Rin is a 43-year-old mother of one. She is a construction worker and divorced from her husband. She has one son who lives with her. In her free time, she likes to listen to Khmer songs and do things around the house. Earlier this month, she was working on a roof near a high-voltage wire and suffered multiple electrical burns on her hands, feet, and head. She was taken to a referral hospital, but only received minimal dressing for her burns. The tissue damage is extensive, and she is in pain and unable to use her hands. When Rin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 15th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft surgery to to help regenerate the damaged skin. Now, she needs help to fund this $805 procedure. Rin is hopeful that after surgery her hands will be better and she will be able to work again.

Dieunese is a mother of two from Haiti. She lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince where she cares for her two young children along with her husband who is a taxi driver. Dieunese has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis which makes it extremely difficult for her heart to pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. Dieunese requires surgery, but it is not available in her country. To access care, she will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On November 17th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair her heart valve; if they are unable to, they will remove it and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, the Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital, is contributing $20,000 to pay for this surgery. Dieunese's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and travel. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and check-up and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social worker from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Dieunese overseas. Dieunese says, "I am hopeful that having this surgery will allow me to be alive and healthy for my children!"

Veasna is a hardworking 42-year-old farmer and construction worker from Cambodia. He has two sons and two daughters, all of whom are students in public schools. To support their family, Veasna works as a small-scale farmer, and his wife sells vegetables at the local market. Veasna works construction jobs during the off-season to supplement their family's income. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, visiting his friends, and helping his wife with housework. Three years ago, Veasna underwent back surgery for sciatic pain, which led to a reduction in sensation in his feet. He stepped on a hot brick at work two years later and severely burned his left heel. Despite taking antibiotics, this wound has remained unhealed. The wound is currently producing discharge, which he shares is both unpleasant and painful. He is unable to walk on his left foot, preventing him from working. Veasna's wife now provides their family's sole income, and he shares that they are facing difficulty feeding their children and keeping them in school. When Veasna learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On August 11th, surgeons at CSC will perform an excision of dead skin and a sural skin flap procedure to heal his wound and help him walk again. Now, he needs help funding this $673 procedure. Veasna shares, "I hope after surgery my foot will heal soon with no infection. I am hopeful I can walk without pain and can return to work to support my family."

Meet Ann, a very bright, friendly, and cheerful 14-year-old girl who lives with her mother in Kenya. She is currently in class six and aspires to be a surgeon after completing her studies. One of her favorite activities is reading. Her mother is a single parent who works selling samosas, a fried or baked pastry, in their hometown. Ann was born with a bow-legged impairment. She began therapy at the age of two, but she had to stop attending her sessions due to financial constraints. As a result, her condition has worsened. She shares that this has affected her mobility, studies, and self-esteem. A year ago, Ann underwent a successful multiple osteotomy surgery, which cut and reshaped her leg bones, with the help of amazing Watsi supporters. Now, she requires a second procedure to fully treat her condition in both of her legs. Ann is scheduled to undergo an angular deformity correction procedure on August 29th at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,224 to fund this surgery. This procedure will allow Ann to walk easily, engage with her friends more comfortably, and continue on with her studies. Ann's mother says, "I wish to thank the donors for their great support towards my daughter's treatment. We were desperately looking for funds for her surgery. May the almighty God bless you. After her treatment, Ann will be able to walk comfortably."

Meet Agnes, a hardworking 39-year-old farmer and strong single mother. Two of her children live with her brother in a rural area of the country, while her other children live with Agnes in a house in a small shopping center. Agnes works hard to sustain her family. She does laundry in her neighborhood during the day, while selling vegetables in the evening. During the planting, weeding and harvesting seasons, Agnes goes to the village and works on people's farms. Sometimes she is paid with money, and sometimes she is given food in return for her work. Nine months ago, she was pricked by a maize stalk on her lower left limb. She was walking with difficulty because of the pain that resulted from the wound, and she ended up falling. Agnes traveled to a local facility because of pain and swelling in her leg, and was provided with pain medication and bandages. However, Agnes was referred on to another hospital, where her leg could be X-rayed. The X-ray revealed that Agnes had sustained a fracture in her lower leg. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On September 1st, Agnes will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. After this procedure, Agnes will be able to walk without pain and swelling, enabling her to return to her daily activities, and the work that she needs to do in order to earn an income. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is seeking $941 to fund her procedure and medical care. Agnes says: "My family depends on me in everything. With my condition, I cannot work and am afraid that my children will suffer. Kindly help me get through my treatment and be able to provide for them.”

Christian is a caring and helpful 13-year-old boy from the Philippines. He takes care of his two younger siblings and helps his mother sell vegetables. His father works multiple part-time jobs to help provide for their family. Since Christian was young, his mother noticed swelling in a sensitive area but did not seek medical attention due to Christian not complaining about it. In June, his mother scheduled him a circumcision, but the doctor deferred the procedure since they needed to first treat his condition. Christian was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, right hydrocele, and left undescended testis. If left untreated, these conditions would cause Christian to eventually experience pain and discomfort, as well as an increased risk of developing testicular cancer. Fortunately, Christian will undergo hernia repair surgery on August 8th at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Christian's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $845 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. His mother shares, "I'm worried that Christian's condition might worsen, but we are financially incapable to support his treatment. I am hoping to make him feel better before the school year starts. Thank you so much Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines for this big help!"

Lucy is a small-business owner and a mom to two boys. She shared that she is raising them on her own, and runs a small business selling beauty products to help provide for her and her family. For three years, Lucy has been experiencing troubling symptoms that resulted in two hospital visits and a blood transfusion, as she also experiences anemia. Lucy has been diagnosed with fibroids and advised to undergo a hysterectomy as soon as possible, which is a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Lucy receive the treatment she needs. On June 17th, she will undergo surgery at AMH's care center. Once recovered, Lucy will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. AMH is requesting $755 to fund this procedure. Lucy was able to gather $93 to contribute to her care. Lucy shared, “I am desperate, and any help to save my life I will appreciate. I hope the sponsors will hear my case and assist me. My children depend on me, and so I hope for successful treatment."

We met Thomas, a 9-year-old jovial and social boy at Cure Hospital's Nyeri satellite clinic. He is the second born in a family of four children. His family hails from a village in Muranga County. Thomas is a third grade student and a very bright boy who aspires to be a pilot in the future. His mother is a small business lady while his father is a mason. Thomas lives with his grandmother. Thomas was born healthy, however at the age of three his grandmother noted an unusual bowing of his legs. He was taken to a hospital in Muranga, however, the condition has never improved and instead has continued to worsen. Fortunately our medical partner can help. Thomas is now scheduled to undergo surgery to heal his condition. The treatment will be impactful to him because he will be able to walk and play more easily. The severe pain he has been experiencing from straining when walking will be alleviated and he will be able to continue with his studies uninterrupted. We can't wait to see him flying in the skies one day! "I would request the hospital to help me undergo surgery so that my legs can be corrected and I can continue with my education," Thomas expressed.