Khouk is a five-year-old girl from Thailand. She goes to kindergarten at a local school. In early June, Khouk was playing on the slide at school with her friends. She fell off the slide and onto her right arm, breaking her right forearm. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Khouk will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for June 19 and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help her to have a pain-free forearm again. After Khouk has fully recovered, she will go back to school and continue her kindergarten class. Khouk's mother says, “If her broken arm heals, I will be very happy for her. Now I feel very sad when I look at her.”

Caren is a baby from Kenya. She was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Caren is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on May 2. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,327 to cover the total cost of Caren's procedure and care. After her recovery, Caren will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future.

Sok Korng is a 37-year-old dessert seller from Cambodia. She has six brothers and enjoys cooking and doing housework in her free time. When she was six years old, Sok Korng had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Sok Korng experiences discharge, itchiness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. She cannot communicate properly with others and reads lips due to the hearing loss. Sok Korng traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 24, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope that after surgery, my ear will heal and my hearing will improve."

Hla is a farmer from Burma. She owns a piece of land with her five children, and they plant rice for their own consumption. Her husband passed away many years ago. About a year ago, Hla started to feel pain in her abdomen and her back. She visited several clinics in Burma and received traditional medicines, but her symptoms did not improve. Due to her medical condition, she has been experiencing fatigue and loss of appetite. Finally, she visited Mae Tao Clinic and was then referred to Mae Sot Hospital, our medical partner's care center. She learned that she has a gallstone and surgery is required. Hla has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Hla's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Hla is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on November 23. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Hla's procedure and care. Hla says, "I am looking forward to recovering from my symptoms so that I can return home and help my children with farming."

“I need your help to support my child's medical needs,” says Mekliet's mother, a woman from Ethiopia. She lost her husband in a car accident when she was six months pregnant with Mekliet. The two now live with Mekliet’s grandmother, and have no income source of their own. Mekliet, who is now five months old, was born with anorectal malformation. As a result, she experiences bowel dysfunction. For $1,500, we can sponsor a procedure on September 21 to repair her condition. This will cover the costs of her lab tests, medications, and one-day hospital stay.

Nai is a 43-year-old woman who lives with her family in a village in Karen State, Burma. In February, Nai cut two of her toes while walking around her village. After she tried to clean the cuts, they got worse, and the tissue in and around them started to darken. A week later, Nai’s foot was in a lot of pain and her toes were swelling. She visited a medical clinic, and her left leg was amputated in March. Now, her left leg is fully recovered. However, she recently began noticing pain and itching in her right leg. The pain worsened and was replaced by numbness over the course of the summer, so she returned to the hospital for further treatment. On September 1, surgeons will operate on Nai's painful right leg. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for a below-knee amputation. Nai says, "My leg is very painful and I can't walk or sleep at all. I feel sad because I cannot work and have to spend time in the hospital. I just want to recover."

"Samuel's sickness has been very hard for our family,” shares Samuel’s mother. Samuel is a three-year-old boy from a small town in the Dominican Republic. He lives with his parents and three sisters, and his favorite activity is playing a toy drum set. Samuel was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect (ASD), meaning that there is a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood flows through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Samuel weak and short of breath. Although there is a surgical method that can close the hole in Samuel’s heart, his family cannot afford this treatment or the necessary pre-operative care. But we can help for $1,500. This sum will sponsor the cardiac exams, lab tests, and medications that Samuel needs to undergo on May 24, prior to his surgery. Another organization, Gift of Life International, has contributed $8,500 to fund his surgery. “We are looking forward to the day when he is healthy," Samuel’s mother says. Let’s make sure that that day comes as soon as possible for this toddler’s family.

Win is a 23-year-old man who lives with his family in Myawaddy, Burma. Win recently broke his right leg in a car accident. He was driving to the tea shop with his friend on his motorcycle when the car behind him braked suddenly. A car driving over the speed limit did not see the car in front of him break, causing him to hit the car and spin into Win’s motorcycle. Win was knocked unconscious right away. Win was taken to hospital by a free volunteer ambulance, where he received emergency care. He broke both his femur and his tibia in his right leg. He also had a large cut on his forehead and chin and abrasions on his back. Although his leg was badly broken, Win did not receive treatment for it at the hospital because his family could not afford the cost. Instead he was taken to another clinic, where he received painkillers. He was then referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Win’s accident has put a strain on his family and their household income. Before his accident, Win worked with his mom selling vegetables and clothes. Their household income was enough to cover their daily costs. However, since the accident, his mother has stayed with him at the hospital. Our medical partner, BCMF, is requesting $1,500 to fund Win’s leg surgery. This will cover Win’s surgery, a seven night hospital stay, all medication, supplies, and aftercare. Win says, "I just want to get better so that I can contribute to my family’s income. I would like to continue helping my mother sell vegetables or find any job with a good income”.

Ngin is a 60-year-old woman who is a mother of four sons and four daughters and a grandmother of ten grandchildren. She is from Cambodia. In her free time, she likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. About a year ago, Ngin developed cataracts in both of her eyes. Her condition causes her blurred vision, tearing, and pain. It is difficult for her to see things clearly and recognize faces. Ngin is worried about going blind. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a cataract surgery in both eyes. This procedure will allow Ngin to see clearly again. The surgery is scheduled for March 23, and CSC is requesting $292 to fund the treatment.

Ramon is 55 years old and a father of four. He lives with his wife and children in a humble home in Guatemala. His favorite sport is soccer, and his favorite food is watermelon. Ramon was diagnosed with diabetes eight years ago. He used to have government-sponsored health insurance working as a day laborer, but after Ramon retired three years ago, he lost his health benefits. Now, with uncontrolled diabetes, Ramon's family cannot afford to pay for treatment. Diabetes causes frequent urination, weight loss, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. If left untreated, it can also cause cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage and amputation, and an early death. Funding of $1,500 will give Ramon the support he needs to finally manage his diabetes. On February 13, he will begin to receive the medicines and education he needs to adequately manage his condition in the future. Once his glucose levels normalize, he will no longer be at risk of dangerous blood sugar highs, and his energy will improve. The treatment will give him energy to participate in family life. “I want to be able to do all the things I used to, like playing soccer," he says. "I want to be better so that I can work without worrying about health complications.”

Neil Jhon, fondly called "Jimboy," is a one-year-old boy from the Philippines who lives with his family in a small house. At home, Neil Jhon enjoys playing with his sisters. Neil Jhon has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 21. Neil Jhon will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Neil Jhon's mother says, "I hope that Neil Jhon will recover from malnutrition and finish his studies."

Daisy is a two-year-old girl who lives with her family in a bamboo house. They have no access to electricity, and their only source of water is a spring. Daisy's father is a motorcycle driver and farmer. Daisy has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens her growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 21. Daisy will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "Whatever she wants, I will support her. I hope she will finish her studies," says her mother.