ChhaiLeang is a rice and mango farmer from Cambodia. He has two sons and one grandchild. He likes watching the news and boxing matches on TV. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchild. Three years ago, ChhaiLeang developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurred vision, sometimes tearing, and photophobia. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When ChhaiLeang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 3, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $211 procedure. He says, "I hope I can see clearly than so I can help my child to sell goods and soft drinks. I want to continue my work and go outside on my own."

Edoso is a baby from Ethiopia. He is a smiley toddler who loves to play and laugh with his mother. His father passed away a year ago, leaving his mother with six children. Edoso's mother rented out their small farm and is barely able to meet the needs of her family. Edoso was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Edoso is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on April 10. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Edoso's procedure and care. After his recovery, Edoso will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Edoso’s mother says, “I was a house wife. When I lost my husband, life got difficult because he was the one who supported the family. Now I am struggling with the financial needs of my family. I am trying to raise my children with the limited money I get from my rented land."

Johnsley is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents and siblings on a small family farm in the mountains of central Haiti. He likes playing with his neighbors and drawing. Johnsley has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This defect involves several related conditions including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent blood from circulating through the lungs, leaving him weak and short of breath. If untreated, the condition would be fatal. On April 10, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Johnsley's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His father says, "We are very happy that our son can have this surgery, and will pray to God for a good outcome."

Isaka is a baby from Tanzania. Isaka’s parents are both pastoralists. His mother helps her husband with milking the cows, but she does not earn any income of her own. Isaka has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Isaka traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on April 12. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Isaka's clubfoot repair. This treatment will allow him to walk, run, and play without pain or discomfort when he grows up. Isaka’s mother says, “I am happy that my Isaka will be okay and he will be able to have a normal happy childhood and that he will be able to walk like a normal child. Thank you so much for helping my son get this treatment.”

Channy is 21 years old and in the twelfth grade. She has four sisters and four brothers. In her free time, she likes to read books, cook, and watch TV. When she was six years old, Channy developed a cholesteatoma in her right ear. A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth behind the ear drum. It causes her ear discharge, hearing loss, pain, and itchiness. She went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment, but her symptoms did not improve. When Channy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for two hours to seek treatment. On January 3, surgeons at CSC performed a mastoidectomy procedure in Channy's right ear to remove the cholesteatoma. This procedure should improve Channy's hearing. CSC is requesting $842 to fund this treatment. "I hope to have no more pain and good hearing," says Channy. "I hope it will be easy for me to communicate with other people. I want to work in the bank in the future."

Meet Tinkasimire, a 59-year-old father from Uganda. Five of his children are married, while three are still in school. To support his family, Tinkasimire trades in secondhand clothes. The whole family depends on the income he earns from this business. In 2012, Tinkasimire developed a swelling in his right inguinal region that caused him a lot of pain. He began to have difficulty walking, lifting heavy items, or traveling to the market for business. Tinkasimire never visited the hospital, instead using herbs and traditional medicine. His symptoms never improved. When Tinkasimire learned about Watsi, he visited our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital. On November 16, he underwent a hernia repair surgery. During this procedure, surgeons repaired the weakened abdominal wall and returned the protruding tissue to the correct position. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund this procedure. After recovery, Tinkasimire hopes to continue his business.

Kamakune is 21 years old and a single mother to three children. She works as a housekeeper, and she uses her income to pay for the education of her two children in primary school. In 2015, Kamakune developed a painful swelling in her upper abdomen. She visited a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a supraumbilical hernia and was advised to undergo surgery. This painful condition prevented her from bending, lifting heavy items, and digging. Kamakune was worried about taking care of her children. Without treatment, she risked intestine or stomach damage. On November 9, Kamakune underwent a hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund this procedure. After recovery, she plans to continue working as a housekeeper to support her children.

EJ John is a five-year-old boy from the Philippines. He loves to play popular games with the other children in his community. He lives with his father, sister, and grandmother. They live in a bamboo house without access to electricity or water. EJ John's father, Jonel, is a laborer. EJ John 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 wish for EJ John to recover from being malnourished and become strong and big so he can finish school and have a nice job someday," says his grandmother.

Erica is the youngest of five siblings. Her family lives in a house with no electricity. Her mother is a housewife, while her father works for the military. Erica has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. She began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 20. She 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. "We really hope to send her to school and provide everything she needs," says Erica's mother, "with the help of those who have big hearts for poor families like ours."

Den is a two-year-old girl from the Philippines. She lives with her grandmother in a bamboo house. Her father is a farmer, but he has difficulty providing for the family. Den has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. She began $268 malnutrition treatment on October 20. She 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 Den can become healthy," says Den's grandmother.