Rose is an adorable preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a small town on the northern coast of Haiti. Rose likes helping her family take care of their pets and chickens. Rose has born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect which means a hole exists between the two lower chambers of Rose's heart. This condition often leaves Rose feeling sick and short of breath. Because the surgery she needs in not available in Haiti, Rose must fly to Dominican Republic to receive the necessary treatment. On March 3rd, Rose will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will a patch the hole in her heart. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) is helping Rose's family raise $1,500 to cover the cost of labs, medication, and follow-up appointments. This will also support her family to obtain passports and the HCA social workers who will accompany Rose's family during their travel. Rose's father shared, "We are very hopeful that our daughter will be healthy and strong after this surgery!"

Dorcas is a three-year-old girl and the youngest in a family of four children. Dorcas’s father shared how hard he is working to make ends meet. He is having health complications, but still seeks day jobs like working at construction sites and other casual laboring jobs to get money to support his family. His wife helps to take care of Dorcas and her siblings. Dorcas has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, where her legs bow inward so that her knees always touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Dorcas has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Dorcas. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 4th and treatment will hopefully restore Dorcas's mobility. This will allow her to fully participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Dorcas’s father shared: “I try to seek jobs to find money to take my daughter for treatment, but the pay is very little. I can only manage to do so little with the money, not enough to save and seek treatment for her."

Nyo is a 58-year-old woman. She and her husband are agricultural day laborers, but Nyo had to stop working two years ago due to poor vision. Since COVID-19 led to lockdowns in April 2020, her husband only receives work from his employer when there is a worker shortage so their income has been very limited. Nyo shared that she likes to meditate with prayer beads and listen to the news about her homeland Myanmar and music on the radio. Nyo is experiencing a cataract in her right eye. She can only see shadows, and the vision in her right eye is worsening. As a result, she cannot do household chores, and her husband has to help her to eat and guide her to the bathroom. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is helping Nyo receive treatment. On January 4th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Nyo’s natural lens and replace it with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Nyo’s procedure. Nyo shared, “If I can’t work or I can’t see, I will have to beg to eat because my husband cannot work. My husband and I were so happy to learn that an organization will help pay for the cost of my treatment. We are thankful to the donors and BCMF.” Nyo added, “When I have money, I want to open a small dry foods shop in my house. This way, when my husband and I are no longer able to continue to work as day laborers because of our age, we can chose a way to earn extra money while staying at home.”

Somaly is a 27-year-old woman who is married and lives in Banteay Mean Chey Province in Cambodia. Her husband is a construction worker, and they have two active sons. The first is 10 years old and in grade 5, and their second is 2 years old. When she is not cooking or cleaning for the family, she likes to watch TV and listen to the radio. When Somaly was 14, she noticed a small tumor on her face that has now grown. She has had surgery twice, and was scheduled for a mandible resection, but did not have the money. It has continued to grow and she now has an abscess that is causing more symptoms. In March 2021 she went to a government hospital and fortunately, they referred her to our Medical Partner Children's Surgical Centre. Doctors diagnosed her with ameloblastoma of the mandible and left maxilla. She feels very poorly most of the time. She experiences pain, has discharge from her mouth, and cannot eat. When Somaly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for ten hours seeking treatment. On November 30th, surgeons at CSC will perform a mandibulectomy and maxillectomy to to allow her face to return to finally heal, and have no more pain or embarrassment. Now, she needs help to fund this $657 procedure. Somaly shared, "I hope the tumor will be removed, and I won't have to hide from people and be ashamed of how I look."

Hak is a 53-year-old farmer with one son, four daughters, and four grandchildren. Hak lives with his wife and their son. His wife and his son are also rice farmers. Hak likes to listen to the radio news and watch Khmer boxing on TV. One year ago, the retina of Hak's right eye detached, causing him blurred vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Hak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 2nd, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $648 procedure. Hak says, “I hope my eye can see well after surgery so I can go back to the rice field.”

