Pov is a 43-year-old rice farmer. She is a widow and has one daughter, two sons, and one grandchild. She lives with her mother and her youngest son, who is also a rice farmer. In her free time, Pov likes to watch the news and Cambodian dramas on TV. Around one year ago, Pov developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and tissue grows abnormally over the pupil. Pov has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Pov learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Pov needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The surgeons at CSC can help Pov, and the total cost for this procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 18th. Pov shared: "I hope after surgery the irritation and red eye will go away. I want to go back to growing rice and be able to see better outside."

Kelvin is a student from Kenya and the eldest of 4 children. He is a student at Kitui School for the mentally challenged. His mother told us that he likes listening to music, playing football and operating a phone. Our partners in AIC Cure International met him at their Matuu clinic accompanied by his mother Petronilla who works as a peasant farmer. Kelvin has clubfoot of his right foot, a condition that was noted by the mother when he was 1 year old. His foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and wearing shoes. This condition formed because he used to convulse. He started medication and experienced delayed milestones. At the age of 3, Kelvin began to exhibit an unusual walking style and was diagnosed with hemiplegia, a type of unilateral cerebral palsy that causes paralysis on only one side of the body. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. AMH is requesting $1,286 to fund Kelvin's clubfoot repair. The treatment will be impactful to him because he will be able to walk without falling and play football with his friends. Kelvin’s mother shared, “I would love to see my son’s condition corrected so he can be independent. I will appreciate any support from AMH, and God bless you.”

Nelson is a 79-year-old loving father from the Philippines. He lives with his partner and relies on their only son's financial support to meet their basic needs. He has a passion for gardening and loves to plant vegetables at home. Three years ago, Nelson's health took a downturn when he experienced bleeding during urination. After a consultation, he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and was prescribed medication. However, the pain reoccurred, prompting further investigation. An ultrasound revealed the presence of a bladder stone, necessitating surgical intervention. Over time, Nelson's condition has deteriorated, leading to increased urinary frequency and pain, which severely hinders his daily activities. Fortunately, Nelson found his way to our medical partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP) who will be helping him receive the treatment he needs. He is scheduled to undergo a urinary cystolithectomy, the removal of the bladder stone, on July 21st. A portion of the cost of his treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising $1,128 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Nelson will hopefully have a pain-free and healthier life. Deeply appreciative of the support he received, Nelson shared, "I'm eternally grateful to Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Your generosity has given me hope to have a more comfortable life, and be free from all that I've been enduring for years."

Aye is a 48-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her family, and recently stepped away from work due to health concerns. In her free time, Aye enjoys making traditional Burmese food. Since March, Aye has been experiencing bloating, a sense of fullness in her stomach, fatigue, and weakness. After seeking out medical care, Aye was diagnosed with a right ovarian tumor. Doctors recommended she undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, a procedure wherein surgeons will remove her uterus. If left untreated, Aye's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for future health complications. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), can help. Aye is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on June 13th at BCMF's care center. Now, BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Aye will no longer experience discomfort and can live more confidently. Aye said, "Since I was diagnosed with this condition, I cannot work. So, I have no income. I feel sorry that my niece's family has to support me despite their financial problems. However, I now feel relieved that this organization [BCMF] will support my treatment."

Aida is a 36-year-old mother and wife living in Malawi. She likes chatting with her children and enjoys eating rice served with beef as well as vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. Aida was well until seven years ago when, she noted a small swelling toward the left side of her neck that was not painful. She did not visit the hospital since she thought it was going to clear on its own; however, the mass has increased in size. Recently, she has been experiencing frequent coughs and sometimes chokes at night, which has affected her daily activities. About two weeks ago, Aida met another beneficiary of surgery who guided her to visit Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) for support. On November 29th, Aida's surgeon confirmed the diagnosis of a goiter and recommended a surgical intervention called thyroidectomy, which is the removal of part of the thyroid gland. A goiter is a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland that causes pain and breathlessness that may be life-threatening if not treated. Due to her financial challenges, Aida was sent to our medical partner's office to learn about the Watsi program, where she learned she was eligible to receive assistance in funding the $1,015 surgery from donors around the world. Aida was finally very happy to hear about the surgery and talked to her husband, who promised to support the treatment with $29.79 from his business. Aida is hoping to get better after surgery so she can continue supporting her children and loving family, saying, “Kindly help me, I believe surgery will help me get back to normal to continue caring for my children.”

