Boeun is a 64-year-old rice farmer. He and his wife work as rice farmers and have two daughters, four sons, and one grandchild. When not working in the rice fields, Boeun earns extra income by collecting mango and jackfruit and selling to local market vendors. Due to his deteriorating vision, Boeun has not been able to work as much, and has been spending more time at home caring for his grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the news and Buddhist prayers on the radio. Around 6-7 months ago, Boeun developed a cataract in his left eye. When Boeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for across the country for eight hours seeking treatment. On October 18th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. He shared, "I hope after surgery my vision will improve. I want to go back to growing rice and see my family better."

Carl is a student from Haiti. Carl lives with his parents and two younger brothers in a small town on the southern coast of Haiti. His father is a teacher and his mother is a homemaker. Carl is in the fourth grade and likes his math and science classes. Carl has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of Carl's heart is severely damaged due to an infection he suffered earlier in childhood; this valve cannot adequately pump blood through his body, leaving him weak and short of breath. The care that he needs is not available in the country, but fortunately Carl will be able to fly to Egypt to receive treatment. On January 31st, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will first attempt to repair his damaged valve. If this is not possible, the surgery team will then implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $6000 to pay for surgery. Carl'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, International Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Carl's family overseas. Carl's father shared: "Our family is very hopeful that this surgery will let our son live a normal life again."

Provia is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She shared that she raised eight children singlehandedly after her husband abandoned the family. Her children did not attend school as Provia was unable to pay their school fees, but she worked hard to cover their basic needs. She owns a three-room mud house for their shelter and farming is her main source of income. Twenty-five years ago, Provia began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling which affected her voice, made swallowing difficult, and caused intermittent coughing. The swelling has grown larger and causes pain. Provia worries that she could lose her voice and eventually die from the swollen neck. She sought medical treatment, was examined by a doctor, and was diagnosed with a nodulated thyroid goiter - an enlarged thyroid gland with separate bumps (nodules) on it. Provia needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Provia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 8th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Provia says, “After I am better, I will be able to get back to my farming."

Sorn is a 49-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Takeo province with his wife, son, and daughter. His wife is a seamstress at a local clothes factory, his son is a construction worker, and his daughter manages the house and cooks for the family. In his free time, Sorn likes to fish or find crabs in the rice fields. In early July, Sorn was on his motorbike when he collided with a small truck. He fractured both his right tibia and his right ulna. Sorn had surgery at a local government hospital but his leg incision site has become infected. He experiences pain, swelling, and discharge from the wound. Sorn is currently unable to walk and cannot work. When Sorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 19th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove the damaged and infected tissue from Sorn's wound. Now, Sorn needs help to fund this $324 procedure. Sorn said, "after surgery, I hope my leg will heal and I will walk normally again."

Zin is a 64-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his family and works as a laborer. He enjoys listening to the news during his free time. In May 2023, Zin fell on his back while running away from a cattle chasing him. Now, he experiences pain below his waist as well as hand and leg tremors. He needs people to hold and support him to walk short distances. Zin's doctors suspect that he has cauda equina syndrome due to the injury to his back. Cauda equina occurs when the nerve roots in the lumbar spine are compressed, cutting off sensation and movement. Zin's doctors want to perform an MRI to detect his spinal injury and explore possible neurological defects. However, Zin cannot currently afford to get the MRI. Thankfully, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), can help. On July 4th, Zin will receive an MRI at BCMF's care center. Now, BCMF is requesting $681 to cover the cost of the MRI. Zin said, "I want to escape from this suffering. I would be very happy when recover fully. Then, I will work hard to pay back my debt. I want to thank you [BCMF and the donors] for supporting my treatment."

Alvine is from Elgeyo Marakwet County and is the second born in a family of four children. His parents are small-scale mango farmers who have raised their children with farm produce income. Since the area is semi-arid, their community has a high poverty level and low food production. He has been working as a laborer and a tomato farmer to earn a living and help his parents provide for their family. He has dreams to attend college in the future. Alvine was involved in a traffic accident when he was selling mangoes at a market far away from home. He has pain and swelling and cannot use his right hand. He was examined in the outpatient department, and an x-ray was done, which showed that he had a severe hand fracture. Alvine is a hardworking man who needs surgery to align his broken bone and quicken healing so that he can work again. He has no medical coverage, and he is now appealing for help from all well-wishers so that he may be able to undergo this critical surgery. Alvine says, "I have been earning a living from jobs always done with my hands. I cannot use my hand now, and things will be hard, but now that I am in the hospital, things will get better. I am looking forward to having my hand functions restored. Please help."

