Charles is an 8-year-old boy from Isanjandugu, Mpanda District, Tanzania. His parents are farmers who rely on seasonal rain to cultivate maize and beans to support Charles and his four siblings. Charles was born with clubfoot, where his foot is twisted and out of shape. As his parents were not aware that this condition could be corrected, they never sought treatment. Having clubfoot makes it difficult for Charles to walk, run, play, and wear shoes. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Charles will begin clubfoot treatment on September 13th. Doctors will start him on manipulation and casting which will be followed by clubfoot correction surgery. Charles needs your help to raise $1,119 to fund this procedure. After recovery, Charles will improve his mobility, build strength, and be able to play with his siblings and friends. Charles' father says: “I hope my son will be okay after he has his treatment, and he can grow up to be healthy and strong.”

Srey Mech is a mother of two from Cambodia. She sells clothes at a shop. She has two sons. She likes to go for walks and watch TV. Fifteen years ago, she fell down and broke her hip. She had a hip replacement surgery, but now it needs to be replaced because she has been in chronic hip pain for the past two years. She cannot walk. Fortunately, Srey Mech learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Srey Mech of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for November 7, and Srey Mech needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I really hope I won't be in pain and will be able to work after the operation."

Net is a tenth grade student from Cambodia. She has two sisters and a brother. She likes to read and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Net has strabismus in her right eye. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. It is difficult for her to see clearly and study. Net traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 11, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align his eyes. Now, Net needs help to raise $292 to fund this procedure. Her father says, "I hope my daughter can see better after the operation."

Rann is a 21-year-old farmer who has four brothers and two sisters. He likes to watch TV and work in his rice fields. For five months, Rann has had a chronic dislocation of a joint in his left thumb. He was treated by a Khmer traditional healer, but his symptoms did not improve. Rann has difficulty flexing his thumb, and he is in pain. When Rann learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On November 1, CSC surgeons performed a joint arthrodesis surgery. After recovery, Rann will regain function in his left hand. Now, he needs help to fund this $450 surgery.

Rejina is six years old, and lives with her family in Nepal. She is in the first grade and enjoys reading stories and poems. Rejina recently broke her arm while playing with friends. Our medical partner, Possible, shares: “Rejina was playing on a rope swing when it broke and she landed on her right arm; it has been hurting since then. Not only did she miss her school to come to the hospital but she also needs help with her every day work like eating and dressing up.” Rejina needs to be treated soon in order to prevent long-term complications of the fracture. If left untreated, the fractured bone could lead to permanent immobility or infection. Rejina's family family cannot afford the $579 treatment she needs, which includes surgery and casting. Her uncle told our medical partner, Possible, that the family had to walk for four hours to reach the hospital. Let’s help raise the funds for Rejina’s treatment!

"I need to be able to work to take care of my family, but I can't work with this pain," Naunt tells us. 42-year-old Naunt is a mother and farmer from Burma. About two months ago, she started experiencing severe abdominal pain. She had to stop working, and her husband quit his job to care for her and the farm. This has caused even more of a financial burden for their family. Naunt was diagnosed with cervical fibroids. She was referred to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) after she stopped pursuing medical care elsewhere due to a lack of resources. For $1500, BBP can perform the necessary surgery to stop Naunt's pain and remove the fibroids. After surgery, Naunt will be able to work again and care for her sons. She will no longer live with the mental distress that accompanies her illness. "I hope that surgery will allow my husband to return to work, and that we can begin to save for the future again," she tells us. Let's help fund this important surgery for Naunt!

This is 12-year-old Chit Htun. He likes school, makes good grades, and hopes to become a computer programmer. He's in the 7th grade and lives in Thailand with his mother, two sisters, and family friends. Chit Htun was born with meningocele. Our medical partners describe the condition more clearly as “a protrusion of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord through a defect in the spinal cord.” Because of this, Chit Htun has limited mobility and urinary incontinence. To improve Chit Htun's quality of life so that he can be more independent with daily tasks, Watsi's medical partners have recommended placement of a suprapubic catheter which would help Chit Htun to manually drain urine from his bladder. This way no one, including Chit Htun's caring mom, will need to assist him when he has to go to the bathroom. Chit Htun's support network is large, but the cost of this surgery to propel his independence is financially out-of-reach. With $1500, we can pay for it anyway. Let's help Chit Htun the boost he needs to meet his goals!

Afework is an extremely active 13 year old! Currently in the fourth grade, he is known for being a disciplined student and a hard worker. Afework enjoys helping his father on the family farm, working the fields of corn and teff (the grain used to make injera, the traditional bread of Ethiopia). When he has free time, Afework plays handball and football (soccer) with his friends. A week ago, Afework was running along a rough and rocky road near his home. Suddenly, he tripped and fractured his ankle. The wound became infected, and wasn't healing properly, so his father brought him to our medical partner, Africa Mission Healthcare Foundation. Afework needs an operation to wash out the infection from his wound and set his bones so that they will heal properly and in alignment. Without this operation, he risks losing his leg due to infection or permanent problems with walking due to different leg lengths. Let's raise the $570 needed so that Afework can go back to his busy life in school, on the farm, and playing soccer with his friends!