Daw Kyi is a 66-year-old woman who lives with her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter in Ayarwaddy Division, Burma. Daw Kyi is retired, and her daughter is a homemaker. Her granddaughter is a student, and her son-in-law works as a taxi driver, but his income is insufficient to cover their family's basic needs or basic health care. Last year, she became aware of blurred vision in her right eye. However, she dismissed it as normal. By last December, her condition worsened, resulting in impaired vision and excessive tearing in her right eye. She confided in her daughter, who promptly took her to the nearest hospital. There, she underwent an eye examination and was diagnosed with a cataract in her right eye. Surprisingly, the doctor did not recommend surgery but instead prescribed eye drops and oral medication for one month. Unfortunately, her symptoms did not improve, and due to financial constraints, she could not return to the hospital for further treatment and did not seek medical care after that. On May 27th, 2023, she became increasingly aware that her condition was deteriorating. Her vision was becoming significantly more blurred, to the point where she could only perceive things faintly. Despite being aware of her worsening condition and the likelihood of requiring surgery, she faced the unfortunate reality that she could not afford the cost of the necessary medical treatment. As a result, she decided to avoid going to the hospital. Currently, Daw Kyi has tearing and blurred vision in her right eye. She will need someone to guide her while walking long distances and on the way to the bathroom. She feels sad and depressed since she can not see clearly and can not pay for surgery even though she wants to get treatment. Thankfully, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is determined to help restore Daw Kyi's vision by performing a lens replacement surgery. To make this possible, they are reaching out for your support in funding the procedure, which amounts to $769. Your contribution would play a significant role in enabling Daw Kyi to regain her vision and improve her quality of life. Daw Kyi said, "In the future, after seeing again, I will go back and look after my granddaughter and stay with my daughter at home."

Than is a loving grandmother from Thailand who lives with her son and grandson. In her free time, she enjoys watching YouTube videos on her phone. Five years ago, Than began experiencing pain when frequently passing urine, accompanied by lower abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with kidney stones, which are hard deposits of minerals that form in the kidneys and are often very painful to pass. She has been advised to undergo surgery to remove her kidney stones. If left untreated, Than's symptoms will continue to worsen and will put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is requesting $1,500 to fund Than's kidney stone removal surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 8th. Than shared, "I felt hopeless that I couldn't afford the operation, considering our prolonged lack of income. Now, I have had the chance to receive surgery with the help of BCMF. I am deeply grateful. My sincere wish is for the operation to go well, and I look forward to resuming my chores after the surgery."

Saw Lay resides in a school dormitory in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. He used to study at the school but stopped in July 2023 when his condition worsened. During his free time, Saw Lay enjoys hunting, foraging for vegetables in the forest, and listening to music and stories on his phone. In May 2021, while in Burma for his studies, Saw Lay was driving to the market on his motorcycle when he was hit by a car, resulting in a broken left femur. Saw Lay underwent internal fixation surgery to address this issue. However, since September 2022, he has been experiencing pain in his left leg, accompanied by difficulty sleeping and depression. He cannot bear weight on that leg and has to use crutches to get around. If he sits for an extended period, he will experience back pain. Upon medical evaluation, a doctor diagnosed him with a non-union left femur shaft fracture. He will undergo surgery on November 7th to not only alleviate his pain and discomfort but also improve his overall quality of life. Saw Lay said, "I am happy that I can finally receive the surgery I need with the help of the donors and the Burma Children's Medical Fund. Thank you for having mercy on me. Without your help, I wouldn't be able to afford it. Thank you so much for your kind support, and I will never forget it."

Leonard is a 41-year-old lumberjack from Kenya. He is a bachelor, has no children, and lives alone in his grandfather’s place. His work as a lumberjack is seasonal and he sometimes works on peoples' farms to earn money for basic needs. His relatives live in faraway places and are of limited socio-economic status. Leonard has no medical coverage and cannot raise the money required for his needed medical treatment. Leonard was injured while felling trees. One of the trees fell on Leonard, hitting him on his right hip. He fell, and the people with him ran away, thinking he had died. Leonard was unable to walk and slept at the scene. Luckily one of his neighbors passed by and found him. Leonard's neighbors carried him to the hospital for treatment as he could not stand or walk. An x-ray revealed that he had a complete fracture of the upper end of his right femur. He is now admitted to the surgical ward on bed rest because his fracture is at a weight-bearing joint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 2nd, Leonard will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. A surgeon will make an incision, realign the bones, and insert hardware to hold the bones together. Subsequently, after recovery, Leonard will be able to walk again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Leonard says, “It is so sad that I cannot now walk but I thank God that I am alive because that tree was big. Please help me so that I may be able to work and be able to sustain myself because I have nobody to depend on.”

