Guyo is a 2-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He has three siblings. Guyo's parents are from a rural area and make a humble living. His uncle, who brought Guyo to Watsi's Partner Care Center BethanyKids Hospital, helps to raise Guyo. Guyo is a sweet, outgoing boy who loves to play with his friends and siblings. He also loves playing with dogs. Guyo was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Guyo is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Once recovered, he will no longer have any pain or discomfort and can return to happily playing with his friends. His uncle shared, “I believe if he is treated well, he will be good psychologically in the future. And all the family will be happy. I hope he will be a doctor in the future and help his community.”

Zainabu is a 10-year-old student and the youngest in a family of six children. She is an intelligent, social, and hard-working girl both at home and at school. She is currently in class four and will be joining class five next year. Her best subjects are English and Swahili, and she proudly shared that she was position three in her class in the final exams this year. Go Zainbau :)! Zainbau loves to help her mother with home chores. Her parents are small scale farmers who sell maize, sorghum, and vegetables to make a living. They use most of their harvest of food for their family and are able to sell a few harvests in order to buy other basics. Zainabu was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, or bowleggedness. This condition causes her legs to bow outwards at the knee. It is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she has great difficulty with walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Zainabu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 5th. Treatment will hopefully restore Zainabu's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Zainabu’s father shared, “My daughter has been having difficulty walking for a while, but I was unable to help her due to financial challenges. My family and I are grateful for your help."

Sonita is a four-year-old preschool student from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family, her parents are Khmer teachers. In her free time she enjoys playing with toys and reading books. One year ago, Sonita 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, Sonita experiences hearing loss, ear discharge, bad odor, and pain. It is difficult for her to communicate with others, and she often misses school due to the ear discharge. Sonita traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 9th, 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. Sonita's mother said, "I hope after surgery her ear pain will be gone, the discharge will finally stop, and her hearing will improve."

Noel is a 3-year-old boy from Tanzania and the only child to his single mother. He is a happy, friendly, and cheerful boy. Noel's mom shared that his father left them when he was young and does not offer support, leaving her struggling to raise him all by herself. Last year, Noel fell over a pot of hot porridge which has left him with scars on his face. The skin around his face is now contracting and pulling the skin up impacting his mouth. Due to this, he can’t speak well and if this is not corrected the condition will continue to worsen. Noel's mother does not have a stable job; she seeks casual labor like house cleaning and washing clothes in order to get money to support herself and her baby. She is unable to afford her child's treatment cost thus she is asking for help and support. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Noel receive treatment. On October 12th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery and he will be better able to talk properly after treatment. Now, their family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Noel’s mother says: “With no job, I am struggling to even feed my son well. I won’t be able to afford his surgery cost, please help us.”

Mary is a 77-year-old single woman from Kiambu County in Kenya. On September 12th, she slipped and fell sustaining a closed tibia/fibula fracture of the right leg. Her son brought her to Nazareth Hospital and an x-ray done confirmed the fracture. The surgeon recommends an ORIF procedure, but their family could not raise the money required. If not treated Mary may never be able to walk again and will continue depending on others. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 12th, Mary will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. She will be able to again walk with ease and with minimal chances of complications. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. With a heavy heart, Mary’s son said, “No one wanted to assist, but I kindly request for her support so that at least she can be able to walk around on her own.”

Savet is a 35-year-old food seller from Cambodia. She and her husband have one daughter together and they sell duck eggs both on the street and from their home in the city. When Savet is not working, she practices making clothes for her daughter, and enjoys watching movies. Five years ago, Savet had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Savet experiences hearing loss, tinnitus and discharge. She cannot communicate clearly with others, and she has spent money on medications that have had little effect. Savet traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 9th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Savet said, "I really hope that after surgery, I will hear a little better and not have any problems with tinnitus. I hope that I can hear my daughter's voice well."