Maria Jean is a loving mother of three from the Philippines. Maria Jean and her husband, Armando, have three children who are all studying. Armando works as a technician and earns around 216 USD a month. Maria Jean tutors other children to help with the family's expenses. She also takes care of all her children while suffering from a condition that physically limits her. Last year, Maria Jean began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and itching, difficulty using the restroom, and blood in her stool. She was diagnosed with severe external hemorrhoids. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Maria Jean receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on November 25th at WSFP's care center. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Maria Jean's procedure and care. Maria Jean shared: "This surgery will give me a second life. I will forever be grateful and indebted to the donors and people who will make this possible for me and my family."

Gerry is a 48-year-old man from the Philippines. He is a dedicated husband and father who works hard as an on-call driver to support his family. For more than 20 years, Gerry has experienced mild abdominal pain. He visited a hospital for medical attention and was supposed to receive surgical treatment. However, due to the hospital's limited capacity and high influx of emergency cases, Gerry's surgery was deferred. As time passed, Gerry's symptoms worsened and he experienced intense pain more frequently. It became increasingly difficult for him to carry out his daily activities, work, and provide for his family. Now, Gerry is once again seeking medical attention. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), can help. Gerry visited WSFP's care center where he had another medical checkup. Doctors advised that Gerry undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Now, Gerry is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on June 24th. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is covering a portion of the cost of the procedure, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1128 to cover the cost of Gerry's surgery and care. Gerry shared, "This free surgery is truly beneficial to us because we are really struggling financially. We have no money to spend for my needed treatment, so I'm so grateful to WATSI and the World Surgical Foundation Philippines!"

Anthony lives with his parents and two younger siblings in a mining city in central Bolivia. He is in the fourth grade and loves computer science. His parents co-own a small tailoring shop together. Anthony was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects deprive his body of oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. During surgery, doctors will close the hole with a patch and remove the blockage from his valve. Heart surgery will allow Anthony to live a full, active life, and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1500 to fund his life-saving procedure. Anthony can't wait to feel better soon and shared: "I am excited to be able to start running and keep up with my friends!"

Sovannary is a 7-year-old who lives with her family in Banteay Meanchey province. Her parents make a living selling spices at the local food market. She also has an older sister who is 10 years old and in grade four. In school, Sovannary likes mathematics and aspires to become a teacher in the future. At home, she loves playing with her older sister and eating fried vegetables and meat her mother prepares for dinner. Three years ago, Sovannary's hands and legs were burned from a gas explosion. Despite receiving burn care at a local pediatric hospital, numerous scars persist. One particular web contracture has formed is on her right hand - web space contractures commonly occur in hand burns and can have a significant impact on overall hand function because it can create functional deficiencies including loss of grasp. When she tries to stretch the skin, it is very painful, and she cannot write with that hand. Sovannary's parents heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, from a local clinic, and traveled seven hours for a consultation. The recommended surgery is a burn contracture release surgery for her right fingers. She is scheduled for surgery on January 3rd. The total cost of the surgery, including hospitalization, medications, and physiotherapy, is $487. Now, her parents need help with the cost of the surgery to alleviate her pain and enhance her overall hand function. Sovannary's mother said: "My daughter wants to regain movement in her fingers so she can write. She also wants to have no pain, so we hope the operation will be successful."

Dina is a 32-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is unmarried and lives in Kampong Cham province with his aunt and his aunt's two teenage sons. Previously, Dina lived with and cared for his mother, but sadly, she passed away several weeks ago. His aunt also works in construction. Dina is currently unemployed and helps his aunt around the house and with caring for her sons. His favorite pastime is soccer. A few weeks ago, Dina was riding his motorbike in the rain. When he pressed the brake to stop, he fell off and hit a lamppost, fracturing his left femur. He went to a clinic in his province, where he had a long leg cast placed. He still cannot walk and is in great pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On November 3rd, Dina will undergo a fracture repair procedure to provide stability to his fractured femur and maintain the alignment of the fracture fragments. CSC is requesting $483 to fund this surgery. Dina contributed $100 to his care. Dina said: "I hope I can move my leg once again and be pain-free."

Meriadah is a small-scale farmer from South Western Uganda. She is a third wife, but sadly, her husband passed away in 2004, and her in-laws pushed her out of her husband's property. Still, she managed to get space and build a small two-roomed house, where she lives with two of her eight children. Her children are still in school, and as the only provider in the family, she relies on small-scale farming for a living. Three years ago, Meriadah began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pains. She was diagnosed with a large irregular adnexal mass after an ultrasound. She underwent surgeries to excise the mass. Her doctors also recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $279 to fund Meriadah's surgery. On November 30th, she will undergo this surgery to greatly improve her quality of life. With tears of joy, Meriadah said, "After the surgery, I hope to be able to go back to the farms with ease and attend social gatherings with ease."