Loisi is a mother of three children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old. She separated from her husband around the time when her youngest child was seven months old. Loisi lives with her children and her mother, and she owns a small business selling vegetables to support her family. One of the locations where she sells is at our medical partner's care center and she learned that treatment may be possible to help her finally heal. In 2019, Loisi had a Cesarean section during the birth of her youngest child. It took up to four months for her wound to heal and, six months later, her abdomen never decreased and continued to grow. Loisi's business has suffered as a result. She has difficulty carrying large baskets of vegetables and walking long distances, and she has had to spend parts of her income on new clothing. She also shared that mockery from the community regarding her appearance has affected her self-esteem. Loisi visited the hospital where she received a C-Section but was not able to receive help. However, when selling vegetables at the care center, a nurse referred her to a surgeon. Loisi was diagnosed with a hernia, a condition where part of the abdominal wall is damaged or weakened, causing parts of the small intestine or abdomen to bulge outward. If not treated, hernias may cause pain and discomfort and, in rare cases, cause life-threatening strangulation of blood flow to part of the intestines. On October 5th, surgeons will perform a hernia repair surgery. AMH is requesting $575 to help fund this procedure. Loisi is hopeful that this surgery will improve her ability to sell vegetables and provide for her family's well-being, as well as restore her position in her community. She shared, "This condition has caused me a lot of mockeries, and it even cost me my marriage. I believe, after the surgery, I will regain the size of my normal tummy. I will live an improved life."

Naw Eh is a 11-year-old girl who lives with her mother, five brother and two sisters in a refugee camp. She and her siblings study in the refugee camp while her mother weaves traditional indigenous Karen shirts to earn extra income for their household. In her free time, Naw Eh loves to play with her younger brother at home. Sometimes, she will play with her friends close to her house. She wants to be an English teacher at a primary school in the future. In late July 2021, Naw Eh went out to buy some snacks from a shop. On the way to the shop, she slipped and fell on the muddy road. When she fell she hurt her left leg. Since she was able to walk slowly, the medic in the camp did not think her leg was broken and only gave her pain medication. On 19 August 2021, Naw Eh lost her grip when she was sitting down in a chair and fell down. This time she could not stand up or walk. After a doctor at Mae Sariang Hospital diagnosed her with a fractured femur, she was referred to Chiang Mai Hospital for further treatment. At that hospital, the doctor told Naw Eh's brother that they want to do an MRI of her leg to check if she has any underlying conditions that caused her to break her femur so easily. With support from Watsi, the MRI was possible and now the surgeon has determined that surgery is required to help her leg heal properly. Currently, Naw Eh suffers from pain in her left leg and she cannot move or put weight on that leg. If she moves her leg, the pain increases. Her brother needs to help her use the bedpan as she cannot walk to the toilet. He also needs to help her get dressed. She is taking pain medication to help her sleep at night. She is worried that if her condition is not treated properly, she will never be able to walk again. She misses going to school and wants to continue her studies in grade four once her school reopens. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Eh will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for September 2nd and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Naw Eh will no longer experience pain in her leg and she will be able to get herself dress and be able to walk to the toilet. Naw Eh said, "I am worried that if I do not receive surgery and receive proper treatment, I will not be able to walk again."

Hul is a 21-year-old motorcycle mechanic. He has two brothers and one sister. Hul's parents work as farmers. In March, Hul fell hard and damaged his left shoulder. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He has no shoulder abduction or elbow flexion, and can not move his fingers. He is unable to work. Hul traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 14th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his left arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. Hul said, "I hope I can regain use of my left arm and hand so I can work again to support myself."

Yusra is a toddler and loving big sister from Tanzania. After her father left, her family has been living at Yusra's grandparents' house. Yusra's single mother supports her family through selling vegetables and fruits at a local market. Yusra was diagnosed with genu valgus, which results in knock knees that make learning to walk a big challenge. Because of the angle that her legs are bent, Yusra has been learning to walk for four months but with limited success. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Yusra. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 29th. Treatment will hopefully restore Yusra's mobility, allow her to fully participate activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Yusra’s mother shares, "My baby is struggling a lot to walk due to her legs bending. I have been informed they can be corrected through surgery but we are not able to afford the treatment cost. Kindly help us."

Gavin is a sweet 2-year-old boy. Earlier this year, Gavin’s mother found a job as a house help and before this job, she used to do laundry for her neighbors to help support her family. Gavin’s father works as a security guard in a rental flats house. Gavin was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Gavin's family does not have National Health Insurance Fund coverage and are not able to raise the required amount for Gavin’s surgery. His parents are appealing for financial help. Fortunately, Gavin is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 27th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $735 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Gavin’s mother shared, “As a family, we cannot raise the money required for our son’s surgery as we both earn very little.”