Tun is a 61-year-old man from Burma. He works as a day labourer at a parking lot and supports his family. He loves listening to music when he has free time. About 18 years ago, Tun's right foot was injured in a road accident. He just self-treated the wound because he could not afford to go to any clinics or hospitals. Although the wound did not cause him any pain or any other problems, it never was healed properly. About 3 months ago, Tun started to experience intermittent pain, especially at night. The pain worsened over time until he could no longer hide it and screamed whenever the pain struck. When his neighbors and co-workers found out about it, they advised him to go to Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MCLH). Once at the hospital, the doctor examined him and said that his leg is in a bad condition. The doctor also explained that, with the failed joint and non-healing ulcer, the best treatment for him is to have a below-knee amputation. Tun said, "I can’t work daily because of my ulcer. That's why I have no money to seek treatment. My children are not able to work as they are still young. I‘m not happy. I am in debt and it's increasing daily."

Sreytouch is a 30-year-old mother from Cambodia. She is living with her husband and her three little sons. She likes to do housework and plays on Facebook in her free time. One week ago, Sreytouch developed a chalazion in her right eye, causing her eye irritation, headaches, and to be uncomfortable with her appearance. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. She has difficultly seeing things clearly and is experiencing painful headaches. Sreytouch is seeking treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On April 17th, surgeons will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Sreytouch's symptoms should improve. She needs help raising $187 to fund this procedure. "I hope that the chalazion will not appear on my eye again, and my eye irritation will go away with no pain. I can do my housework much better and take care my children at home," Sreytouch said.

Atuhaire is a farmer from Uganda. She is a married mother of four children: one boy who has just completed seventh grade and the rest are girls who are all married and are also small-scale farmers. Atuhaire also weaves mats and baskets to earn additional income and her husband is a construction worker. Eight years ago, Atuhaire began experiencing troubling symptoms. She had difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, and persistent headaches. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Atuhaire receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 23 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $264, and she and her family need help raising money. Atuhaire shared, “I was glad to learn about this program and I hope that I will have good health after my surgery so that I can continue farming to provide to my family.

Violah is a greengrocer from Kenya who sells vegetables in the village market. She is mother to two young children. She and her husband live with his mother in a small mud hut with a grass roof. On the 6th of June, Violah unfortunatel fell on a rock while chasing after goats. She now has an injury on her left hand and cannot move her fingers. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On June 22, Violah will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal well and use her hand easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $848 to fund this procedure. Violah shared, “I can’t do anything with my broken hand. My five-month-old baby needs his clothes washed daily. He wants me to hold him in my lap but I can’t. I cry for my baby. My hope is to get treated and be well so that I can hold my baby and continue providing for my kids.”

Alex is a 22-month-old boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of two children. His parents depend entirely on small-scale farming for a living. Alex’s father decided to travel to neighboring Kenya to seek small jobs in order to supplement the little harvest they are able to currently get from their farm. Alex was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Alex is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,063 to cover the cost of Alex's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 15th. This procedure will hopefully protect Alex from the risks associated with his condition, allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Alex's mother says, “I will be very happy to see my son walk by himself like his sibling. Please help us as the cost is too high for us to afford."

Ko Myo Zaw is a 41-year-old man who lives with his wife in Burma. He and his wife used to work as a seamster and sew children’s clothing. However, Ko Myo stopped working more than a year ago because of his poor health and he now relies on his wife’s income. On the 18th of June 2018, Ko Myo developed pain in his left waist after sitting for a long time. He then had to stand up every two hours to reduce the pain. This continued for a few more months, until he was no longer able to work. A year after he first experienced these symptoms, he went to Myawaddy Hospital to see a doctor. He received an x-ray and ultrasound which revealed he has a kidney stone in his left kidney. The doctor gave him medication to breakup the stone and Ko Myo took the medication for one year. The medication reduced the pain during the first month, but returned a month after that. By the 29th of May 2019, he could no longer take the pain and went to see the doctor at Myawaddy Hospital. The doctor then gave him stronger medications to reduce the pain and break up the stone. At the suggestion of a neighbor, he decided to seek treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) across the border in Thailand, which he was told provides charitable health care. On 5th of October 2019, he arrived at MTC. The next day, he was brought to the local hospital where he received an ultrasound and an appointment to undergo laser treatment to breakup the kidney stone. He took out a loan to pay for the first round of treatment on November 24th, 2019. When he returned to the clinic in January to undergo a follow-up ultrasound, he was told they also found stones in his right kidney. Unable to pay for further treatment, Ko Myo was referred to Watsi Medical Partner Burma Children Medical Fund for assistance in accessing further treatment. Ko Myo's next appointment to undergo a second round of laser treatment will be on Jaunary 28th. He will complete treatment for the kidney stone in his left kidney, before he receives treatment for the stones in his other kidney. Currently, Ko Myo still has pain in his waist. Sometimes he feels tired and the area around his left waist feels hot. "Once I recover I would like to go back to work and pay back my loan," said Ko Myo.

