Aye is an 18-year-old woman from a village in Burma who was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD). VSD is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart. Aye currently lives with her 50-year-old mother and her three nieces and nephews. She also has four siblings who send money back to the family to support their sister, mother, and their own children. When Aye was two years old, she was diagnosed with her heart condition. Although surgery was recommended, Aye and her parents returned home as they knew they were unable to afford the cost of heart surgery. In 2016, Aye began coughing blood. Aye and her mother revisited a hospital, where they were again told that Aye required surgery. Fortunately, Aye is scheduled to undergo VSD closure surgery on June 23 at our medical partner's care center, Lampang Hospital. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund the hospital stay, blood tests, and the surgery itself. Aye hopes that after her surgery she can return to school. She would like to continue studying English and hopes to become a translator when she grows up.

One-year-old Gene Irenee lives with her parents and two siblings in a bamboo house on the coast. They have no access to electricity. Her father, Ireneo, is a driver. Gene Irenee loves to play Barbie doll. Gene Irenee has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. She began $268 malnutrition treatment on October 20. She is being 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 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. "I hope Gene will recover from malnutrition," says her mother.

Meet Ngov, a 79-year-old man from Cambodia. “Ngov is married with two sons, five daughters, and ten grandchildren. He enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Three years ago, Ngov developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes him blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for him to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Ngov and his wife traveled two hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Ngov's sight. With $292, Ngov will undergo cataract surgery, during which his old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing him to see again immediately after his operation.

Phlong is a 77-year-old grandfather from Cambodia with one son, one daughter, and eight grandchildren. “Phlong is a wise man at the pagoda,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “He enjoys reading Buddhist religious books and listening to the monks pray.” “One year ago Phlong developed a cataract in each eye,” CSC explains. Phlong’s condition causes him to be partially blind and experience pain and tearing. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye clouds, subsequently obscuring vision and causing functional blindness. 90% of blindness cases in Cambodia could be avoided through proper treatment. While surgical services are available, access barriers such as cost, infrastructure, and limited awareness about available services pose challenges in receiving appropriate care. For $225, Phlong will undergo cataract removal surgery in each of his eyes. During each operation, the cloudy lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial substitute. Following surgery, Phlong will be able to see clearly again. Phlong shares, “I hope my eyes can see clearly again so I can easily recognize faces, read letters, and walk anywhere by myself.”