Meet 30-year-old Sarom from Cambodia. “Sarom is married without children and she works as a farmer,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Sarom spends her time cleaning her house and taking care of her parents at home.” Sarom has a cholesteatoma in her right ear -- a non-cancerous skin cyst that has the potential to increase in size, and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the ear. “When Sarom was two years old, she began have right ear discharge every day, and she never received treatment beyond occasional antibiotics,” reports CSC. “This causes her pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).” For $809, Sarom can receive a mastoidectomy to surgically remove cells in the spaces behind her ear, relieving her persistent pain and unpleasant symptoms. CSC continues, “After a mastoidectomy, Sarom will be able to regain her hearing ability, and the discharge will stop.” Sarom is eager to heal properly and return to daily life, and her husband remains hopeful that her pain will soon come to an end. She shares, “I hope the ear discharge will stop, and I’ll have good hearing.”

Meet Rosie, a 35-year-old woman from the Philippines. Rosie enjoys cooking and singing, and often sings at weddings and funerals. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), says, “Rosie loves to work together with her husband who is a gospel minister and she loves to serve people.” Due to a mass on her right breast, “Rosie occasionally experiences muscle pain on the entire right side of her shoulder, chest, and back, which requires her to rest a minimum of two hours throughout the day,” ICM reports. “It is a discomfort since there is additional itching at the site of the mass and under her right upper arm; these symptoms bother her as it causes her lack of sleep, which makes her very tired for the next day’s tasks.” Rosie needs a lumpectomy to remove the mass on her breast. This procedure costs $612, and will remove all abnormal tissue form her breast. ICM says, “The treatment will give Rosie the freedom to do what she wants, especially in serving the church and the community as a whole. “ ICM adds, “Rosie is looking forward to being free of pain and discomfort so she can perform her best as a mother and a wife.” "I am looking forward to being free of this condition I have," Rosie shares. "I know that without it I can serve my family and our church at my full capacity.”

Meet Caleb, an optimistic 20-year-old man from Kenya. "Caleb is the fifth born in a family of six, his parents are small-scale maize farmers," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tells us. Caleb has electrical burns to his right hand and leg. “Caleb was electrocuted as he tried to help people trapped in a fallen truck,” shares AMHF. "Caleb has been unable to do any physical or economic activity because of the wounds," AMHF describes. "He is unable to use his right hand and some of his wounds still need dressing. Caleb has been confined to his home and is dependent on his parents for sustenance." He must also use a walking aid wherever he goes. "Caleb was about to leave for the city to begin making a living for himself as a casual laborer before the accident,” says AMHF. His family has contributed to pay for his four previous surgeries, but are unable to cover more medical expenses. $940 covers the cost of debridement surgery to remove dead tissue from the wound and for skin grafts to repair the affected areas. "We expect after a debridement and skin grafting, Caleb's mobility will improve," AMHF tells us. "His wounds will also heal and his road to recovery will be much easier. Eventually, Caleb will be able to work and provide for himself."

Meet Francis, a 13-year-old boy from Kenya. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), says, “Francis is the fourth born in a family of seven and all of his siblings are in school, where Francis is in class five.” Francis’s parents used to farm in a forest, until they were given notice to stop because some people were illegally cutting trees in the area. AMHF says, “Now Francis’s father works as a casual laborer on nearby farms, and he is barely able to put food on the table at the end of the day; his family has had to go many days without food.” Two weeks ago, Francis broke both of his legs. AMHF tells us, “Francis was in the forest playing with friends and looking for firewood for the household to use when he fell from a tree.” Both of his legs have bilateral midshaft femur fractures, and because of this he cannot walk and is on pain management medication. AMHF goes on to say, “If the surgery is not done soon, Francis could develop infection or suffer malunion and he would not be able to attend school in September - but if treated, he will be able to use crutches and move around a bit.” Francis needs orthopedic surgery to open the area around the broken bones and realign them with metal hardware. This procedure costs $1,410 and AMHF reports, “After the surgery and recovery, Francis will be able to resume school and walk normally again.” “I was begging the hospital to treat my son and hold me here to work off the bill when the doctor called," his father shares. "This support is a miracle from God.”

Meet Cho Than, a 53-year-old seamstress and mother from Burma who enjoys planting vegetables in her garden. Known within her community for her generosity, Cho Than often gives the vegetables that she grows to her neighbors and friends. Cho Than has a myoma, more commonly known as a uterine fibroid. Fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the muscle tissue of the uterus, or womb. They can be very small (invisible to the naked eye) or very large (melon-sized) and can present as a single mass or a cluster of several masses. An estimated 80 percent of women have uterine fibroids in their lifetime. While some women who have fibroids have no symptoms, others experience heavy periods, abdominal pain, or constipation. “Cho Than experiences severe pain in her back and lower abdomen,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She has difficulty urinating and it is painful for her to do so. Her condition makes it impossible for her to work and requires her daughter to care for her and support her financially.” The recommended treatment for Cho Than is a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy (surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries). $1500 covers the cost of the surgery as well as a seven-day hospital stay and one outpatient appointment post-surgery. “With surgery, Cho Than will be able to live without pain,” reports BBP. Cho Than looks forward to being healthy again and hopes to be able to return to work as a seamstress. She dreams of owning a small house where she and her daughter can live peacefully.

