Hannah is an elderly woman from a small village in southwestern Kenya. She is a widow and is currently living with one of her daughters since her fall. Before then, she was able to stay on her own and do a bit of farming in her shamba to sustain herself. Hannah recently had a fall and sustained a closed fracture of the femur of her right leg. The fracture was repaired three weeks ago, but the plate in her leg was dislodged after she tried to walk. Now it is difficult for her to walk and she is in severe pain. The surgeon recommended a repeat ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) procedure to help her heal. Hannah's family is not in a position to raise money for this treatment, and the insurance coverage which paid for her first surgery will not pay for the care she now needs. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 7th, Hannah will undergo an ORIF procedure. This procedure will help reduce her pain and she will be able to walk easily once she recovers. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,049 to fund her procedure and medical care. “I used to stay on my own but now I am depending on my children, who are also busy with their families. I kindly request for help so that I can eventually be independent again,” said Hannah.

Sim is a 49-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, two daughters, and three grandchildren. Her husband passed away 10 years ago from liver cancer, so Sim lives with her second daughter who is also a farmer. In her free time, Sim enjoys watching Khmer movies on TV. Two years ago, Sim developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurred vision, itchiness, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing clearly and being as independent as she needs to be. When Sim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours by taxi with her uncle seeking treatment. On December 17th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Sim shared, "I hope after surgery I can see well so I can plant rice and take care of my family."

Aly is a 58-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. His wife recently passed away from liver cancer, but his six children help to keep him company. He loves taking care of his twelve grandchildren and taking them outside to play. He does all the housework at home and when he wants to relax he watches boxing matches on TV. Six months ago, Aly fell from his roof and fractured his right ankle. He went to a private clinic for treatment, but the wound became infected. He still has severe pain in his ankle and has a difficult time walking. In addition to that, there is pus discharge coming from the wound and the infection will spread if not properly treated. When Aly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 3rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to clean the wound from infection. Now, Aly needs help to fund this $273 procedure. Aly shared, "I hope that my ankle is healed quickly and I can walk just like before. I want to work well and do everything in my life without my children worrying about me."

Chan is a food vendor from Cambodia. She has a daughter and two sons. She likes to listen to radio programs and watch TV in her free time. Twenty years ago, Chan had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Chan experiences pain, tinnitus, and discharge. She cannot hear well and is in pain. Chan traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 17, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I really hope my hearing is better and my ear heals with no more pain."

Phorn is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has a son and three grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. A year ago, Phorn developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, irritation, itchiness, tearing, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Phorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for half an hour seeking treatment. On April 25, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope my vision is restored so I can easily complete my work and go to the local pagoda on my own."

Htwe is a 35-year-old wife and mother from Burma who works as an agricultural day laborer. She lives with her three-year-old daughter, husband, and extended family. Two years ago, Htwe began to feel a lump developing in her lower abdomen. As the lump progressed in size, she began to experience severe back pain, eventually finding it unbearable to work. After two and a half years of intense pain, Htwe and her husband decided to seek treatment in January 2017. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital (MSH), where an ultrasound and other tests revealed that Htwe has a myoma, a benign, non-cancerous tumor in her uterus. It was recommended that she undergo surgery to remove her entire uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a total abdominal hysterectomy on February 2. Due to Htwe and her husband’s inconsistent sources of income, they are unable to pay for the surgery without support. This family-focused mother hopes to return to her job after her surgery and support her daughter’s future. “I want to work hard to save money for my daughter’s education. I want my daughter to become a teacher or a nurse when she grows up. I don’t want her to do hard work like me,” she shares.

Margaret is an 80-year-old woman from Uganda. She is a member of the Batwa tribe and grew up in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Her tribe now lives outside the forest, which has been designated as a national park in order to protect its mountain gorillas. One of the last surviving members who grew up in the forest, Margaret helped found and is still an active member of a local cultural group. She and her fellow teachers train younger members of the tribe and share traditional Batwa dances and ways of life with visitors. When she is not involved with the group, Margaret enjoys spending time with her fourteen grandchildren. Recently, Margaret was walking in the village and was knocked down by a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi). She sustained a fracture to her left lower fibula, which needs to be set in a cast. Our medical partner, The Kellerman Foundation, is requesting $133 to cover the cost of the cast. Margaret has contributed $1. Margaret is scheduled to have her bone set at our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, on February 21. When her leg heals, Margaret wants nothing more than to return to dancing and singing. “Thank you, thank you," she says to her donors.

