Savin is a 47-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She is married, with two daughters and two sons. She likes to make sticky rice cakes to sell, do housework, and look after her children. In 2003, Savin developed a serious ear infection in her left ear, which perforated her eardrum. She went to an organization for treatment, but her symptoms did not improve. Savin experiences recurrent ear discharge, hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear). On May 9, surgeons will perform a myringoplasty procedure on Savin's left ear to close the perforation and stop the discharge. Over time, her hearing may improve. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to cover Savin's medical treatment.

Yeth is a 65-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and has four sons, three daughters, and over ten grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray and join ceremonies. About one year ago, Yeth developed a cataract in each eye, causing blurred vision and tearing. Since then, it has been difficult for her to see things clearly and work. Fortunately, she learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Yeth and her son traveled for three hours to reach CSC for treatment. Now, CSC is requesting $292 to fund a small-incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant for each eye. She is scheduled to receive the surgery on February 14. Successful completion of this procedure will restore clear vision in both of Yeth's eyes.

Tang is a 69-year-old archbishop who is married and has two sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. He likes to read books, join ceremonies, and listen to monks praying in his free time. Three years ago, Tang developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision. He has difficultly seeing things clearly, and he worries about his vision in the future. When Tang learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On February 20, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Tang will be able to see clearly again. Now, he needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

Neang is a 75-year-old mother of three sons and two daughters and a grandmother of 20 grandchildren. She is from Cambodia, and she likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray and join ceremonies. About a year ago, Neang developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and tearing. It became difficult for her to see things clearly or do any work. She is worried that her eyesight will continue to worsen. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) has scheduled a phacoemulsification procedure to remove the cataract and an intraocular lens implant in each eye, which will replace the natural lens with an artificial lens. This procedure will allow Neang to see clearly again. The surgery is scheduled for March 9, and CSC is requesting $292 to fund the treatment.

Socheata is 11 years old and in sixth grade. She has three sisters and two brothers. Socheata likes to watch Thai movies dubbed in Khmer, cook rice, and do her school work. Socheata has been diagnosed with a hemivertebra, meaning one wedged-shaped vertebra causes an angle in her spine. X-rays also show a progression of two spinal curvature conditions, scoliosis and kyphosis. Socheata experiences pain and difficulty bending her back. Socheata's parents heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a relative. The family traveled for two hours to reach CSC for treatment. Socheata will undergo treatment on January 20. Surgeons at CSC will perform a hemivertebra excision surgery and a spinal fusion, in which they will attach hardware to the curved part of the backbone to straighten and stabilize the spine. CSC is requesting $450 to fund this procedure. Socheata will feel more comfortable after treatment.

Chhlonh is a 31-year-old farmer who is married and has one daughter. He likes to listen to the radio, play soccer with his friends, and help his wife take care of their daughter. When he was 13 years old, Chhlonh had an ear infection both ears. For this reason, he developed a cholesteatoma, or a cyst-like growth, in both ears. He was treated at a health center, but his symptoms did not improve. Since then, Chhlonh experienced ear discharge, hearing loss, and pain. His ear pain prevented him from working on his farm. When Chhlonh learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours to seek treatment. On December 12, ENT surgeons performed a mastoidectomy procedure in Chhlonh's left ear to relieve him of his symptoms. After recovery, his hearing will improve. Now, CSC is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I won't have ear discharge and my ear pain will go away," says Chhlonh.

Neang is a 53-year-old rice farmer with four sons, three daughters, and eleven grandchildren. She likes to watch Khmer dramas on TV and go to the pagoda. One year ago, Neang developed a pterygium growth in each eye, causing her blurred vision, irritation, and burning. It is difficult for her to see things clearly and do any work. When Neang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On October 20, CSC surgeons removed the pterygium in each eye. Now, Neang needs help to pay for this $148 procedure. After recovery, she should be able to see clearly. "I hope that I look better and feel comfortable," she says, "so that I can easily watch TV and do any work."