Esther is a 37-year-old businesswoman, who lives with her husband and two young children in Kenya. Both she and her husband work as brokers, selling cars. Business has been slow, and in addition, two of Esther's sisters passed away, leaving Esther and her husband to care for the sisters' children. One month ago, Esther was trying to reach for something in her home, by standing on a stool. The stool broke, and Esther fell, injuring her left arm. She was in a lot of pain, and was rushed to a nearby clinic for examination. From there, she was sent on to another facility, where an X-ray revealed that she had fractured her left humerus. Since the accident, Esther has not been able to work, and currently, the family relies on her husband for provisions. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On September 6th, Esther will undergo a fracture repair procedure - called an open reduction and internal fixation - at AIC Kijabe Hospital. The surgery will help her to heal, so that she will be able to resume her work to support her family. Now she needs your help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Esther says: “I cannot work and help provide for my family. I want to be independent again.”

Biruk is an adorable toddler from Ethiopia who loves to play and walk. He has recently started walking, and it seems like he only wants to explore the world on his feet. He also enjoys playing with other children, always eager to share their toys or try to claim some for himself. Being the only child in the family, he receives a lot of love and attention from his parents. Biruk's dad holds a university degree in agriculture, and his mom graduated from college with a diploma in ICT. Despite her educational background, she couldn't find a job in that field and now assists her husband with their farming endeavors. They were fortunate to receive a small farming land from their parents, and they work diligently to make a living from it. In addition to farming for their needs, they also purchase crops to sell, aiming to generate additional income and improve their economic situation. Although their income is modest, they work hard to support their family's daily necessities and strive to save up to purchase more land. Biruk was born with Hypospadias, a congenital abnormality which affects the male urinary opening. When he was just five months old, his parents took Biruk to a hospital for medical attention. The doctor mentioned that they would need a referral when the child reaches six months of age. Unfortunately, when they returned to the hospital later, they were informed that the doctor was unavailable, leaving them uncertain and frustrated. Without treatment, Biruk will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. Biruk is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery at AMH's care center on August 8th. AMH is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Biruk's mum said, “I will work hard to bring my child to a successful future once he receives the treatment and is healed. I hope he will be successful and lead a good life in the future.”

Dennis is a hardworking tricycle driver from the Philippines. He lives with his wife, Marecar, and their three-year-old child. Despite his hard work and dedication, Dennis's income is just enough for his family's basic needs but not for his needed surgical treatment. In October 2022, Dennis began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and bleeding in a sensitive area. He sought medical consultation and was advised to undergo a colonoscopy. He was prescribed medicines to relieve the pain, but unfortunately, it has continued. He was then forced to have another medical checkup and was diagnosed with bleeding internal hemorrhoids, which gives him discomfort and pain, and hinders him from working to support his family. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Dennis receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on June 20th at WSFP's care center. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of his treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Dennis's procedure and care. Dennis shared, "I am very thankful to Watsi, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, and those helping us get this surgery done. It is such a big help for me and my family."

Meet Fernanda: an 11 year old who is in need of heart surgery. She lives with her parents and younger brother in La Paz, Bolivia. Her father works for a paper company, while her mother is an eldercare social worker. Fernanda was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, and blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. She needs surgery to correct this condition. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to fund Fernanda's cardiac surgery, which is scheduled for May 17th, at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. After she has recovered from her surgery, Fernanda will be able to resume her schooling, and even to return to playing sports which she loves to do. Fernanda's mother said: "Our family has been waiting for this surgery for many years, and we are glad the opportunity has finally arrived!"

66-year-old Anna is a widow from Malawi where she lives with her two daughters, one of whom runs a saloon while the other sells second-hand clothing. Anna is in the business of renting houses. Last year, Anna noticed an asymptomatic swelling on the left side of her neck. She visited the nearest clinic where she was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for tests on her thyroid. Anna was diagnosed with a goiter and was informed she would need surgery. Surgeons at Partners in Hope Hospital are scheduled to perform a thyroidectomy on May 3rd, during which all or part of Anna's thyroid will be removed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,015 to cover the costs of Anna's procedure and care. Anna is hoping to get better after surgery so that she can continue supporting her family as a caring mother. Anna believes that her two daughters are the greatest priority in her life and that she has to be in good health for their sake as their only remaining parent. Full of smiles, Anna said: “Thank you, sponsors. I did not know this day would come in my life; I can smile again.”