Aisha is a 30-year-old woman from Uganda. She loves to watch comedy, listen to gospel music, and go to church. Unfortunately, since April, painful symptoms have prevented her from enjoying these activities. Recently, she visited our medical partner's hospital. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and malignant ovarian cancer. When she learned that she needed surgery, Aisha explained that she could not afford healthcare. Then, she was introduced to Watsi. On November 24, she underwent a hysterectomy. After recovery, Aisha hopes to support herself by returning to work as a shop attendant. Her ultimate plan is to own a grocery shop. She prays to God to bless the people who are helping with her treatment, and she adds that she never expected this support. “I wish to thank the people that are donating and helping people here in rural Uganda to have these lifesaving operations," she says. "May God bless you abundantly.”

This is Om. She is 60 years old, and lives in Cambodia. She enjoys planting vegetables around her house and visiting the local pagoda, or temple, to hear monks pray. Om developed cataracts in both of her eyes two years ago. The cataracts have blurred her vision and have made her eyes tear. She can’t see anything clearly, do work well, or travel outside of her town. Luckily, we can help. For $225, Om will receive surgery that will restore her vision. She told our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), ‘I hope my eyes will be able to see everything clearly now. I’d like to help my nephew take care of his child and I’d like to move around independently once again.’ Let’s make it happen for Om!

“Dipa lives with her son and daughter-in-law who tend to the farm to keep the family going,” says our medical partner, Possible. After a bad fall, the 65-year-old woman from Nepal was recently accompanied by her grandson to Possible’s clinic. “Dipa fell off the stairs in her house and ended up fracturing her left wrist,” Possible tells us. “She has been in pain since and the area of injury has swollen too.” $579 covers the cost of Dipa’s orthopedic surgery to treat her wrist fracture. Dipa will receive an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) operation to reset her broken bones and place them into position using metal rods and screws. This two-step procedure will allow her bones to heal in their normal position without complications. Following surgery, Dipa will remain in the hospital for an additional four days, where she will receive several sessions of physiotherapy. “Joints hurt in old age anyway and now I have a fracture," Dipa shares. "I just want to go back home and rest."

Meet Sera, a 46-year-old mother of five from Kenya. “Sera sells roasted maize and washes clothes to earn a living,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “She lives with her two youngest children who are fully dependent on her.” Sera has fibroids, which cause her severe abdominal pain. “The pain is so bad that Sera often has to miss work,” says AMHF. “She started having lower abdominal pain and back aches some time ago. When the pain became too much and over the counter medication no longer helped, Sera sought medical care.” “After a scan showed that she had fibroids and would need surgery, Sera has been working hard to raise the money needed for her treatment, but she is unable to raise enough money needed for this surgery,” says AMHF. With $800, Sera will be able to receive a total abdominal hysterectomy. The surgery will stop the pain and allow Sera to return to work and care for her family. "The pain causes me to miss work and turn down cleaning jobs,” shares Sera. “I want to be able to work well again.”

“My children are looking to me for support. I also hope to take care of my six-year-old adopted child and see him grow,” explains Miriam, a 43-year-old Kenyan widow and mother of three. A single mother who works on her farm to support her and her family, Miriam has been sidelined by endometrial hyperplasia—a condition that causes intense bleeding and abdominal pain, and can lead to incapacitating anemia. “For three years now, Miriam has been battling with this condition,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “It has made it difficult for her to continue with her passion of farming.” For $790, Miriam will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy that will remove her uterus and stop the bleeding and pain, as well as lessen her chance of developing cancer of the uterus. With this surgery, Miriam will be able to get back to taking care of the land and children that she loves for many years to come.