Harold is a 1-year-old boy who lives with his family in a bamboo house in the Philippines. The family sources water from a deep well and shares their supply of electric power with a neighbor. Harold's father, Onofre, is a laborer. Harold's mother shared her hope that "when he grows up, he'll be able to find a job so that he'll be able to help us." For now, Harold likes playing with toy cars. Harold is malnourished. He will be 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.

Eight year-old Gerald lives with his grandparents in Uganda. Both of his parents passed away when he was one year old. Gerald has had a hernia for more than half his life -- six years. When he was smaller it wasn’t too bad, but recently it has been causing him more and more pain and making it difficult to do his daily activities. Gerald is not in school yet, but his grandparents hopes to save enough money to pay his school fees. When he is not in pain, Gerald enjoys playing soccer and helping his grandmother by fetching water and washing the dishes. His favorite foods are “matoke” (cooked bananas) and beans. $208 will fund the hernia repair surgery that Gerald needs to recover and avoid long-term complications. Gerald’s grandmother would like to say thanks to all the donors helping with Gerald’s surgery. “With five children at home it is expensive to take care of them all," she shared. "We didn’t have the money for surgery. This is a blessing.”

Meet Soeum, a 72-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Soeum is married with four sons, three daughters, and 20 grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Three years ago, Soeum developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for her to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Soeum and her granddaughter travelled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Soeum sight. With $225, Soeum will undergo cataract surgery, during which her old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing her to see again immediately after her operation.

“When I grow up, I would like to become a primary school teacher,” shares Ramadhani, a happy, hard-working, 13-year-old boy who lives with his grandparents in Tanzania. He loves going to school, where he is in class three and enjoys mathematics and science. Ramadhani was born with talipes equinovarus, a condition commonly known as congenital clubfoot. His right foot is twisted out of position due to short tendons in the foot and ankle, preventing him from stepping on the sole of his right foot as he walks. Even with his deformed right foot, Ramadhani likes to run and jump around with other children. Ramadhani’s parents are small-scale farmers who grow potatoes and cassava. They look after Ramadhani and his two younger siblings as well as their parents. For many years, they have not been able to get proper treatment for their son. It is through word of mouth that Ramadhani’s grandfather heard about The Plaster House and what it does and collected enough cash to transport Ramadhani to Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre for treatment. For $1,160, Ramadhani will undergo surgery to release the tendons in his foot and ankle. Doctors will then move his foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. Funding also covers the costs of cast changes, braces, and a four-month stay at The Plaster House for recovery and rehabilitation after surgery. After receiving care, Ramadhani will be able to properly step on his right foot and wear shoes.

“I want to become a doctor," shares Lavenda, a seven-year-old girl who lives with her aunt in Kenya. In the fall of 2014, Lavenda's grandmother became concerned about her granddaughter's low sound perception and inability to talk. Lavenda was taken to a medical facility for ear, nose, and throat conditions. While there, doctors cleaned her ears, but her hearing did not improve. In 2016, Lavenda was referred to our facility for further treatment and was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs as a result of damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear or the nerve pathways leading from the inner ear to the brain. Possible causes include illnesses, medications, aging, head trauma, and exposure to loud noises. In most cases, there are no medical or surgical interventions to restore normal hearing, making it the most common type of permanent hearing loss. Doctors recommended that Lavenda wear hearing aids to amplify the sound vibrations transmitted to her ears, but her aunt, who sells goods at a grocery shop to earn a living, is unable to raise the full amount of money needed to pay for them. Lavenda does not receive any financial support from her mother and father, who separated with Lavenda was only a year old. Without the hearing aids, Lavenda will have weak academic and social performance. She is still in pre-school due to learning difficulties attributed to her hearing problem. For $712, Lavenda will receive two hearing aids, batteries, and molds to ensure proper fit within her ears. “I know Lavenda is bright, and I want the best for her," says her aunt. "Please help her."