Lydia is a 41-year-old mother of 6 children from Uganda. Lydia is a subsistence farmer growing sim-sim, beans, maize, groundnuts, cassava, millet, and soya beans for food. Her husband Lamek owns sheep, goats, and a few heads of cattle. They milk the cattle and are able to pay school fees for their children. Lydia has been troubled by uterine prolapse for the last four years which has affected her daily activities from which she gets food to support the family. During her free time Lydia enjoys listening to her radio from which she gets information and hope, through programs about religion, health programs on feeding her family well, especially children, and programs on how to develop the family’s economy. She also likes participating with other women in local loans groups from which she borrows money to support and also gets guidance from fellow women on how to manage quarrels in the family. She also goes to markets where she sells some millet flour, sim-sim, beans and peas for income. Furthermore, during her free time she enjoys grazing and serving water to cattle, goats and sheep. After her surgery, Lydia hopes she will be strong again and looks forward to continuing with farming and expanding her business through buying more goats. Lydia's treatment occurred on 10/28/2016. Lydia says, "I am so grateful for the donors' support for my treatment. I pray that God blesses you and you support more women who have not gotten a chance to have their functionality restored." She adds, “I will also support the needy in my community."

Jenina is a a 36-year-old mother of five who lives in Uganda. Her youngest child has not started school, while her other children are in school. Together with her husband, Samson, Jenina grows food for home consumption and recently started keeping piglets hoping to raise more income. They also often supplement their earnings by picking tea at nearby farms. After attending four prenatal clinics, Jenina was diagnosed in by Bwindi Community Hospital as a high-risk mother, largely because she is over 35, in October. Without a medically attended hospital delivery, they worried she might experience complications like post preterm hemorrhage, obstructed labour, or uterine prolapse, which would pose a risk to her and the life of the baby she is carrying. So they enrolled her to deliver in the hospital setting. During her free time, Jenina enjoys worshiping at the local church and watching the sun set. She finds it the sky beautiful as the sun is setting across the hills in her village. “I will be very grateful for the support to have a safe hospital delivery and I hope to share with women in my village about family planning," Jenina said.

Four-year-old Giselle loves playing a traditional Filipino game called "hit the can." She lives with her grandparents in a bamboo house in the Philippines. They have no electricity and rely on a kerosene lamp for light. The family lives near rice fields, as Giselle's grandfather is a farmer. Unfortunately, he does not make enough money to care for more than the family's basic needs. Giselle is currently malnourished. She began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 18, 2016. Giselle is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope that my child will grow up healthy and will finish her studies," shares Giselle's grandmother.

Erjan is a four-year-old boy from the Philippines. He lives with his parents in a small house with a metal roof. Erjan has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. He began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 17, 2016. Erjan is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope my son will finish his studies and learn how to walk with God," says Erjan's mother.

Juliennie is a three-year-old girl from the Philippines. She loves to write and draw. She lives with her family in a bamboo hut in the mountains, where they share electricity with their neighbor and source water from a deep well. Her father is a works as a driver. Juliennie has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. She began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 18, 2016. Juliennie is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under 5 in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope my daughter will recover from malnutrition and become healthy and strong," shares Juliennie's mother.

Benedicto is a nine-month-old boy who was born with a congenital malformation in a sensitive area. He received surgery immediately after birth. Benedicto's family funded this treatment with church donations and loans from friends. On October 9, 2016, Benedicto received two additional surgeries at our medical partner's hospital, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. These procedures should relieve him of his uncomfortable symptoms. Now, his family needs help to fund this $975 treatment. "I seek your help in getting treatment for my son because I have no funds," says Benedicto's mother. "I will be very happy and God will bless you."

Biboy is a one-year-old boy from the Philippines who loves to play with toy trucks. He lives with his parents in a house made of light materials. They have no electricity, and their source of water is a deep well owned by the neighborhood. His father works as a construction worker. Biboy is a thin child who has been diagnosed with malnutrition. He began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 18, 2016. Biboy is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under 5 in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening.

Thol is a 57-year-old crop farmer who is married with one son, three daughters, and seven grandchildren. She likes to watch the comedy program on TV and go to the pagoda to join ceremonies and listen to monks pray. Thol developed a cataract in each eye about one year ago, causing her blurred vision, cloudy lenses, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). It is difficult for her to see things, do any work, and go anywhere outside. Thol heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a neighbor in her village. She traveled for three hours with her grandchild to reach CSC for treatment. On October 19, 2016, CSC doctors performed a phacoemulsification surgery to remove the cataract and inserted an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, Thol should be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to pay for this $292 procedure. Thol's grandchild shares, "I hope my grandmother can see everything clearly again so that I don't have to worry about her vision loss anymore."

Gift is a 16-year old girl from Tanzania. She is the oldest child in her family. Gift's mother runs a small business, and her father is a carpenter. Gift had a seizure near a fire, and her clothes caught fire. Since then, she has been undergoing treatment for the burns she sustained. She received two successful surgeries to release burn contractures on her arms, which restored function to her arms and allowed her to perform tasks independently. On November 8, 2016, doctors at our medical partner's hospital, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, performed a skin graft surgery to remove damaged skin. After recovery, her arm should appear and function normally. Now, Gift's family needs help to pay for this $780 treatment. "I hope to be able to help my parents again soon," says Gift.

Khun is a 62-year-old rice farmer with three sons, two daughters, and eight grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. Five years ago, Khun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, burning, itchiness, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Khun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours with her daughter seeking treatment. On October 26, doctors performed small incision cataract surgery in each eye and inserted intraocular lens implants. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. Now, Khun needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope that my eyes can see everything more clearly," she says, "so that I can continue my work in my rice fields, do housework, and go anywhere outside by myself."

Muth is a 70-year-old woman with five sons, four daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and go to the pagoda. Two years ago, Muth developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, burning, itchiness, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Muth learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours with her son seeking treatment. On October 26, doctors performed small incision cataract surgery in each eye and inserted intraocular lens implants. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. Now, Muth needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope my eyes can see everything more clearly," she says, "so that I can do any work and go anywhere outside by myself."

Josephin is a two-year-old girl from western Tanzania. She was born with an uncomfortable condition in a sensitive area. The family traveled seven hours to reach our medical partner's hospital, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. On October 31, 2016, Josephin underwent corrective surgery. This surgery should restore function to her digestive system. Now, her family needs help to fund this $975 procedure.