Maria is 58-year-old single mother who lives in a small village in Kenya. She works as a casual laborer to support her family. 15 years ago, Maria started losing weight and developed a growth on her neck. As Maria could not afford medical treatment, she took herbal medicines, but they did not help to relieve her symptoms. Maria has now been diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, a condition that arises due to an enlarged thyroid gland. On May 9, Maria will undergo a thyroidectomy to surgically remove the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, shares that Maria needs help to pay for her $641 medical bill. Maria says, "My hope in life is to get healed and start working again."

Oy is a 73-year-old housewife from Cambodia. She has four sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio, go to the pagoda, and join ceremonies. One year ago, Oy developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, and sensitivity to light. Oy has trouble seeing things clearly and going anywhere on her own. When Oy learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On March 22, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Oy will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

Eliza is a 59-year-old women from Malawi. She and her husband have several grown children and many grandchildren. The couple supports themselves by farming and home brewing beer, which they sell in their community. When she is not working, Eliza enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. In December 2016, Eliza began to experience painful gynecological symptoms. She sought medical care and was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus. To relieve her symptoms and restore her health, Eliza needs a hysterectomy. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $650 to fund Eliza's surgery, which will be performed on May 16. Eliza is excited to have her operation so she can focus on her brewing business and spend time with her large and loving family.

Chea is a 61-year-old corn and crop farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has four sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. In his free time, he likes to listen to the news on the radio and watch boxing. One year ago, Chea developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision. Chea has trouble seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and working on his own. When Chea learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On April 25, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Chea will be able to see clearly again. Now, he needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

Sok is a 47-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has two sons and two daughters. In her free time, Sok likes to cook, stay at home, and feed her pigs. In October 2016, Sok was in a tractor accident and fractured her right tibia. She went to a local hospital, where surgeons performed an external fixation of her fractured tibia. Her symptoms have not improved, and Sok continues to experience pain and difficulty walking. Sok learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), from her cousin. She traveled for four hours with her husband to reach CSC for treatment. On April 3, Sok will undergo a second external fixation procedure to repair her right tibia. After recovery, Sok will be able to walk easily again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure.

Jun-jun is a five-year-old boy. He loves to play with his older brothers and likes books. He lives in a small house made of bamboo with his parents and six siblings. His father is a laborer. Jun-jun 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 $268 malnutrition treatment on February 23. Jun-jun 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. Jun-jun's mother says, "I hope that my child will become healthy, be healed, and have a good future. I am looking forward to ICM's treatment for him."

Meet Chan Ou, a two-year-old girl from Cambodia. Chan Ou has a sister and a brother, and it brings her joy to be with her mother. She also likes playing with toys. When she was eight months old, Chan Ou received a poorly administered injection in both thighs. This caused muscle fibrosis, or scar tissue formation, in both legs, making it difficult for her to bend her legs and walk properly. In August of 2016, Chan Ou received funding through Watsi to undergo a successful quadricepsplasty operation on her left leg. This procedure released the contracted muscle in her left limb, allowing her to walk more easily. However, she has recently been experiencing knee stiffness in the leg that was not operated on—her right leg. On January 25, surgeons will perform another quadricepsplasty—this time, on Chan Ou’s right leg—to ensure that that leg functions properly as well. Chan Ou’s parents cannot afford to pay for her operation. But for $425, we can fund her surgery, as well as the lab tests, ten-day hospital stay, and four follow-up visits necessary to ensure she recovers successfully from the procedure. Let’s help give this toddler a fresh start at pain-free walking.

Chong is a nine-year-old boy from Thailand. He lives with his mother, who works as an agricultural day laborer, planting and harvesting corn and beans for a plantation owner. They live in a hut on the plantation owner’s land. Chong’s mother supports the family as a single parent. She cannot afford to send any of her children to school. Chong helps his mother with household chores, cooking meals or collecting water from a nearby pond. Some days, he accompanies his mother to work, where he helps her carry bags. A year after Chong was born, his mother noticed an abnormal condition in a sensitive area of his body. Chong complained of pain, so his mother brought him to the hospital. There, the family learned about our medical partner. Chong was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia and hydrocele. He is scheduled to undergo a repair surgery on January 4, 2017. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Chong loves to play games of marbles with his friends. He also loves to cook. His mother says that his best dishes are fish paste salad, stir fried dishes, and soup. Even when he is not feeling well, Chong always wants to help his mother. In the future, Chong hopes to stay in Thailand to support his mother. “I would like to find a job here,” he says, “so that I can help my mother.”

