Desalegn is 15 years old and has a passion for football and a deep love for animals from Ethiopia. He spends his summers caring for his neighbors' livestock. This not only brings him joy but also provides some income, allowing him to buy food and help ease the burden on his grandmother, who cares for him. Desalegn was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition causes him pain and discomfort. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Desalegn is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Desalegn said, "In the future, I want to have my own livestock to care for. I hope I will heal completely and support myself and my grandma." His grandma said, "If he gets the surgery and heals, what can I say? I will be the happiest and most grateful woman. I believe he will be educated and support himself and me. I hope he will change our lives."

Hay, a 26-year-old man from Burma, lives with his wife, his cousin, her husband, and their two children. Currently unemployed, he and his family are receiving assistance from his sister-in-law and also borrow money from their neighbor. In his free time Hay likes to listen to music. Hay has been experiencing pain in the left side of his lower back when he engages in physical work at home. He has been diagnosed with kidney stones, and doctors at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakron Chiang Mai Hospital, advised him to undergo a procedure to remove them. Previously, he was the sole income earner in their household, but he lost his job due to the condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 17th and, once completed, it will alleviate his pain, allowing him to go back to work. Hay said, “I am very stressed right now. I feel like I am a burden to my cousin, and we do not even have money to come back home to see my son. I really hope that after the treatment, I can find some work around here to make money to go home.”

Frola is a farmer from Malawi. She is married and a mother of two boys. Her husband works in South Africa. Frola enjoys caring for her children and eating local meals. Two months ago, Frola began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on the right side of her neck. She visited the nearest clinic for support and was treated for tonsillitis, yet there was no change. The swelling started growing faster than expected, and she started experiencing painful swallowing which led to less eating in fear of pain. Frola visited our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with nodular goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Frola receive treatment on January 28th. She will undergo a thyroidectomy where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015 and she and her family need help raising money. “I can’t eat enough due to pains during swallowing, I have hope that surgery will resolve my problems,” said Frola.

Madelina is a loving mother from the Philippines. Her husband is a fisherman, while Madelina sells retail items. Four months ago, Madelina began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain on the left side of her abdomen and waist. She initially sought medical attention in the province of Samar, where she was advised to undergo surgery immediately. Upon the suggestion of her children, Madelina and her husband traveled for almost 500 miles with nothing but bus money and hope for her to get treated. She stays with her son while waiting for her surgery. Madelina was diagnosed with gallstones and needs to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), has scheduled Madelina for surgery on November 30th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Madelina's surgery and care. Madelina shared, "This opportunity is a great relief not just for me, but also for my children who have been saving up for me to get treated. I am very grateful that Watsi is here to offer assistance and I hope that more people in need will benefit from their support."

Dgylanie is a 22-year-old woman from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where she lives with her parents. Before falling ill, she worked as a seamstress, sewing clothes to support herself and her family. She dreams of returning to her profession once she regains her health. Dgylanie has a congenital heart condition called ventricular septal defect, which means she was born with a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart. This condition causes blood to leak through the hole, leading to weakness and eventually heart failure. Dgylanie will be traveling to the United States to receive life-changing treatment. On December 6th, she is scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery at Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, where surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart to stop the blood from leaking. Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital is contributing $28,000 to cover the cost of the surgery. However, her family also needs help funding additional costs related to surgery preparation. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of lab tests, medications, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. The funds will also support securing travel documents for the family and travel expenses for social workers who will accompany Dgylanie and her family overseas. Dgylanie shares, “I am excited to be able to focus on my future instead of worrying about my heart.”

55-year-old Bernie is a hardworking custodian, who also repairs appliances to support his family. His wife Meraflor occasionally launders clothes to supplement their income. The family lives with their two sons in the Philippines. Two months ago, Bernie began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe stomach pain and difficulty breathing. He underwent surgery in September, but is presently still experiencing jaundice, which propelled him to seek a second medical opinion. After the consultation, he was advised to have his gallbladder removed. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen, and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Frequent trips to the hospital for consultations, lab tests, and surgery have taken a significant toll on Bernie's family. Meraflor has been struggling with depression during this difficult time, while their eldest child has found it hard to concentrate on job applications because of his caregiving duties. Meanwhile, their younger son has put his education on hold to help take care of Bernie. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Bernie receive treatment. On October 18th, he is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being funded by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128, to cover the cost of Bernie's surgery and care. Bernie says: "The possibility of supported surgery treatment will greatly relieve me and my family, allowing us to save for our children's education and other essential expenses. I am truly grateful for this opportunity. Thank you all very much."

