Mu is a 17-year-old boy who lives with his sister in Mae Sot, Thailand. Before that, he lived with his parents, one older sister, two younger brothers and one younger sister in a refugee camp. His sister works at a non-governmental organisation helping others in need. Around mid-August, Mu woke up one morning with pain in his left knee. At first he thought that the pain would go away on its own and that it was nothing serious. However, when the pain remained a few days later, he told his sister about it. His sister bought him a type of Burmese pain reliever balm to apply on his knee. He applied the balm for a week, but he did not feel any better. When he and his sister noticed that his left knee had become slightly swollen his sister called their father. Mu’s father told them that it could be an ulcer and suggested that they go to a hospital or buy him pain medication to reduce swelling. His sister bought the medication their father had suggested at a pharmacy, and Mu took it for a week. However, he did not feel better, and the swelling did not decrease. Mu was able to have an MRI at Chiang Mai Hospital and now the doctor recommends he undergo surgery to remove a tumor on his left knee. Mu sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund and is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 17th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care which will enable him to get off of using crutches and back to feeling well again. Mu said, "After I heard from the doctor that my leg does not need to be amputated, I feel so happy."

Milka works as a house helper in Kenya. She is a mother of two children, now aged 29 and 20 years. Milka dropped out of school when she was younger after a short illness that required her to be admitted to a hospital. Afterward, she went to take care of an elderly man and she still has this job now. Milka has lived with him as she raised her children.They all live in a 2-bedroom house. She has a cow that helps her get milk to provide for them. For seven years, Milka has been experiencing troubling symptoms and abdominal pain. She went to a hospital in western part of Kenya in 2020 seeking medication where an ultrasound was done. The hospital referred her to another hospital for further care. However, she was unable to go to the hospital due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Milka's condition has made it difficult for her to attend to her normal duties as a mother and a house help. She came to our partner's hospital seeking medical care after hearing about it on the radio. She was reviewed by the gynecologist who recommended surgery to heal her fibroid and ovarian cyst. She has been diagnosed with leiomyoma of uterus. Milka needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $918 to fund Milka's surgery. On November 16th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Milka will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Milka says,”I will be glad when I get back to normal. The pain has been very uncomfortable making life difficult. My hope is to get treated and be well again.”

Michela is a 6-month-old baby from Haiti. Michela's family shared that she was born healthy and they are very worried about how to help her condition now since they have limited ability to pay for hospital costs. Michela has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. When Michela was two months old, her parents noticed Michela's head looked bigger that it should be. They have not known how to help without money for her care. Without treatment, Michela will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Fortunately, our medical partner, Project Medishare, is teaming up with Watsi to raise $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Michela at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat her hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on October 15th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Michela's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Michela will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Their family has been so sad but now are very happy that their baby will get the surgery that she needs. They shared, "Thank you Jesus! Bless this organization who is so good to us and bless Bernard Mevs Hospital and it's team."

Jane is a 35-year-old farmer, a single mother of two, and the 5th born child in a family of twelve. Due to the size of their family and how close-knit they are, Jane's mother commented, “all my daughters (6) have been married, gotten children, and then have come back home. I never even remember who is who and who follows the other." Jane was born with a disability and never able to attend school. Jane's mother helps to take care of her. Earlier this month, Jane was working and going through her daily activities when she slipped and fell, sustaining a fractured clavicle on her right side. Jane is in severe pain, and she is not able to go about her normal activities. Jane came to the hospital accompanied by her elderly mother and her niece, and Jane's mother shared her story with the hospital staff. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 16th, Jane will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Following the procedure, Jane will not experience pain, the fracture will heal well and she will be able to work and take care of her children as normal. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Jane’s mother said, “I am desperate and Jane has been a great challenge to take care of even before she was sick. I kindly request help so that at least she can be well and assist herself where she can. I also wish she can be relieved of this pain.”

Shallet is a humble and jovial three-year-old girl. She's the third child born in a family of four children and her parents are teachers. Shallet has hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and clubfoot of both feet. She has visited local hospitals since birth for treatments, and began casting for clubfoot when she was four weeks old. Her condition causes her difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Shallet traveled to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for treatment. At AMH's care center, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 18th and now, AMH is requesting $1,286 to fund Shallet's clubfoot repair. Her parents shared that they hope that the treatment will be of great impact to Shallet because she will be able to wear shoes and walk with ease. Shallet's father shared, “we have high hopes for Shallet and it is our joy to see her excel in life and become an independent person like other girls in the society.”

Meet Jecinta, a 12-year-old friendly, talkative, and funny girl. She is the youngest in her family of three children. Currently, Jecinta is a student in grade 5, and in school, she likes reading and playing with her friends even though her legs limits her ability to play as well as her peers. Jecinta's mother is a single mother who works temporary jobs on neighbor’s farms, clothes washing, and other available jobs. Jecinta was born healthy, but her mother noticed a sudden bowing of her legs when she was one. Jecinta's mother took her toddler to a nearby hospital where plaster was applied to her legs to prevent spreading of her condition. However, since then, it has continued to worsen and has been affecting Jecinta's mobility. At this point, she cannot stand upright and play with friends as she would like to. Fortunately, Jecinta is scheduled to undergo surgery on July 19th to correct her legs. This treatment will allow her to walk like other friends, play with them, and continue with her studies, all of which can improve her self-esteem. “I would wish for support for my child because I cannot be able to afford the hospital bills,”Jecinta’s mother asks.

