC is requesting $292 to help fund the surgery. After this procedure, Thin will see clearly again and be able to enjoy her favorite activities once more.

Yeab is a 67-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Her favorite pastime is visiting the pagoda to join ceremonies and listen to monks praying. About one year ago, Yeab began to experience blurred vision and tearing. This has affected her ability to work and participate in ceremonies. After seeking assistance at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Yeab was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. Physicians have scheduled her for a small incision cataract surgery and intraocular lens implant procedure on February 21. During surgery, physicians will remove Yeab's natural lenses and replace them with clear, artificial ones to improve her vision. CSC is requesting $292 to fund the procedure. Yeab eagerly awaits her surgery. She looks forward to returning to work and participating in the prayers and ceremonies at the pagoda.

Leang Him is a 36-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. She is married and has six children—three sons and three daughters. She likes to cook and spend time with her children. At the end of December, Leang Him was badly burned by an electrical fire, severely damaging her right shoulder, right arm, and both feet. She first came to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, in February after being referred from another hospital. At that time, surgeons were able to successfully remove the damaged and infected tissue from her right forearm and left foot. At the beginning of March, Leang Him returned to receive a nerve graft and ankle stabilization procedure. These [procedures](https://watsi.org/profile/7da54f7ce50b-leang-him) were funded by Watsi donors. Leang Him is scheduled to undergo another surgery on March 29. Our medical partner is requesting $450 to cover the cost of the operation, which will allow her wrists to be resurfaced and heal. After surgery, Leang Him will be able to use her hands more effectively.

Elvis is a six-year-old boy from Kenya. He lives with his family in Nairobi. According to the staff at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, he is sharp, playful, and full of life. Elvis was born with penoscrotal hypospadias—a condition in which the urethral orifice is abnormally placed. If left untreated, he is likely to experience social stigma and impotence. Elvis is scheduled to undergo treatment on March 29. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the cost of the operation. After surgery, Elvis will be able to grow and develop normally. “You are heaven-sent because we could not do it without your assistance," his mother says.