Dara is a 37-year-old father of two from Kampong Chnang province in Cambodia. Dara and his wife work in the local market, selling second-hand clothes. In February 2019, Dara was in a motor vehicle accident and fractured his left elbow. He went to a local hospital, where doctors implanted hardware to stabilize his fracture. Now the bone has healed completely, but the hardware remains in his arm, causing Dara discomfort. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 1st, Dara will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will improve the mobility of his arm and alleviate his pain. Dara needs your help to raise $304 to fund this procedure. Dara shared: "I want the metal removed from my arm so I can be comfortable again."

Leonard is a 41-year-old lumberjack from Kenya. He is a bachelor, has no children, and lives alone in his grandfather’s place. His work as a lumberjack is seasonal and he sometimes works on peoples' farms to earn money for basic needs. His relatives live in faraway places and are of limited socio-economic status. Leonard has no medical coverage and cannot raise the money required for his needed medical treatment. Leonard was injured while felling trees. One of the trees fell on Leonard, hitting him on his right hip. He fell, and the people with him ran away, thinking he had died. Leonard was unable to walk and slept at the scene. Luckily one of his neighbors passed by and found him. Leonard's neighbors carried him to the hospital for treatment as he could not stand or walk. An x-ray revealed that he had a complete fracture of the upper end of his right femur. He is now admitted to the surgical ward on bed rest because his fracture is at a weight-bearing joint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 2nd, Leonard will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. A surgeon will make an incision, realign the bones, and insert hardware to hold the bones together. Subsequently, after recovery, Leonard will be able to walk again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Leonard says, “It is so sad that I cannot now walk but I thank God that I am alive because that tree was big. Please help me so that I may be able to work and be able to sustain myself because I have nobody to depend on.”

Ronald is a hard working student. He comes from a family of five, and both his parents are small-scale farmers. They currently live in a rental house with two rooms, and Ronald is the oldest of three children, all of whom are in school. Due to financial constraints, his parents have been unable to seek medical treatment for their son until now. The family is appealing for financial support to help cover the cost of their son's surgery and improve his overall well-being. Since April last year, Ronald has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. The swelling causes discomfort and disfigurement. The pain makes it difficult for him to walk to school, and once in school, he is unable to play with other children or concentrate in class. If left untreated, he could develop an infected hydrocele, which could lead to future risks. Fortunately, on April 12th, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $146 to fund Ronald's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Ronald's father says, “I will be grateful when my son is treated with your support as he will be able to continue with school.”

Tharith is a 38-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who is a construction worker, and their three children. At home, he likes to watch the news and chat with his neighbors. Tharith has had ear issues since he was a child. Over time, he has lost hearing in both ears, making it difficult for him to communicate with others. Recently, he experienced an ear infection that caused the eardrum in his left ear to perforate. This has led to increased pain as well as tinnitus, sometimes affecting Tharith's ability to work on the farm. Tharith traveled to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, to receive treatment. On March 14th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. CSC is requesting $487 to fund the procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Tharith said, "I hope my ear will get better, my hearing will improve. I am afraid this illness might give me brain problems."

Sophea is a 27-year-old father of two from Cambodia. He lives in a small village with his wife and two sons. Sophea and his wife plant and harvest vegetables to sell from their street cart and provide food for their family's consumption. Twelve years ago, Sophea developed an ear infection that caused a cholesteatoma, or abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind his ear drum. As a result, Sophea experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge. It is difficult for him to hear at home and with his customers. Sophea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 6th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $926 to fund this procedure, which covers all medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sophea also contributed $100 towards his care. Sophea shared that he hopes this surgery will relieve him of symptoms and allow him to finally be able to hear again.

David is a 24-year-old male from Kenya. He is the last born in a family of four children raised by his mother. He works at a timber workshop near his home. In June 2020, David was involved in an accident where he was hit from the side by a motorbike. He was taken to the nearest public hospital and received emergency care. An x-ray revealed that he had an open right tibia fracture that needed surgery. Following his initial surgery, he has since had several additional surgeries due to the severity of the injury. In October 2022, he was referred to the care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, run by our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for specialized review and care. His doctors quickly realized that he still walks with a limp, and his ankle is stiff with bloody discharge from the incision site. His doctors determined that a deeper examination was needed, and he ended up having a hardware removal surgery. However, the region where the fracture occurred is still severely infected, and he risks losing his right leg due to the infection. The doctors have recommended an additional procedure to remedy the remaining issues and clean the infection. Fortunately, AMH has scheduled David for a second-stage bone transport in hopes of avoiding amputation and helping him walk again. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure and provide for David's post-operative care. David says, “I feel exhausted and worried. I am unable to walk despite having several surgeries. I hope this surgery [helps] to save my leg.”