Khin is a 25-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his wife and his friend in Mae Pa Village in the north of the country. Khin and his wife moved from Burma searching for better job opportunities. His wife works in a factory as a seamstress. Khin used to work as a day laborer but since his accident he has not been able to work. His friend works as an agricultural day laborer but he does not share his income with Khin and his wife. In his free time, Khin loved to play caneball with his friends and listen to music. Khin currently has a colostomy and shared that he does not like having one. He feels embarrassed and he avoids his friends. He worries what his friends will think so he always stays at home since he received the colostomy. Aside from his symptoms, he feels sad that he cannot work and that he has to depend on his wife’s income. Furthermore, because of the COVID-19, the factory his wife works at has reduced their hours of operation. Khin underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon was brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for reversal. In Khin's case, his colostomy requires reversal in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Khin. The surgery is scheduled to take place on August 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Khin said, “I feel sad that I cannot work and have to depend on my wife’s income. When I was admitted at the hospital my wife had to accompany me which also reduced the salary she received.”

Naw Aye is a 4-year-old primary school student from Thailand. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in northern Thailand. In 2003, her parents fled to the camp due to the unstable situations between the local armed group and the government army near their village in Burma. Their family receives 2,169 baht (approx. 72 USD) as part of their camp food support from an organization called The Border Consortium. Despite receiving food support as well as free basic health care and education in the camp, Naw Aye’s father has had to earn additional income to cover their expanses. Therefore, he has opened a small shop in front of their home, through which he earns 1,000 baht (approx. 33 USD) in a month. On 29 June 2020, Naw Aye was playing outside when she fell down and landed on her left elbow. Immediately after Naw Aye’s father took her to the camp's clinic. The doctor examined Naw Aye and suspected she had broken her elbow but would need to receive an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis. She received an x-ray that confirmed the fracture and was referred to our partner Burma Children Medical Fund in order to access treatment. Currently, Naw Aye's left arm is in pain and she cannot bend it or lift anything. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Aye will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for July 10th and will cost $1,500. After she receives surgery, she will be no longer be in pain and she will be able to use her left arm again. Once she returns home she will be able to continue her studies. Naw Aye's father shared, "Naw Aye loves to play outside. She also likes to color and draw when she comes home from school. When she gets bored of playing outside with her friends and drawing, she likes to watch cartoon clips."

Anna is a farmer from Kenya. Anna previously worked as a cook in a private primary school located in her village. Her occupational options are now extremely limited after she was let go due to hard economic times. Anna currently does maize farming in her parent’s land. She also does casual jobs across the village like working in other people’s farms to earn a living. Anna lives in a two-roomed iron-roofed house with her mother in the upcountry. Ten days ago, Anna experienced an extremely painful accident after she was involved in a road traffic accident. She was a pedestrian when she was struck by a motorbike which was moving in a high speed. She sustained multiple severe injuries, left multiple rib fractures with a pneumothorax and lower lip full-thickness laceration. She is in severe pain and now cannot walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On June 10th, Anna will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal well and she will be able to walk easily again Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,065 to fund this procedure. Anna says, “My hope is to be healed get out of hospital bed and be on my foot again so that I can continue with my daily duties."

Morris is a shy 20-year-old motorcycle (bodaboda) rider from Kenya. Morris was involved in a motorcycle accident in October 2019 sustaining a closed left tibia fracture. He had a cast applied with the hope that the fracture would heal. Unfortunately, it did not heal. Having visited different hospitals, Morris was brought to our facility by his mother. Upon review, the surgeon recommended an ORIF to fix the fracture. If not treated, Morris will be at risk of infections on the fracture or healing with a malunion. Morris completed his high school education but could not proceed to college. His single mother sustains her four children from their small retail shop in the village. The family is not able to raise the funds needed for surgery and appeals for help. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 14th, Morris will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. the surgery will allow Morris heal well and resume his duties of providing for himself. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure. “I have gone through a lot of pain and still told the leg is not healing. I plead for support so that I can be able to use my leg again and go back to my job and not depend on my mother,” said Morris.