Silva is a small-scale farmer. He lives with his wife who is also a small-scale farmer and they own a three-room mud house for shelter. Their children are all grown now and married. Since August 2021, Silva has had a bilateral hydrocele. He developed severe pains and a small swelling that has progressively increased in size. Currently, he is finding it difficult to walk. Silva enjoys cleaning and clearing bushes around his home but is unable to do it in his current state. He came to Rushoroza Hospital and after a review, the surgeon recommended that he undergo surgery for which he is seeking support. If not treated, he will be at risk of infections or development of a tumor. Fortunately, on December 16th, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Silva's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Silva says, “I can no longer do my usual duties comfortably and my walking has greatly been affected. I hope to comfortably continue with my daily activities once I have treatment.”

Hermon is a sweet 4-year-old boy who loves people and being with others. His name means God’s gift. He loves playing video games and loves to be with his father and uncle. Hermon is adorable and playful, and is always smiling. His mom is raising him from home after leaving her business when he was born. His dad is a storekeeper in a government shop. His income is low to support the needs of their family. Sometimes mom tries to work as a broker carrying her child on her back and her family tries to offer financial support for their living too. Hermon was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Hermon has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Hermon will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 16th. AMHF is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. His mom said “I hope he will get to attend school like any other child. I hope he will grow loving God and serving Him. ”

Khant Kyaw is a 17-year-old Burmese man currently living in Thailand. He lives with his father and younger brother. Until recently, Khat Kyaw worked as a guesthouse receptionist and concierge. His father was unemployed, so Khant Kyaw supported his three-member family. His younger brother is a student in fourth grade. About a month ago, Khant Kyaw started to experience abdominal pain. He lost his appetite and stopped working. He visited the hospital, where medics found a mass in his abdomen. On November 15, he underwent a CT scan to diagnose his illness. Khant Kyaw needs help to raise $414 to fund this diagnostic procedure. "I am very depressed, but my father always tries to cheer me up," explains Khant Kyaw. "He said I'll get well soon and be back to normal life."

Naing Soe is a husband and father of two sons from a village in Burma. His older son just began kindergarten. In November, Naing Soe was riding his motorbike home from work when an oncoming truck forced him to swerve off the road. He hit a tree and lost consciousness. An ambulance brought Naing Soe to a nearby hospital, where staff sutured cuts on his jaw and head. Two days later, Naing Soe underwent x-rays on his head and left arm, which was broken. His doctor explained that he would probably experience a long-lasting headache and advised him to rest. Naing Soe left the hospital, knowing that the mounting medical bill was more than he could pay. When Naing Soe returned home, he used traditional medicine to treat his pain. Unfortunately, his symptoms persisted. Finally, he visited our medical partner’s hospital, where he underwent an internal fixation procedure to heal his arm on December 8. Naing Soe works as an agricultural day laborer, and he is the sole income earner in his family. After paying for his emergency treatments, the family is in debt. Naing Soe needs help to pay his $1,500 medical bill. “I hope that my condition will be cured soon,” he says, “so that I can go back to work.”

Meng Leang is a 25-year-old bank teller. He has three sisters and two brothers. He likes to watch Thai movies, read magazines, and relax at home. In September, Meng Leang was in a motorcycle accident, and he injured his right shoulder. He was treated with Khmer traditional medicine, but his symptoms did not improve. It became difficult for him to use his right shoulder, and he was in pain. When Meng Leang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. There, he was diagnosed with chronic shoulder dislocation. On December 7, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure in Meng Leang's right shoulder to relieve him of pain and allow him to use his arm comfortably again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I can use my right shoulder better and without any pain," he shares.

Hilario is a 23-year-old man from Guatemala. He works as a shoemaker in a local workshop to support his young children, wife, and grandfather. He lives with his family in a cinderblock house with a tin roof and a dirt floor. Hilario's loves to play soccer and go to church. Recently, however, his vision began to worsen. He could no longer play soccer, and he worried that he would become unable to work. In October 2016, Watsi donors funded Hilario's cataract surgery. However, when Hilario arrived for his scheduled surgery, his doctor realized that he did not have cataracts. He simply needed glasses to correct his poor eyesight. On December 5, Hilario received a new pair of glasses. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $552 to pay for Hilario's transportation from his rural village, his evaluation by an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, a custom pair of glasses, and follow-up care to adjust and correct his glasses. "I need glasses to help improve my vision because I cannot recognize people or things from far away, which makes it hard to work and even go out and walk on my own," says Hilario. "I appreciate the support because I don't have the resources to buy glasses."