Lewis is a playful and social student from Kenya. Lewis is the brother to Jonah, who also needs clubfoot repair, and is the 6th born in a family of 8 children. He aspires to be in the Special Forces as a Military Officer in future. The family hails from Iteria village in Meru County. His single mother used to be farmer but she currently stays at home. She recently underwent an amputation on her leg after suffering from diabetes. Lewis has clubfoot of both of his feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Lewis traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Lewis's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk well and no longer be in pain. “We request your support. I cannot be able to raise the estimated bill. Please help,” Lewis’s mother pleaded with us.

In is a 36-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has five brothers, one sister, and he is the oldest in his family. He is now married with one young child. In's wife is also a rice farmer with him. He likes to play any sports, especially baseball, and listen to music during his free time. In February 2020, In was in a tractor accident that caused paralysis of his left shoulder and left hemothorax. 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 is unable to move his left arm which prevents him from working in the rice field. In traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 29th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, He will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. "I hope that after surgery I can move my arm better without any pain, I want to return to the rice field to support my family," In said.

Arinaitwe is a small-scale farmer from Uganda who is married and a mother to seven children. Two children are small scale farmers and married and the rest are still in school studying. She and her husband both practice farming for a living. Five years ago, Arinaitwe began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty swallowing and headaches. She was diagnosed with a goitre, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Arinaitwe receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 22nd at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $264, and she and her family need help raising money. Arinaitwe says: “I hope for a successful surgery and this will help me do well again on my farms.”

Amutuhaire is a 30-year-old married mother to one who is now expecting. She holds a certificate in accounting and finance but has not yet got a job of her profession. She currently earns a living by practicing small-scale farming. She is married to a bodaboda driver and was born in a family of five siblings all currently married and self-employed as farmers. She only has her mother as her father died in 2004 leaving them under the support of their mother. She delivered her first child by emergency c-section and is recommended to deliver her current pregnancy by caesarean section given the previous delivery and the breeched position. She was recommended to deliver by caesarean section in the prevention of complications like fetal distress, uterine rupture and maternal distress and to better ensure a healthy delivery for mom and baby. She can’t afford the costs of her surgery, she needs financial support. We expect to restore her lost hope by enabling her to successfully undergo her surgery. Amutuhaire says, “I hope for the best out of my surgery, a live baby and good health after I have fully recovered.”

Tracy is a beautiful three-year-old girl from Uganda. Tracy was screened in during a surgical camp organized by Nyakibale Hospital where she was diagnosed with a lipoma on her chest area. Her mother notes that the swell has been there for over one year. They had not taken her to the hospital due to financial challenges. The lipoma has disfigured her chest area and is often painful as Tracy cries a lot. Tracy had surgery recommended and he family linked with Watsi's Medical Partner to request financial assistance. Tracy, the last born in a family of three has started her nursery school. Her mother operates a saloon while the father works at a retail shop. Their income is negligible to meet the cost of surgery in the hospital and they appeal for help. The surgery will restore Tracy's good health and ease her pain. On April 25th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Tracy's family needs help to raise $187 to fund her procedure. Tracy's mother says, “My daughter has been crying always due to pain and the discomfort, but I hope that she will be relieved after undergoing her surgery and continue with school since she enjoys going to school more than anything else.”

Sokea is a 45-year-old fisherman and rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, two daughters, and one grandchild. Her favorite activities include watching Khmer and Thai dramas on television. One month ago, Sokea developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sokea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 10th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to see more clearly and can go outside again and plant rice," she shared.