Kyaw Mu is a 20-year-old man from Burma. Four months ago, Kyaw Mu started experiencing uncomfortable symptoms. Visits to different clinics and hospitals and the use of traditional medicine did not alleviate his discomfort. His symptoms have continued, and the pain often disturbs his sleep. With help from Watsi donors, Kyaw Mu underwent a CT scan to confirm an abnormal growth in his rectum area. At a Watsi medical partner's hospital, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, he will now undergo a surgery to remove the abnormal growth. Kyaw Mu shared, “I want to recover and find a job so that I can generate income for my family and pay back my debt."

Roldan lives with his parents and brothers in the Philippines. Though he was unable to attend school, he is a very industrious worker. He earns money by farming. Roldan received a cleft lip surgery on October 17, 2016. Before the operation, Roldan expressed hope that it would change his life. With new self-confidence, he plans to go to school or look for a good job. He dreams of starting a family of his own. However, Roldan does not have enough to pay for the $1,246 surgery. He needs help to cover the cost of this life-changing treatment. "This will be a great opportunity for me to change my life," says Roldan. "Thank you for giving me another chance."

Khuth is a 70-year-old woman from Camboida, who is married with four daughters and ten grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda and watch Khmer dramas on TV. Khuth heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from a person in her village who had surgery there before. She traveled for three hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Khuth developed a cataract in each eye about one year ago, causing blurred vision. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, do any work, and go anywhere outside. Khuth will have surgery consisting of a phacoemulsification procedure (to break-up and remove the cataracts) and an intraocular lens (IOL) implant in each eye. This surgery will allow her to see clearly again. $292 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Khuth needs. Khuth says, "I hope I can see everything clear again so that I can go anywhere outside without needing to disturb others to take care of me anymore."

Bunguzu is a 76-year-old farmer from a village in Malawi. He farms various crops, and weaves baskets to sell for additional income. Bunguzu enjoys working on the garden at his house and spending time with his nephew, who accompanied him to the hospital. For the past year, Bunguzu has had symptoms of an enlarged prostate. His condition is benign and easily treated surgically, but he has been unable to access treatment until now. Due to his symptoms he has had difficulty working as much as he would like, causing financial hardship. $726 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Bunguzu needs. The surgery will remove part of his enlarged prostate, easing his symptoms. Bunguzu is looking forward to having the operation so he can be free from pain. Bunguzu says, "My problem [in accessing treatment] was about money. Thank you for paying for the operation. I could not have come before."

Juana is 70 years old and lives with her family in a humble home made of adobe and tin. Her family owns a small store that sells tortillas and snacks, which is their primary income. Unfortunately, with several small grandchildren and a growing family, this is not enough to pay for even basic food and water sometimes, let alone high-quality medical care or the travel required to get from her rural village to the hospital. Juana has been suffering from type-two diabetes and high blood pressure for many years without being able to take medication. This has caused her to develop cataracts in her eyes, making her nearly blind. This has made it hard for her to do what she loves most, playing with her grandchildren and weaving traditional Maya textiles. If she does not receive treatment, she could become totally blind and require assistance in all her daily activities, severely limiting her independence. $1,500 will cover the costs of the surgery to remove Juana's cataracts, as well as all post-operative care. This treatment will allow Juana to see clearly for the first time in nearly a decade. She will be able to play with her grandchildren, weave, and do daily activities without assistance.

"A surgery will bring her back to life and will open so many doors for this young child," says Dora's schoolteacher. 14-year-old Dora is a stellar young woman and student from Ghana. "Dora loves to play sports and is passionate about becoming a doctor or nurse," says our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS. "She is a brilliant student and is always amongst the top of her class." For several years, Dora has lived with scoliosis- a sideways curvature of the spine that leads to pain and difficulty with walking. Dora is often teased by her peers when she cannot participate in activities such as sports. The FOCOS Patient A Fund has contributed $16,500 for Dora's surgery, which will correct her spine and eliminate all symptoms. However, an additional $1500 is needed to cover the full cost. Dora's family is not in the position to pay the additional funds. "Her father sells secondhand clothes and her mother is a petty trader," says Ortho FOCOS. "The whole family lives in a single room in a suburb of Ghana." Dora's teacher introduced her to our medical partner, and now there is hope for her full recovery. Let's help make it possible!

Meet Kadogo, an eight-year-old girl from Tanzania who has a clubfoot – a condition that prevents her from walking normally. “Kadogo is using the lateral aspect of her feet for walking, which is painful," reports our partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "If not treated, Kadogo will never have a normal gait and she will most likely have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age." Kadogo is the sixth of seven children in her family. AMHF tells us, “She is in kindergarten and enjoys singing the ABC’s and counting numbers. She also likes to play ball games. Kadogo’s father is a night guard at a private organization and her mother is a homemaker and also does a little bit of farming. Kadogo’s parents work hard to take care of their children. It has just been difficult to come up with enough money to pay for the treatment which Kadogo needs." For $1160, we can heal Kadogo’s clubfoot and allow her to walk normally. After treatment, AMHF explains, “Kadogo’s gait will improve. She will be able to walk on a plantigrade and have a reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age."