Nar is a four-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and two aunts in Mawlamyine City in Mon State. Just before she turned two, her mother noticed a small lump on her neck. The mass became larger as she grew. Her mother took her to several hospitals for possible treatment. At our medical partner's care center, her doctor recommended a surgery to remove the benign tumor. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on August 27. Her family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care.

Phin is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two daughters, three sons, and fifteen grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and go to the local pagoda. Two months ago, Phin developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, tearing, and itchiness. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Phin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 1, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. She says, "I hope I can see everything clearer than now so I can continue my work as farmer again."

Iwalani is a farmer from Malawi. He is a retired police officer who now runs a small farm with his wife. They have two children and many, many grandchildren. Iwalani enjoys tending his land, attending church with his family, and playing games with his village friends. Since January 2018, Iwalani has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Iwalani's surgery. On March 8, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Iwalani was thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded. He is ready to have his procedure and get back to his normal life. He says, "Thank you."

Mactelena is a 61-year-old farmer and a mother blessed with seven daughters. She grows maize and sweet potatoes in her garden. Because she lives in a hilly area of Kenya, she experiences a lot of challenges whenever she is walking and working on her farm. Mactelena has been diagnosed with hyperthyroid—a condition in which the thyroid gland secretes too much thyroid hormone—and is currently experiencing weight loss, a rapid heartbeat, unusual sweating, and a swelling at the base of her neck. Two years ago, when her symptoms began, Mactelena was seen by a doctor, who recommended a thyroidectomy to remove her overactive thyroid gland. Unfortunately, Mactelena could not afford the treatment cost and returned home. On the advice of her daughter, Mactelena came to AIC Kapsowar Hospital, an affiliate of Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Mactelena will undergo a thyroidectomy on April 24. This operation will improve her general health and alleviate the hyperthyroid symptoms. Mactelena and her family need help to raise $641 to pay for the operation that she needs. Her children are not formally employed and are unable to cover the costs. Her husband has a spinal cord injury, which makes him unable to walk and requires him to take expensive medications. So far, the family has raised $62 for Mactelena's care and appeals for assistance. Funding for Mactelana also covers the costs of five nights in the hospital, lab tests, and medicines. "My children are worried about my health and that of my husband," shares Mactelena. "If I get healed, they will be happy, and my husband will never get hungry."

Ian is a neat, responsible, and composed eight-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the first born in a family of three children. A few weeks ago, his mother noticed he had a groin swelling. Ian has been feeling slight pain but could not bring himself to tell his parents of this. Further investigations at the hospital revealed that Ian has inguinal hernia, and surgery is required if he is to be well. Currently, Ian is experiencing pressure and slight pain around the area. If not treated, he is at risk of intestinal obstruction. Ian's family resides in a two roomed house in Central Kenya. Ian’s mother is a housewife while his father is a casual teacher with a menial income that cannot fund Ian’s surgical care. The family has managed to raise Ksh. 9,500 ($99 USD) for costs associated with Ian's care, but it is not enough to pay for Ian's treatment, which will cost $430 in total. Once Ian undergoes the hernia repair, It is expected he will be free from the pain and risk of intestinal obstruction. "We will appreciate any help given towards his treatment,” Ian's mother shares.

Martina is a 42-year-old single mother who lives in Guatemala with her four children. To support her family, Martina cleans houses and wash clothes. Martina is 11 weeks pregnant and is currently experiencing serious bleeding and pain. According to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), "Martina has had a history of miscarriage, starting 21 years ago, when she had her first one that devastated her. She has had one more miscarriage and a still birth since then, with the most recent miscarriage happening six months ago." She was referred to Hospital de Chimeltenango by her local midwife to seek treatment for a first trimester hemorrhage. With funding of $977, Martina will receive interpretation, accompaniment, and transportation to the hospital that she needs to make sure her life is not in danger. This treatment will be life-saving to Martina, helping her to spend time with her children and provide for them. Martina shares, "I want to prevent the baby from dying. Thanks for the help that you are giving me, now I can go to the hospital and the doctors can examine me."

"Fadix is from a war zone in Somalia. Her mother is unwell and cannot afford transport to get Fadix to the hospital," explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. One of Fadix's relatives brought her in to the hospital after noticing she was unable to pass stool normally. Fadix is a smiling newborn living in Ethiopia. She was born with an anorectal malformation. After she was born, she immediately underwent surgery to get a colostomy, an artificial passage to make it easier for her to eliminate waste. The colostomy is now blocked and she needs surgery in order to pass stool healthily. "It’s hard for us to get medical treatment for Fadix where we live. If Fadix does not get help here, we are afraid that she will die,” her relatives say. Fadix's family does not have the money they need to cover her medical bills and are eager for her to get better. With $1500, Fadix will receive an anorectoplasty. This operation will surgically create a new passage through which Fadix will pass stool. This operation will eliminate her need for a colostomy and ensure that she can eliminate waste from her body and grow into a healthy young child.

“John is a beautiful little boy living with his father,” shares our medical partner in Haiti, Project Medishare (PM). Just eight years old, John is in severe respiratory distress. “Twelve months ago John fell on a rock while biking in his neighborhood, and his parents did not take him to the hospital because they did not have money and it was not severe,” PM explains. “A few days later John started having difficulties breathing and his belly, face and foot started swelling.” When his father saw this, he took John to the hospital where he was given oxygen. However, pus in his right lung is still preventing him from breathing normally. In order for John to recover, he must receive surgery to remove the pus. “John's father is working very hard to raise money for him,” PM tells us. “He has to walk under the hot sun of Haiti every day, selling used stuff.” John’s father shares, “I fix stuff I find to sell in order to get money to feed my kid. I only came to the hospital with John hoping to receive free care because he was very sick; when they said to me that it is a private hospital and that I have to pay, I thought about going back home because I have no money. 
” Thankfully, John’s father does not have to take his son home. With $1,500 in funding, PM explains, “Treatment will consist of a thoracic drainage by surgical intervention.” First, the pus will be drained from John’s lung. Second, John will be given antibiotics to treat the infection. Finally, he will rejoin his family and resume his healthy life. “This surgery will save John’s life,” PM shares. Let’s fund this life-saving treatment and allow John to live a normal childhood—without pain and respiratory distress.

Meet David, a 5-month-old baby boy from Kenya. He lives in a single-rental room with his family in Kenya. His father works in a small market, and his mother is a housewife. Their daily income ranges from $6-$9. David was born with undescended testis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains: "In baby boys, it is expected that the testis will descend into the scrotal sack within a few days after birth. This, however, was not the case for baby David." "David's parents had hoped that with time, their son's condition would correct itself," AMHF continues. "But on seeing months pass, they decided to seek medical assistance. They are not able to raise the monies needed for their son's treatment." David needs a double orchidopexy to move his undescended testicles to his scrotum. The surgery will cost $570. "If the surgery is not done soon, David is likely to develop testicular cancer or inguinal hernia. He is also likely to suffer infertility," AMHF tells us. David's mother looks forward to her son receiving the care he needs. "Thank you Watsi for supporting our son," she shares.