Jackson is a 30-year-old man from Kenya. He used to work on a construction site, and he used his savings to pay his sister's school fees. Unfortunately, a road accident in 2014 left Jackson with fractures in his right tibia. After the accident, Jackson underwent two surgeries. Unfortunately, he could not afford the additional surgery required to complete his treatment. Since then, he has been walking on crutches. Fortunately, Jackson was referred to our medical partner's hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital. On December 7, he underwent a bone transport procedure. This surgery will allow him to use his leg and will prevent severe infection. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has requested $1,500 to fund his healthcare. “I want to be able to walk again and provide for my sister," says Jackson.

Three-year-old Love Faela lives with her parents, grandparents, and two older siblings in Haiti. She likes wearing frilly dresses and listening to her mother sing. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Love Faela was born with a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot.” The condition accounts for one third of all cases of congenital heart disease in patients younger than 15 years old. “[Tetralogy of Fallot] involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the heart's valves,” HCA continues. “As a result, Love Faela's heart cannot deliver enough oxygen to her body, and she is sickly and weak. If untreated, the condition would be fatal.” Treatment for Love Faela is surgery to close the hole between the chambers of her heart and open the obstructed heart valve. “Following surgery,” HCA explains, “normal circulation should be restored to Love Faela's heart, and she should be able to lead a normal life.” For $1500, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Love Faela’s treatment. Gift of Life International is donating $5000 to cover the remaining treatment costs. "We are praising God that Love Faela can have surgery for her heart problem," her mother shares.

Three-year-old Neymarah lives in Haiti with her mother, who works as a tailor, and her grandmother. She likes to help her mother prepare the fabric for the school uniforms that she makes. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Neymarah was born with a condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect, in which blood mixes between all four chambers of the heart without fully obtaining oxygen. This leaves her weak and out of breath and would eventually be fatal.” Neymarah needs surgery to create two functioning valves between the upper and lower chambers on both sides of the heart and to place patches over the existing defects (holes). “Following surgery,” says HCA, “Neymarah should have normal circulation restored to her heart. She should not need further surgery in the future.” For $1500, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Neymarah’s surgery. MECENAT is donating $5000 to cover the remaining treatment costs. Neymarah is excited to start preschool after surgery. Her mother shares, "I want Neymarah to be able to walk to and from school like the other children."

Sok is a 63-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is a father of five and grandfather of three, and enjoys going to the pagoda to serve the monks in his free time. "One year ago, Sok developed a cataract in his right eye," says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). "This causes him blurred vision and minor pain." A cataract occurs when the eye lens becomes covered by a cloudy layer. This can cause functional blindness, where the patient can only see blurred finger or hand motions. Due to this condition, Sok's daily activities, including time spent with his family, have become increasingly difficult. "I can't see everything clearly and it is hard to do my work on the farm," Sok tells us. "It is difficult to see faces of people." After learning about CSC, Sok travelled four hours from his home to receive proper treatment. For $150, Sok will undergo cataract surgery. Doctors at CSC will remove the cloudy lens in Sok's right eye and replace it with a clear lens implant. Within one day of his operation, Sok will be able to see clearly again.

Hun is an 80-year-old mother and grandmother living in Cambodia. She and her husband have one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. According to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), Hun enjoys visiting the pagoda to meditate and listen to the monks pray. Three years ago, Hun developed a cataract in each eye. A cataract is the clouding of the eye lens, making it difficult or impossible to see. CSC explains, “The cataracts cause her to be partially blind and afraid of the sunshine.” Approximately 19,000 of the 28,000 Cambodians who become blind annually lose sight because of cataracts alone. With $225, Hun will receive a small incision cataract surgery. Both of Hun’s old eye lenses will be removed and replaced with artificial implants. After this operation, Hun will be able to see clearly once again. “I want to see everything clearly again so I can walk anywhere by myself, see the faces of everyone clearly, and help my family take care of the grandchildren at home," Hun adds.

Meet Choeb, a 51-year-old father living in Cambodia. “Choeb is married with one son and three daughters and when he is not working as a farmer he enjoys watching boxing," says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Earlier this year, “Choeb got into an accident with a car when he was on his moto," CSC shares. In the accident, he fractured his left tibia, also known as the shin bone. There is swelling around the bone, and Choeb explains, “It is difficult for me to walk without a lot of pain.” After receiving Khmer traditional medicine for over three months to no avail, he came to CSC for care. With $405, Choeb can undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure. In this surgery, Choeb will first have his tibia put back in position, then a nail placed in his bone to keep it in place. CSC expects that after this procedure, “Choeb’s tibia will heal and he will be able to walk without pain and return to work.” As a farmer, Choeb’s ability to walk is important for his livelihood. “After my surgery,” he shares, “I want to go back to work.” Let’s make this possible for Choeb!