Flavio is a nine-year-old boy who needs a wheelchair. He has Down Syndrome and cannot walk without support. Currently, Flavio's parents carry him, but this is becoming increasingly difficult as Flavio grows and gains weight. Flavio lives with his parents, little brother, and older sister in rural Guatemala. His father is a farmer, and his mother takes care of their home. She carries Flavio to physical and language therapy, which was [funded](https://watsi.org/profile/4136f70e9432-flavio) by Watsi. Unfortunately, Flavio is becoming increasing confined to his home. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,034 to fund a wheelchair for Flavio. Flavio will continue going to therapy and will once again be able to participate in community life outside the home.

Srieng is a 67-year-old married woman from Cambodia with six sons, two daughters, and eleven grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to read books about Buddhism and to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. About ten years ago, Srieng developed a pterygium, or an abnormal growth of skin underneath the eyelid, in each eye. The ptergyiums cause her burning, irritation, tearing, and itchiness. It is difficult for her to see things clearly and do any type of work. Srieng is worried about becoming blind one day. Srieng is currently scheduled to undergo surgery on March 7. Eye surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the pterygium from each eye. CSC is requesting $148 to cover the expenses of the procedure, which will include the costs of medicine and patient care. It is expected that Srieng will make a full recovery and will be able to see clearly again!

Divine is a little girl from the Philippines. Her family lives near a rice field, and her father, Domingo, is a farmer. She loves to sing and play games with her siblings. Divine has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens her growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 21. Divine will be 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 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. Divine's mother says, "I am hoping that my child will gain weight and have a healthy body and become a successful teacher someday."

Zaw Win is a 17-year-old football enthusiast from Burma. He lives with his family and works at a local casino. In his spare time, Zaw Win enjoys playing football with his friends. At a game during the Karen New Year festival, Zaw Win was kicked in the arm. His bone fractured. His friends rushed him to a local clinic, but he did not receive adequate medical care. Zaw Win and his father traveled six hours to reach our medical partner's care center. There, he will undergo an internal fixation procedure on January 6. During this orthopedic operation, a metal rod is implanted to help the bone heal properly. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 for costs associated with Zaw Win's surgery.

Srey Pin is a two-year-old girl living in Cambodia. She has one brother and one sister, and she likes to play with the other children in her neighborhood. When Srey Pin was nine months old, she burned her left hand with hot water. As a result of this injury, she has developed contractures on four of her fingers. In other words, the skin around the burned area has painfully tightened, restricting mobility. Currently, Srey Pin finds it difficult to hold or carry objects, and she experiences pain when moving her left hand. Srey Pin's neighbor told her parents about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. She and her mother traveled four hours to seek treatment at their care center. The surgeons there will operate to release the scarred tissue, allowing Srey Pin to regain mobility in her hand. Srey Pin is scheduled to undergo surgery on January 5. Our medical partner is requesting $194 to cover the cost of surgical supplies, medicine, and post-op care.

Thy is a 34-year-old farmer who is married to a midwife and has one son and two daughters. He likes to plant vegetables in his garden and watch Thai movies dubbed in Khmer on TV. In April, Thy was in a motorbike accident that caused a dislocation in his right hip. At a hospital in Phnom Penh, he underwent a closed reduction procedure to realign his broken bones without surgery. He stayed at the hospital for eight days and could walk again after one month. Unfortunately, Thy was still in pain, and he limped when he walked. When he learned abut our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for six hours to seek treatment. On December 15, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure on his right hip to allow Thy to walk easily again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure. "I hope I can walk better and without pain," says Thy.

Masten is a 54-year-old farmer from a small village in Malawi. He lives with his wife. They have six children and eight grandchildren. Masten used to be very active, working as a farmer. However, earlier this year, Masten developed a painful hernia. He could no longer work his farm or irrigate his crops. For this reason, his family has been experiencing financial difficulty. On November 8, Masten underwent a hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's hospital, Nkhoma District Hospital. After recovery, he should be able to return to work. He needs help to fund this $327 procedure.

Meet Yuth, an 80-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Yuth is married with three sons, one daughter, and over 10 grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Two years ago, Yuth 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. "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again,” shares Yuth, “Then, I can work at home and go anywhere outside." After learning about CSC, Yuth and her daughter travelled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Yuth's sight. With $292, Yuth 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.

Cornelio is a 67-year-old farmer from a village in Malawi's Central Region. When Cornelio is not farming, he loves spending time with his eight children and 11 grandchildren, and collects firewood for the family to cook with. For the past five years, Cornelio has been experiencing pain from an enlarged prostate. His condition is benign and easily treated surgically, but unfortunately he has been unable to access treatment until now. Cornelio's pain has interrupted his ability to work and support his family, jeopardizing their stability. For $726, Cornelio will receive the prostate surgery he needs. Cornelio and his family are ready for him to be treated and return home.

Sila is a middle-aged-man who is battling a pancreatic cyst. He is a father to three children aged 15, 13, and three. Two of his children are in primary school and live with their grandparents as Sila is not able to provide for them. His wife does not work, making Sila the sole breadwinner of the family. He has been working as a casual worker with a shoe making industry doing odd jobs, however, he had to stop in mid-July 2016 due to his medical condition. Sila's family lives in a single roomed house and are currently relying on friends to meet their daily needs. In August 2015, Sila had an operation done to remove a growth in his lungs and liver. He recovered and went back to work. However, in the beginning of July 2016, he noted some swelling in the former surgical point and decided to seek medical advice. He was given some medication and with no improvement, he came to our facility. Sila has been diagnosed with pancreatic pseudocyst and is in need of urgent surgery. For $620, AIC Kijabe Hospital will perform surgery to remove Sila's pancreatic cyst. Sila shares, “I want to be treated and go back to work to help my family”.

"I hope I can have good hearing and health," Reaksa shares. "When I grow up I want to be a teacher." Reaksa is a ten-year-old girl in first grade. She lives in Cambodia, and she has one older brother. Reaksa enjoys playing with toys, drawing pictures, and watching TV. She traveled one hour with her dad by motorcycle to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Reaksa experiences left ear discharge, pain, and hearing loss. ENT doctors at CSC discovered a cholesteatoma in her left ear. A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum. Over time, it can increase in size and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the middle ear, leading to hearing loss that surgery can often improve. With $809, Reaksa can undergo a procedure to remove the diseased cells within her ear and prevent further damage. ENT surgeons will perform a mastoidectomy to remove the cholesteatoma. After the operation, her ear pain and discharge will stop.

Bamuloho is 64 years old, a widow, and father of four. He separated with his wife about 10 years ago, and currently lives with his two sons who are unable to attend school due to a lack of funds. Bamuloho and his sons are casual laborers, resulting in very seasonal income. Bamuloho collects and sells rocks for construction and his two sons sell bananas. Bamuloho developed a swelling in his left scrotal area in February 2016. He went to a hospital where he was given medicine to help him temporarily. In May, he made it into Virika hospital, a Watsi partner site, where he was diagnosed with left acquired hydrocele and was advised to have surgery - but he couldn’t afford to pay for it. Bamuloho feels a constant burning sensation and pain, and is very uncomfortable because of the swelling. He is worried about his condition and that the swelling might get too big, making it hard for him to walk. For $215, Bamuloho will receive hydrocele repair surgery, during which the hydrocele sac on his scrotum will be drained of fluid. “The swelling makes me feel uncomfortable," Bamuloho shared. Let's help improve Bamuloho's health so he can live comfortably and return to work.