Chanthy is 12 years old and in the fifth grade. She has one sister and one brother. Chanthy likes to read her school books, watch the song channel on TV, and play around her house. In August, Chanthy fell from a swing at school and dislocated her right elbow. She visited a Khmer traditional haler, but her symptoms did not improve. She experiences pain and difficulty using her elbow. When her family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Chanthy traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On October 25, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure to relocate and secure her right elbow. Her family needs help to fund this $411 procedure. After recovery, Chanthy will be pain-free and have full range of motion in her arm. She will be able to return to school as usual.

“I hope to get help so I can go back to cultivating my banana plantation," shares 94-year-old Munubi. Munubi lives in Uganda with his grandaughter. He spent two years with his first wife who died and left him with one son, who later died too. He married his second wife; they lived together for 35 years, and she too died but without bearing a child. Munubi has a small banana plantation which is now in bad shape because he is unable to care for it due to pain and old age. Munubi developed swellings in his inguinal region two years ago. He feels pain whenever he walks long distances and when he sits for a long time. At night, he doesn’t sleep well because he feels as if his intestines are turning around. He had never reported his condition to a hospital, because of lack of money. He has been using herbs, thinking he would get relief, but that did not work. Munubi came to Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) after learning that there is help for people in need of surgery. He has been diagnosed with acquired bilateral hydrocele & a left inguinal hernia. He has no money to pay for his treatment. $249 will cover Munubi's medical expenses and stay at the hospital. After surgery, Munubi hopes to get well and rehabilitate his banana plantation.

Chakra is a 43-year-old farmer living in Nepal with his wife and four children. He works in India to support his family, and his wife raises their cattle and farm. The yield from the field sustains them for about three months of the year, and rest of the months they buy food from the market. Chakra began to have pain on his left side of abdomen about one year ago. His pain worsens when he walks or lifts heavy weight. "My right side inguinal hernia's operation had been done in India about eight years ago when I worked there," he explains. "I decided to visit the doctors because I felt like the pain was similar to the one I experience before, and I suspected I might have developed a hernia on my left side." He traveled to a clinic under the care of our medical partner, Possible, for further evaluation. A hernia is when an internal organ pokes through the abdomen wall, causing severe pain. Left untreated, a hernia can cause intestinal blockage or prevent blood from reaching vital parts of his intestines. Chakra's doctors recommended surgical intervention to repair the abdominal wall, remove the bulging tissue in his abdomen, and reposition his herniated tissue. The total cost of the procedure is $451, and covers the procedure, supplies, medications, and three days of inpatient care. Following his surgery, Chakra's pain will resolve and he will be able to walk and lift heavy weight easily. "I am so happy that I will be free of pain soon," he shares eagerly. Chakra's family needs financial assistance to complete payment for his planned surgery.

Two-year-old Princess "is a playful girl and very cute," reports our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). "She was loved not only by her parents but her neighbors and friends as well. She loves to play with kids around the neighborhood like they are living in a castle and she and her friends are princesses and princes." Princess lives in a mountainous part of the Philippines with her parents. Recently, her mother noticed a mass near her reproductive organs and sought care for her. "The mother did not hesitate to coordinate with the health staff to subject Princess for consultation to a surgeon," ICM explains. "Tests were performed including ultrasound and she was diagnosed with indirect inguinal hernia and surgery is needed. They cannot afford the surgery needed for Princess because of financial constraints." Princess' hernia is causing her pain, and her mother has had to stay home from work to care for her. For $465, we can pay for surgery to repair her hernia, allowing her to live a normal life. "I am thankful for the sponsors and donors who are very willing to help us. Princess is really a princess to her small kingdom we called our home. Thank you for making her wish come true," Princess' mother says.