Ezekiel is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the firstborn in a family of five and comes from Bisri village in Kajiado County. He is currently in second grade and enjoys playing with his classmates all the time. Ezekiel was born with a condition known as Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP). This condition affects the left side of his body, making it difficult for him to walk properly. He has to walk on his tiptoes and always feels pain in his legs, making it difficult to travel long distances. He has been undergoing serial casting at the hospital before the surgery to make him feel more comfortable. As a result of this condition, Ezekiel also has clubfoot on his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Surgeons will perform Ezekiel's clubfoot repair surgery on September 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Ezekiel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and play with other children more comfortably. Ezekiel states, “I am looking forward to a quick healing to join my friends in playing football."

Cheara is a 35-year-old father from Cambodia. He repairs motorcycles to support his family. His wife helps him in the shop. Together, he and his wife have three daughters. In his free time, Cheara enjoys helping his daughters with their homework. Cheara shared that he has had an abnormal posture in his spine since he was ten years old. Our surgeons have diagnosed him with kyphoscoliosis, which includes both kyphosis and scoliosis. This condition results in excessive outward curvature of the upper spine (kyphosis), causing a rounded or hunched back, along with a sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis), often forming an "S" or "C" shape when viewed from behind. He experiences back pain when lifting heavy objects, some chest tightness, and shortness of breath when going upstairs or running. Fortunately, our medical partner, the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On September 4th, specialty surgeons will perform surgery to fuse the vertebrae in the thoracic and lumbar regions of Cheara’s spine, aiming to correct his spinal alignment. Now, Cheara and his wife need your help to raise $1,500 to cover the costs of the surgery, hospitalization, implants, post-operative medication, and physiotherapy. This surgery will help alleviate his back pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, significantly improving his quality of life. Cheara shared, "I wish I could work without pain and improve my posture so that I can feel more comfortable meeting with my customers."

Placida is a 24-year-old woman from Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. She is the second-born in a family of eight children. Five of her siblings are currently in school, while three have completed their secondary education. Placida and her siblings lost their father in 2017 when her siblings were still young, and her mother has been struggling to pay for her siblings’ school fees. They live on a small piece of land where they grow maize and potatoes, and they also have three mango trees. Placida sells groceries in a center near her home, to support her mother in providing for the family. Placida had gone to the market to purchase vegetables for her stall when the motorcycle she was riding on her way home got into an accident. The rider lost control, swerved, and crashed into a ditch along the road. She reports that she remained conscious, but suffered a deep cut to her left Achilles tendon. She was immediately brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, with the help of the good Samaritans. She was immediately taken into the operating room for immediate closure of the wound. An X-ray performed later, showed that she sustained fractures on her shin and calf bones. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 1st, Placida will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). This treatment will treat her condition, preventing further complications. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $861 to fund this procedure. Placida says, "I am in a great deal of pain and unable to move around. I am reaching out for your support to help me get this surgery, so I can walk independently and regain the ability to perform my daily activities once I fully recover."

Victoria is a nine-month-old baby from Bolivia. She is the only child of her father, a construction worker, and her mother, a university student. They live in a city in the mountains of central Bolivia. Victoria has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, where a hole exists between two major blood vessels next to the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. On July 4th, Victoria will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole so blood can no longer leak through it. Victoria's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Victoria's mother shared: "I am hopeful that our daughter will start eating more and growing once this surgery is done."

Dorcas is a housewife from Kenya. She comes from a family of seven children, she is the third oldest. Her father passed away some years back, but her mother is alive. Dorcas attended school until 7th grade, but she was unable to complete schooling due to financial difficulties. She worked as a house helper until she got married and now is a mother of two children. Currently she picks up temporary jobs, but since she fractured her arm, she has not been able to work. She and her husband rent a single-room timber house with electricity and use charcoal for cooking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On February 29th, surgeons will repair her arm with a procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation, a method to fix severe fractures that can't be treated with a cast or splint. The procedure will help her arm heal well, and she can work again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, requests $1,079 to fund this procedure. Dorcas says, "I'm kindly asking for your help. I'm looking forward to doing my casual jobs to support my husband to take care of the family."

Lu is a 38-year-old woman from Burma. Her husband is a farmer and they live with their three children in Karen State. Lu is a village health worker. While she receives food support from the villagers, she has no salary. Sometimes, when time allows, her husband delivers packages on his motorbike for additional income. During her free time, she loves to play with her children and enjoys going out to forage vegetables in the forest. She also loves to weave traditional Karen clothes in her free time. Around two weeks ago, Lu began to experience troubling symptoms, including lower abdominal pain and a fever. She was diagnosed with appendicitis and now needs surgery to prevent her condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Lu receive treatment. On May 3rd, she will undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected. This procedure will cost $1500 and Lu and her family need your support. Lu's niece, who accompanied her to the hospital said, "I would like to thank the donors who are willing to help my aunt with surgery costs. Without the support from donors, she cannot receive treatment."