Sokha is a 48-year-old rice farmer. She likes to watch Khmer dramas, the news, and other networks on TV. Seven months ago, Sokha developed blurred vision, cloudy lenses, and sensitivity to light in both eyes. It became difficult for her to see clearly, do her work, or travel independently. She and her sister traveled to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further evaluation. Sokha's doctors diagnosed her with cataracts, and they recommended surgical intervention. On October 28, she underwent a phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. This procedure should restore her vision to full clarity. The procedure, supplies, drugs, and four days of inpatient care costs $292. "I hope I will see more clearly," says Sokha, "so that I can continue my work and go places without needing to bother others to take care of me." Sokha's sister adds, "I hope my sister can see clearly, so that I won't have to worry about her potential vision loss anymore."

Originally from Burma, Pa Lel is a 52-year-old housewife and mother of six children who lives in Thailand. She used to work as an agricultural day laborer with her husband and son, but she stopped working two years ago after she was diagnosed with hypertension. When she is not tending to her family or home, she takes care of the piglets that she raises. In early June 2016, Pa Lel went to a wedding ceremony. Returning home after the wedding, she fell on a large stone while trying to cross the road and broke her elbow. Her husband tried to stitch it up, and then they immediately went to the hospital where doctors stabilized her arm. They told her she would need surgery to fix her arm, possibly inserting a metal rod. Currently, Pa Lel is experiencing much pain in her arm. She is not able to move around, cook or clean, or take care of her house and family. She must keep her arm bandaged and splinted so that it stays straight and elevated. The family's income—the combined earnings from Pa Lel's husband, son, and two of her daughters—is just enough to cover their daily expenses but leaves them unable to save money or pay for healthcare. To pay for transportation and other costs associated with getting medical treatment, Pa Lel had to borrow money from her neighbor. For $1,500, Pa Lel will undergo surgery—open reduction and internal fixation—to reposition and set her broken arm and enable proper healing. Funding also covers the costs of seven days of hospital care, including food, blood tests, and medicine. In the future, Pa Lel would like to return to Burma with her family.

Four-year-old Zelalem lives with his parents in Ethiopia. He loves soccer and spends all of his free time playing. Zelalem was born with hypospadias, a condition in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. As a result, he cannot pass urine while standing like other boys. Zelalem is eager to start school, but he has been unable to do so because of his condition. Treatment for Zelalem is hypospadias repair, a procedure in which the surgeon takes tissue grafts from the foreskin or from the inside of the mouth to extend the length of the urethra so that it opens at the tip of the penis. If left untreated, Zelalem is likely to suffer urinary tract infections and may also be infertile in future. Zelalem's parents tried their best to get their child a treatment in public hospital, but they have waited for more than a year for a call so that their son can be included in the waiting list. Zelalem's father is a traditional fabric weaver, but he does not earn much money from his work and cannot afford to pay for his son's medical care. $1,155 covers the costs of surgery for Zelalem as well as a 14-day hospital stay, including blood tests, imaging, and medicine. Zelalem's parents look forward to a successful procedure and hope their son becomes as healthy as any other boy his age.

Selina is a loving and hard working woman from Tanzania. She is a wife and a mother of one child. Before Selina met her husband, she used to be a housemaid and loved her job. Now that she is married, she supports her husband who is a small scale farmer. Together, they grow maize, beans, and sunflowers. Selina was not aware of a mass which was growing on her left ovary until the last month of her pregnancy when an ultrasound was done. She gave birth safely to her first baby and was asked to return to the hospital for follow-up of the mass. She was given some medicine, but it did not help reduce or stop the mass from increasing in size. Selina needs the mass to be excised and prevent it from turning cancerous. However, what they earn from farming is not enough to cover the cost of their basic needs, as well as the cost of surgery which Selina needs. With $920, Selina will have the mass removed. “I pray that I will be well," Selina said, "so I can continue to raise my seven-month-old son and also look after my husband and just build a happy family."

Elikadi is a farmer, and was carrying his tea leaves to a collection site. It was a wet afternoon and he slid and fell badly. After the fall, Elikadi went to traditional bone setters, and was referred to a hospital where he got surgery. He was told that after the physical therapy he would be better, but instead nothing has changed. He has had a stiff elbow for four months. Elikadi is a 35-year-old man from Uganda. He is married, and with his wife they have three children. Since the incident, he has been unable to work. This has caused him to change the school that his children were attending, as at the moment he can’t afford to pay the fees for private school. Amidst this pain, Elikadi feels joy when he listens to his children discussing the new things they have learned at school. Elikadi needs surgery—open reduction and internal fixation—to re-position and set the elbow to enable proper healing. Without treatment, “the pain will persist and there is a risk of a permanent bone disability in Elikadi’s elbow,” explains Watsi's medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation (KF). Funding covers the surgery that Elikadi needs, and the cost of his hospital care, including imaging, blood tests, pain relief medicine, antibiotics, and physical therapy. The treatment will cost $429. “It is expected that after the treatment, Elikadi will have easy mobility and will be relieved of the pain,” says KF. “He will be able to work and earn a living.” After the surgery and recovery, Elikadi hopes to continue working and take his children to a better school. “I thank everyone that is supporting my hospital bills," Elikadi shares. "These people supporting us do not know us, and yet share their resources with us."