David is a small scale farmer from Nazareth, Kenya. He is married, with six children. David does not work as much as he used to but does farming on his small piece of land. However he hasn't been able to do this since his fall. David was referred to our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital, by his neighbor, who is one of the support staff there. The staff reported that David had fallen and broken his leg, to which the doctor advised an ORIF repair surgery to heal his leg. David says that bad luck is following him. In 2018, he had also fallen and sustained a closed fracture on his femur. On May 21st of this year, he fell again and sustained a closed fracture tibia on the same leg. David is experiencing pain and is unable to use his right leg. If not treated, he may develop malunion or healing with deformity. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 17th, David will undergo a fracture repair procedure (ORIF), so that David can be relieved of the pain, walk with ease, and farm. Now, AMH is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “If my neighbor did not help me come to Nazareth and access this help, I don’t know what would have happened to my leg. My family still depends on me so I humbly request for help, to see myself walking again. I will appreciate,” said David.

Sambon is a 65-year-old proud grandfather. He has been married for 40 years and has two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. Sambon's wife is a cook at a small organization in Phnom Penh. Sambon is retired now, but used to be a government worker building roads. On May 9th, Sambon was burned by hot water on both legs. His family took him to an NGO hospital where the wounds were dressed and treated. Then, they referred him to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for further evaluation and treatment. It is difficult for him to bend his legs and he is in pain. On May 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove the dead skin and apply a skin graft so can regain use of his legs. Now, he needs help to fund this $787 procedure. Sambon shared, "I am so thankful that I can return home soon after I am healed."

Nivan is a social and very friendly boy, the youngest in his family of three children. Currently, he attends a small kindergarten, which is close to their home. His parents had previously enrolled him at a government school, but he had to change schools due to the distance he had to walk to get there, which was difficult for him. Nivan's father is a small scale farmer, and also owns a small kiosk where they sell basics like sugar, flour and vegetables. Nivan was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, or knock knees. As a result, his legs bow inward so that his knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Nivan is not able to walk long distances due to pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Nivan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 16th. Treatment will hopefully restore Nivan's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Nivan’s mother shared, "We have tried to seek treatment for our son with no success. We even used our saving to get medical insurance for him but it turned out it cannot cover his treatment cost. Please help us."

Naw Ree is a 49-year-old woman from Thailand. Naw Ree has lived by herself in a refugee camp in northern Thailand since 2009. As a camp resident, Naw Ree receives 243 baht (approx. $8 USD) each month from an organization that supports refugee camp residents. She also works as a maternal and child health worker, receiving 900 baht (approx. $30 USD) per month. Naw Ree raises chickens and grows vegetables. Despite receiving free health care services in the camp, Naw Ree is struggling to make ends meet. On December 16th, 2020, Naw Ree went to see a woman who had recently given birth, to remind her about vaccinating her baby on time. After sitting and talking to the woman in her home, Naw Ree stood up to leave but felt light headed and fell. She put out her left hand to stop her fall, and hurt her left arm. She went to the hospital in the camp, run by Malteser International [MI] Thailand, and received pain medication and her arm was put into a sling. The next day, she was referred to Mae Seriang General Hospital for further treatment. At the hospital she received x-rays and the doctor told her that she had fractured one of the bones in her left forearm. She was then referred to Chiang Mai Hospital for further treatment, but her transfer was delayed for over two weeks due to an outbreak in COVID-19 cases in northern Thailand. Since Naw Ree lives by herself, she has to cook, wash her clothes, and feed her chickens without anyone's help, a difficult feat with her broken arm. Currently, she is in pain but has no fever. She can only fall asleep if she takes pain medication. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Ree will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for January 6th and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Naw Ree will no longer be in pain. She will be able to go back to work as a health worker and she will be able to complete her household chores without pain or discomfort. Naw Ree shared, "My greatest wish is that I recover and that I may be able to use my left arm again."

Hen is a 74-year-old woman from Cambodia. She has three daughters, two sons, and seven grandchildren. Hen used to work as a farmer, but retired recently. She lives with her first daughter, who is also a farmer. Hen enjoys listening to the monks preaching on the radio. One year ago, Hen developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and irritation. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Hen learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours by taxi with her daughter seeking treatment. On November 10th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Hen shared, "In the last phase of my life, I truly wish to enjoy the sense of sight that was given by the creator."

Soeun is 37-year-old government worker from Cambodia. He and his wife have a 10-year-old daughter who is in second grade. His wife sells rice at a local market. In his free time he loves to read the news or discovers new topics and books on the internet. In April 2020, Soeun was in motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture to his left femur and a traumatic injury to his left arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He received treatment to his femur, but his left arm remains numb and he cannot move it. Soeun traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On August 4th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will regain feeling in his shoulder and arm, and will be able to return to work and do all of his daily tasks easily again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. Soeun said, "I have been very worried about the numbness in my arm, but I am hopeful that after this surgery I will move it again and get my strength back."