Sylivia is a 38-year-old mother from Uganda. She is a counsellor, but shared that she does not earn much to support her family, often facing difficulties to pay for rent, food, ad other basic needs. Her husband is a farmer. She is outgoing and friendly and during her free time, Sylivia enjoys spending time with people in her community. She is currently expecting a baby. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section so her doctors can ensure the safety of both her and her child. In her previous deliveries, she struggled to raise the money needed for delivery and this time, she asks for your help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sylivia undergo a C-Section on September 8th. This procedure will cost $252, and Sylivia needs your support. Sylivia says: “I have previously struggled to raise the money for surgery and right now I don't have money for the planned one. Please help me. I will resume with my work after weaning the baby."

Chouliya is an eight-year-old student from Cambodia who is in second grade. To support their family, her mother sells goods at a local market, and her father works as a construction worker. Chouliya enjoys studying Khmer in school. She also loves spending time playing games with her sister. Her favorite meal is roast duck with cold milk. For the past two years, Chouliya has been experiencing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Her mother shares that she also snores every night. Her family sought treatment from a private clinic, but Chouliya's condition unfortunately still has not improved. She often experiences fevers, inflammation, and a lack of appetite. She was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids. If her condition is left untreated, her symptoms will persist and possibly intensify over time. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Chouliya receive treatment. On July 12th, surgeons at CSC will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Chouliya of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Now, she and her family need help raising $265 to fund her procedure and care. Chouliya's mother shares, "I hope that her sore throat goes away and she has a better appetite."

Stuwart is a 5-year-old boy and the only child in his family. He's a playful and friendly boy who is currently having a hard time walking due to his legs bending outwards. Stuwart is still in class one and he loves counting numbers and drawing. His father works as a bodaboda driver to be able to support and care for his family. His income is not much but helps them make ends meet. Early this year, Stuwart started having pain in his knees when he woke up and tried to stand. This went on for a few weeks and when his parents saw how much he was suffering they decided to seek treatment for him at a local hospital. Stuwart was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus (knock knees). His parents were informed that Stuwart will need to have surgery to correct both of his legs and prevent them from becoming further deformed and causing Stuwart pain. At that time, he was supported by Watsi last July to undergo surgery. He has now developed a genu valgus where his legs are now bowing outwards. To help stop this, Stuwart needs another surgery to correct this condition. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has pain and difficulty walking. His parents are asking for help to support his secondary surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Stuwart. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 7th. Treatment will hopefully restore Stuwart's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Stuwart’s mother says, “His legs were straight, but over the months he has been walking we have noticed his legs are now bowing outwards. We will be so grateful if our son can be supported again.”

Eng is a retired rice farmer and has one daughter and three grandchildren. She lives with her husband and daughter, who both farm rice and vegetables to sell at their local market. Because of her age and her worsening vision, Eng now stays home and takes care of her grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Last year Eng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking. As a result, she is unable to go places on her own. When Eng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled across the country for five and half hours seeking treatment. On January 18th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Eng shared, "After surgery, I hope my eye can see clearly, and I can be useful to our family. I want to do more again and visit with my neighbors."

Ratha is a 34-year-old garment worker. She is separated from her husband and has one son who is in fifth grade. She lives with her mother, who helps to take care of her son when she is at work. In her free time, she likes to listen to music on her phone. Two years ago, Ratha developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing the garments she works on at her job. When Ratha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and half hours seeking treatment. On January 11th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Ratha shared, "I hope after surgery I can see clearly. I can use the sewing machine at work better, and be more efficient. This will help me to save money to make sure my son has a good education."

Ann is a farmer and the mother of two children aged 10 and 5 years. They live in their ancestral home in Central Kenya. Ann and her husband are small-scale farmers growing food for home use. The couple does not have jobs and therefore has no source of income. They also don’t have a medical coverage and are required to pay for the treatment and surgery out-of-pocket, which they cannot afford. Two years ago, Ann began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and discomfort. She was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ann receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 10th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $949, and she and her family need help raising money. Ann says, "I have been feeling uncomfortable with this condition. It has been two years since I was diagnosed and there has been no improvement. I hope this surgery is a solution to my long-term problem."

Mbabazi is a a 50-year-old farmer and mother of seven children, two of whom are currently in school. Both she and her husband work hard at farming to make ends meet and pay for their children's school fees. Twelve years ago, Mbabazi began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling, breathing and swallowing problems. She has tried different oral medications including traditional medicines to no avail. At Nyakibale Hospital, she had a scan done, revealing a multinodular goitre that requires surgery. Successful surgery will reduce the chances of complications including neck swell and breathing problems. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mbabazi receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 6th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Mbabazi shared, “I hope the neck swelling will be over and at least my breathing and swallowing difficulties shall be over. I will continue caring for my family after full recovery.”

Tha Moe is a one-year-old baby boy in Burma who lives with his parents and six-year-old sister. He was born at home as a seemingly healthy baby, but his mother noticed a growing small mass near the base of his spine. A couple days after Tha Moe was born, his mother took him to the local clinic. Doctors diagnosed him with a meningocele, a birth defect where the spinal cord doesn’t develop properly. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) shares, “Tha Moe feeds well but because of the mass he is unable to lie down on his back and he can only sleep on one side. He can sit and he knows the sensations of his upper body but his mother says he cannot feel his right leg.” Because of the time his mother has to spend caring for Tha Moe at the clinic, she finds it difficult to do household chores and relies on Tha Moe’s grandmother to take care of his sister when she is not in school. Tha Moe’s father finds sporadic work as a day laborer, and the family can’t afford to pay the medical expenses for his operation. $1,500 will fund the procedure to repair Tha Moe’s meningocele. “It is hoped that following the meningocele repair that Tha Moe will grow and thrive," BBP adds. "His parents will be able to stop worrying about his condition.”