Bros is a 24-year-old tuk tuk driver who lives with his wife and daughter in Cambodia. After a full work day, Bros enjoys listening to the radio or playing football with his friends. Since childhood, Bros has experienced recurrent discharge from his right ear due to chronic ear infections. "It makes me unhappy that I get discharge every day,” shares Bros. “I need to put cotton in my ears every time this happens. Sometimes, I can't work as a tuk tuk driver because the pain is so bad, so I lose money to support my family." Doctors at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), discovered a cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth located behind the eardrum—in Bros’s right ear. A cholesteatoma initially develops as a cyst after chronic ear infections. Over time, the cyst sheds layers of old skin that collect within the ear and form a mass that can grow large enough to cause hearing loss, dizziness, or facial paralysis. For $809, Bros will undergo a mastoidectomy, a surgical procedure in which doctors remove the diseased cells in the hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull behind the ears. The cells—known as mastoid air cells—are diseased as a result of the chronic ear infections that spread to the skull structures near Bros’s right ear. Doctors will also remove the cholesteatoma that has grown behind his eardrum. Funding for Bros also covers the costs of two hearing tests, one night in the hospital, one day of inpatient post-operative care, and three outpatient follow-up visits in the month following surgery. “After a mastoidectomy, Bros will be able to have improved hearing, and the discharge will stop,” adds CSC.

"It is hard for me to communicate with other people,” shares Srey, a 45-year-old factory worker who lives with her husband in Cambodia. “Srey was 10 years old when she began experiencing daily ear discharge, hearing loss, and pain in her right ear,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “Doctors discovered a cholesteatoma in her right ear.” A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth located behind the eardrum. It initially develops as a cyst after chronic ear infections or perforation of the eardrum. Over time, the cyst sheds layers of old skin that collect within the ear. Without treatment, a cholesteatoma can grow large enough to cause hearing loss, dizziness, or facial paralysis. When Srey is not working, she enjoys cross-stitching and working around her house, but her ear pain and discharge limit her daily activities. “Sometimes I can not go to work because my ear is so painful and disruptive,” she says. Treatment for Srey is a mastoidectomy, a surgical procedure in which doctors remove the diseased cells in the hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull behind the ears. The cells—known as mastoid air cells—are diseased as a result of the chronic ear infections that spread to the skull structures near Srey’s right ear. Doctors will also remove the cholesteatoma that has grown behind her eardrum. For $809, Srey will undergo the surgery that she needs. Funding also covers the costs of two hearing tests, one night in the hospital, one day of inpatient post-operative care, and three outpatient follow-up visits in the month following surgery. “After a mastoidectomy, the cholesteatoma in Srey's right ear will be treated,” says CSC. “The discharge will stop, and her hearing will improve.” Srey’s husband looks forward to a successful operation for his wife. “I hope after the operation is done, my wife's ear discharge stops, and she can have good hearing and health again," he says.

Channy is a 33-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. She is one of nine children and enjoys cooking and helping her parents on the farm in her free time. "Channy began having ear discharge and hearing loss when she was one year old," our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), reports. "Over time this has caused her hearing loss, tinnitus, and a perforation of the tympanic membrane on both sides." Her condition is also known as a ruptured eardrum. Channy describes the significant discomfort that her ruptured eardrums have caused. "I am unhappy because I have ear discharge every day," she shares, "it makes it hard for me to hear and talk with other people." Channy travelled two hours with her father and brother to reach CSC for proper medical treatment. For $399, doctors at CSC will perform a myringoplasty on her left ear in order to close the perforation in her eardrum. "After a myringoplasty, Channy's discharge will stop and her hearing will improve," CSC shares. With proper treatment Channy will be able to live her life without constant pain and discomfort, and can return home from CSC healthy.

In November of 2015, 54-year-old Chy was attacked by a thief and left unconscious for one day. He received care from a hospital for a day but went home with a right elbow fracture and dislocation. Like many rural Cambodians who cannot afford medical care in a hospital, Chy sought help from a traditional healer. However, the treatment he received was ineffective, and made his condition worse. “Chy cannot hold anything heavy with his right arm and his wrist is stiff,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “He experiences pain and has difficulty using it.” Chy works as a motorcycle taxi driver to support his wife and family. They have one daughter and three sons. In his free time Chy enjoys working around his home, reading the newspaper, and watching the news on TV. $405 will fund a surgery to realign Chy’s bones and secure them with metal plates. He will also receive x-rays, physiotherapy, and hospital recovery to ensure he heals properly. “After recovery, Chy will regain the use of his right arm and hand,” shares CSC.

Meet Jolly! Jolly is a 29-year-old expectant mother from Uganda. Jolly and her husband are subsistence farmers and coffee pickers. They own a small shop selling groceries and are working hard to make their home ready for a baby. Jolly’s pregnancy is high risk. “This is her fifth pregnancy, and of her previous pregnancies, only one child is living,” our medical partner, The Kellerman Foundation, tells us. Jolly requires a cesarean section and antenatal care to help her have a successful delivery. "She has felt this baby move and has high hopes for a healthy pregnancy and baby. It is important to her that the baby be educated," the Kellerman Foundation says. Jolly’s cesarean section and antenatal care together will cost $303. Jolly says she is very grateful for any help given and she looks forward to bringing home a healthy baby.

Naomi is a 43-year-old wife, mother, and aspiring entrepreneur from Kenya. She and her husband recently relocated due to tribal clashes in her old village and the family now lives in a three room rental house in a new area. Naomi is diagnosed with uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths of the uterus that typically appear during childbearing years. Naomi believes these uterine fibroids can be attributed to the two miscarriages she has had in the past. "Naomi is experiencing back pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. She often has dizzy spells and headaches," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "If Naomi is not treated soon, she could develop anemia due to the heavy bleeding." To treat her uterine fibroids, Naomi needs an abdominal hysterectomy. The income that Naomi's husband earns from temporary jobs on farms pays for their children's education, rent, and food but is not enough to cover the cost of surgery. $800 will cover the cost of surgery and help stop Naomi's excessive bleeding and back pain by surgically removing her uterus. “My dream is to one day have a small clothing business,” shares Naomi. “I want to help my husband with the school fess for our children."

“We love Faith because she is always happy and warms our house,” Faith’s mother shares with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Faith, a smiling four-year-old girl, lives with her parents and two siblings in Kenya. Faith has a fracture on her left humerus—causing her pain and an “inability to use her left hand,” AMHF explains. Without treatment, Faith risks the chance of the bones growing back improperly and permanently losing use of her left hand. The family depends on their father’s modest income earned as a “casual laborer at Kenya’s main lighting company.” Given that Faith’s father’s earnings “are barely adequate enough to meet his family's basic needs,” there is no extra money to afford the cost of Faith’s treatment. With $1,125 in Watsi funding, Faith will receive an open reduction and internal fixation operation. This is a two-part surgery that will repair Faith’s broken humerus. First, the broken bones will be fitted back into place. Next, metal rods and plates will be inserted—allowing the bones to heal correctly without shifting. Included in the total cost of treatment, Faith will stay at the hospital for two weeks during which she will work closely with a physiotherapist for ten days. With this procedure, AMHF expects, “Faith’s left hand will heal and she will regain its use.” “We hope she will get help and her hand will be well. We just want to see her growing without any disability like other children,” Faith’s father shares.