“The symptoms make it difficult to focus on my studies and that upsets me. My mind wants to study, but my body will not allow it,” says Mu Eh. Meet Mu Eh, a 19-year-old woman who lives in a refugee camp in Thailand with her parents and three younger siblings. “Mu Eh was 15 years old when she first noticed the symptoms of her condition,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She has made multiple visits to health clinics and hospitals over the past four years and been prescribed several different types of medication, however her symptoms have become more severe over time.” Mu Eh has nasal poylps. Nasal polyps are soft, sac-like growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. BBP tells us they cause her pain and “make it difficult for her to breathe through her nose.” The growths also lead to “frequent headaches and her nose will sometimes swell and turn red.” Mu Eh passed grade 10 and is about to begin her post-term education. “She enjoys school and is interested in studying medicine,” BBP continues. “She occasionally misses school because of her condition and the pain makes it difficult to concentrate when she is studying.” $1500 will fund the procedure to remove the polyps along with transportation to and from the hospital. "With treatment, Mu Eh can be expected to make a full recovery and live symptom-free. She will able to return to her studies and work toward her dream of becoming a doctor.”

“I just pray that my baby will get well, grow up like the rest of my children and later on become independent,” says Naomi’s mother. Meet Naomi, a newborn baby girl from Tanzania. Naomi is the youngest of five and according to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “She feeds well but cries whenever she is lifted up or moved.” Naomi cries more often than other newborns because she has myelomeningocele with hydrocephalus. As AMHF explains, “Naomi has an open lesion on her lower back which is leaking cerebral spinal fluid [CSF]. If not treated, Naomi is at risk of contracting infection and causing bigger problems.” AMHF continues, “Naomi’s mother works very hard as a small scale farmer. She lost her husband a few months after conceiving so she is the one taking care of the whole family. Her financial situation is currently not good given that she cannot do anything to earn some money because she has a newborn who is also not well. She relies on her relative to support her.” $1,100 will fund treatment for Naomi. AMHF explains that after treatment, “Naomi will not lose CSF from her lower back anymore, she will be out of risk of contracting infection and with extensive physiotherapy she may have the ability to use her lower limbs.” Let’s help Naomi and her mother access the healthcare Naomi needs.

This little boy is seven-month-old Shardrack, the second-born child in a family of two children. “Shardrack was born with a cystic mass on his lower back,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), and this puts him “at risk of developing severe, life-threatening infection or urine and stool incontinence if not treated.” Shardrack’s family lives in a single room rental house. His father is a casual laborer working at a quarry site, while his mother sells vegetables at a local market to help support the family. His parents are unable to raise the funds for his surgical care that will close the mass and reconstruct Shardrack’s spine. The treatment will cost $805. After the surgery and recovery, AMHF expects that “Shardrack will lead a normal and healthy life with no risk of infection.” “I am very grateful for the support that we are receiving from Watsi,” shares Shardrack’s father. “I know I may never be a rich man but I always work hard to make sure that my family does not lack a meal. I want my children to live long and healthy lives so that they can have a chance at brighter futures.”

"Stella was burnt when a kerosene lamp fell on her in August last year," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Her mother did not take her to a hospital and instead used traditional medicines to treat her burns. When a local pastor visited the home, he found Stella with the inner thighs joined by scar tissue. She could not pass urine." Stella is a 10-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the second born child in a family of five, and her mother works as a fruit vendor at their local market. Her father passed away, leaving Stella and her siblings in the care of their mother and grandfather. As a result of her incident, Stella has burn contractures in her lower abdomen and upper thighs. She has difficulty walking and maintaining a straight posture. “If surgery is not done, Stella is likely to develop back problems due to the constant bended posture she is in," says AMHF. For $1125, AMHF will perform a contracture release surgery that will subdue tension in Stella’s pelvic region and help it properly heal. Stella has already undergone a first surgery funded by a local church that released her thighs, however, her family is not able to raise the additional funds needed for this treatment. Stella shares: “I want to be a doctor when I finish school so that I can help the people in my village to receive care."

“My grandchildren are very young and are fully dependent on me and my husband. I want to get well soon so that I can continue taking care of them," says Mary. Mary is a 55-year-old mother of nine and grandmother of four from Kenya. “Mary has a lump in her left breast that is slightly painful to the touch,” shares our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Her left hand is also weaker due to swollen lymph nodes and she can no longer work long hours on her farm.” Mary and her husband own a cow and a farm where they plant potatoes, but it has been a dry season and the family cannot cover the full cost of treatment. Without treatment, the cancer is likely to spread to other organs which could lead to death. For $740, AMHF will be able to provide Mary with a mastectomy, a surgery that will remove breast tissue. With this surgery and chemotherapy, it is expected that Mary will lead a normal life and go back to working on her farm with her husband. Let’s help her out!

Rocio is a three-week-old baby girl, living with her parents and seven siblings in Guatemala. “This little baby girl is in danger of severe malnutrition if not helped out,” our medical partners at Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) explain. “Mom is on the older side, and this was a tough pregnancy for her. Her milk production never started, and so she’s come to us looking for help.” Breast milk is important for the baby’s early development in terms of gaining weight and natural immunity. A milk formula can supply Rocio with the nutrition she needs, but her parents are unable to afford it. “We just want Rocio to get better soon, so that we can watch her grow and be healthy,” Rocio’s parents tell us. Our partners at WK expect that “with milk supplementation and close growth monitoring, Rocio will gain the weight she has lost and begin to improve.” It will take $1,220 to cover the costs to ensure that Rocio grows normally. Let's come together and help little Rocio get healthy!

Ganga, a 70-year-old woman from Nepal, is the eldest member in a family of 10 people. “Agriculture is the family’s major occupation and the food is almost enough for all months in the year,” shares our medical partner, Possible. Ganga has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “Ganga has developed increased difficulty breathing, with cough and chest pain in the past three months,” Possible continues. “Due to this, she has had difficulty sleeping, sitting around, and eating.” Agriculture is the only source of income for Ganga’s family, and they are unable to afford the treatment she needs. $270 will cover Ganga’s treatment, which will allow her to breathe easier, and sleep and eat properly. Let's make it happen for her!