Tina is a 28-year-old farmer who is married and has one son. He likes to watch boxing on TV and feed his chickens at home. In May, Tina was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a brachial plexus injury (BPI) on his right side. A BPI occurs when nerves in the back are damaged or ripped from the spinal cord. Tina went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. He became unable to extend his right elbow and wrist, and he was in pain. Tina was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), by the hospital in Phnom Penh. He traveled for five hours with his older brother to reach CSC for treatment. On December 13, surgeons performed a BPI repair surgery on Tina's right side to allow him to use his arm easily again. Now, CSC is requesting $450 to fund this procedure. "I hope that my right arm can function well again," says Tina.

Yen is a 60-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married with five sons, two daughters, and twenty grandchildren. Yen likes to listen to the news on the radio and watch the news on TV. He heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from a neighbor who had surgery here before. Yen traveled for three hours with his son to reach CSC for treatment. Yen developed a cataract in each eye about three months ago causing him blurred vision and headaches. It is difficult for him to see things clearly, do any work, and go anywhere on his own. For $292, Yen will undergo cataract surgery in both eyes. After surgery, Yen will be able to see clearly again.

Agness and her husband, William, are farmers in southwestern Uganda. They grow maize, beans, sugarcane, and other crops, and sell their sugarcane in the local market. Their hard work has enabled them to support their family of four children. Two of their children have left home for work and two are still at home attending secondary school. When she is feeling good, Agness enjoys participating in her local savings group and learning to weave baskets. It makes her happy to see her children do well in school and develop skills so they can be successful in life. Agness, who is currently fifty years old, has had uterine fibroids for many years. Fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus, though they can cause severe pain. Agness had surgery on her fibroids back in 2004, but they have since returned and have become so painful that she has not been able to work. The pain stretches from her abdomen to her back. Agness' doctors have recommended a hysterectomy-- a surgical procedure to remove the uterus-- in order to alleviate her pain and eradicate the fibroids. While she cannot afford the operation without help from Watsi, she has contributed $8 towards the cost. After her surgery, Agness is looking forward to farming again. She hopes to grow her small business selling sugarcane and begin selling her baskets as well. "I am so grateful for the help with my surgery," says Agness. "If God is willing, I will be able to work and continue to pay my children's school fees."

Three-month-old Andent lives in southern Ethiopia with his mother and father. He is very cute and loves to play and laugh. His father does not have a permanent job and works as a daily laborer with a low income. Andnet's mother is a house wife. Andnet was born with Hirschsprung's Disease, or an abnormally functioning segment of the bowel. He has suffered with partial bowel obstruction & severe constipation. The problem was temporarily solved after Andnet underwent a colostomy. Now, doctors at our medical partner will conduct a pull-through procedure. Done with an endoscope, the surgeon removes the blockage and tissue. The healthy sections of bowel are then reconnected. Because of their low financial status, Andnet's parents cannot afford the medical care their child needs. Treatment and surgery will cost $1,500. His condition is troublesome and both his parents are affected as a result of it. “My daily income is very low and for this reason we can’t pay the bill by ourselves and get our child the treatment," shares Andnet's father. "This worries us a lot.”

Laraha is a 15-year-old boy who lives with his family in Tanzania. He is the fourth of ten children, and he loves singing traditional songs and dancing. Laraha has been herding cattle ever since he was a little boy and has never attended school. Recently, Laraha has been experiencing some knee pain after long days of herding cattle. He usually feels pain in the evenings when he is relaxing. It has also become difficult for him to run because his legs bow inwards and his knees knock when he runs. Laraha’s condition—known as genu valgus—is part of the normal growth and development of the legs and typical resolves on its own by age seven or eight. However, in some children, underlying bone disease prevents straightening of one or both legs and contributes to the strain of the involved knee joints. To improve his gait and reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age, Laraha needs corrective surgery known as an osteotomy. During the surgery, doctors will remove a wedge of bone from each upper leg and attach pins, a rod, or a metal plate and screws to close the gap and straighten the leg. Laraha’s parents raise livestock and earn just enough to cover the family's basic needs. With such a large family to support, coming up with enough cash for Laraha’s corrective surgery has been difficult. $940 pays for Laraha's surgery as well as three pre- and post-surgical consultations, three days of hospital care, physiotherapy, medicine, and a three-month-stay at The Plaster House for recovery and rehabilitation. “I hope my legs will be straight like before so that I can continue to herd cattle,” shares Laraha.

23-month-old Kervens was born with two holes in his heart: one between the two upper chambers, the other between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Because of the nature of his condition, the only way to know whether surgery is possible for Kervens is to first do a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter probe is inserted into his heart in order to take detailed measurements. The results of this test will determine whether he is operable, and if he is, his doctors will then go on to arrange surgery. This procedure is not available in Haiti, so he must travel to the Dominican Republic to undergo the test. Kervens is a very calm and happy child who likes to be carried and to meet new people. Kervens lives in northern Haiti with his mother, aunt, and an older sister. His mother is currently unemployed and looking for work, and so the cost of the diagnostic test that her son urgently needs is beyond her financial means. "My family is all praying that the test will go well and Kervens will be able to have his surgery," Kervens’ mother shares.

Nkamaniki is an elderly man from Kenya. He is a husband and a father to 21 children. Some of his children are in secondary and others in primary school. He works as a farmer, but the constraint of raising his large family leaves Nkamaniki struggling with limited finances. "Nkamaniki started complaining of hearing loss in June 2014 but was not able to get to the hospital," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "He is not able to communicate effectively. He strains to grasp words spoken to him. In April 2016 when he visited our facility for treatment, hearing aids were recommended, but Nkamaniki is not able to raise the full amount needed." With $929, Nkamaniki can receive hearing aids to restore severe hearing loss in his left ear. Nkamaniki is hopeful for treatment. He says: "I want to be able to effectively hear and communicate well."

"I am unhappy that I have right ear pain, and it is difficult to communicate with other people," shares Sao, a 39-year-old wife and mother. She works as a cook and cares for her parents in her home in Cambodia. “For two years, Sao has experienced discharge from her right ear every day as well as hearing loss,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “She has been treated with antibiotics at another hospital, but her condition did not improve.” Doctors at CSC have discovered a cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth located behind the eardrum—in Sao’s right ear. A cholesteatoma 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. Treatment for Sao 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 Sao’s right ear. Doctors will also remove the cholesteatoma that has grown behind her right eardrum. $809 pays for surgery for Sao as well as 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. “Sao’s ear discharge and pain will stop after the surgery,” says CSC. Sao’s uncle, who accompanied her to the appointment at CSC, looks forward to a successful procedure for his niece. "I hope after the operation is done, Sao's ear discharge will stop, and she can have good hearing and health,” he shares.

Meet Layoni, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Health Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Layoni was born to a large, loving family. His parents are both small scale farmers and tend a few livestock to support their five children. "Layoni was born with multiple deformities; Spina bifida, hydrocephalus and bilateral clubfoot," AMHF tells us. His neural tube defects were addressed with surgery when he was young, and he is doing much better because he received the medical treatment he needed at the time. "He likes to crawl and sit together with other children drawing on the ground," shares AMHF. He is getting eager to stand and walk, but with clubfeet, a musculoskeletal malformation where the feet are twisted out of shape, his feet and ankles are unable to support weight. With $1160, Layoni will receive surgery, stretching, and casting to reshape and strengthen his muscles. AMHF will provide a surgeon and hospital respite for his recovery, so that Layoni will be able to run around and play with other children. "I hope my grandson will one day be able to walk," Layoni's grandmother shared in their pre-operative interview with AMHF. With our help, Layoni will be able to walk normally.