Bunnan is a 51-year-old woman with seven daughters. She likes to cook and look after her children. Fifteen years ago, Bunnan injured a nerve in her right arm that controls motion and sensation in the arm and hand muscles. Since then, Bunnan has been in pain and has had trouble using her fingers. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Bunnan traveled for three hours with her husband to reach CSC for treatment. On November 1, surgeons performed a tendon and muscle procedure. After recovery, she should be able to use her hand easily. Now, she needs help to fund this $450 procedure. "I hope that I can use my fingers so that I can go home and cook for my children again," she says.

Seperenza is a 27-year-old mother from rural Uganda. She has four children, two of whom are twins. Seperenza and her husband, Amos, are subsistence farmers in the western part of the East African Rift Valley. They grow rice, groundnuts, and beans. During her free time, Seperenza enjoys playing with her children. During the delivery of her twins, Seperenza developed an uncomfortable condition in a sensitive area. She experiences pain and urinary dysfunction, and she lost the ability to work. On October 24, Seperenza underwent a repair surgery at our medical partner's hospital, Bwindi Community Hospital. Now, she needs help to fund this $547 procedure. After recovery, Seperenza hopes to visit her church and give thanks to God for restoring her health. She says, “I pray that God will bless the people that are donating to my treatment, and that He will prosper them to help other women who are like me.”

Seang is an 80-year-old woman with one daughter and eight grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. One year ago, Seang developed a cataract in each eye, causing her partial blindness, cloudy lenses, and tearing. It is difficult for her to do any work, walk by herself, and recognize faces. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a neighbor, Seang traveled for two hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. On October 20, surgeons at CSC removed her cataracts and implanted a new lens into each eye. After recovery, she should see clearly again. Now, Seang needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope that my eyes can see everything more clearly," she says, "so that I can easily do any work or go anywhere outside by myself without needing to disturb someone to hold my hand all of the time."

Kabaseke is a 33-year-old basket weaver from Uganda. He is married, and a father of three children. He is a jolly man and is always smiling. Kabaseke enjoys praying the rosary interceding for his family. He makes a living from gardening and handicrafts – mostly by weaving baskets. For about two years, Kabaseke has lived with a painful swelling in his left inguinal region. Due to the pain, he is unable to lift heavy items and cannot sleep well. Kabaseke reported his condition to a health center and was advised to go to a hospital. However, he had went to the hospital because he couldn’t afford to pay for his treatment. If left untreated, Kabaseke may suffer many complications. For $249, Kabaseke will undergo the hernia repair surgery he needs to be healthy. After surgery, he plans to work hard to make capital and start a trading business. “I am sure at some point God will bless me with money so that I can be able to support my children," shared Kabaseke.

Naroth is a 17-year-old boy in 11th grade from Cambodia. He has one brother and is the youngest child in the family. He likes to spend his time reading books and playing soccer. Naroth has had a left eye squint for about ten years, giving him blurred vision and making him uncomfortable around his friends. For $264, Naroth will have a squint correction surgery that will re-align his eyes and help improve his vision. Naroth says, "I hope to have a normal eye so that I can play soccer well and I hope to study Information Technology in my future."

Matisitsi is a 45-year-old, married and father of eight from Uganda. He weaves baskets for a living, and enjoys eating fish and cassava bread. Matisitsi had hernia repair in the right inguinal region in 2013. Then, about a year and a half ago, he developed another painful swelling in the left inguinal region, and he suspected it was a hernia again. Matisitsi visited a hospital where it was confirmed that he had a left inguinal hernia. This is a condition where part of his intestine is protruding through his inner groin. Due to the pain caused by the hernia, he is unable to lift heavy items and standing and walking is difficult. He also is unable to dig, which prevents him from earning a living from agriculture. Matisitsi was unable to afford the surgery recommended by the hospital, and if left untreated, Matisitsi may suffer many complications. For $249, Matisitsi will undergo the hernia repair surgery he needs. After the surgery, Matisitsi hopes to resume digging so that he can support himself and his family. “Hernia is a painful sickness. I wish I could prevent it from coming back!” Matisitsi shared.

Kimsreang is a 62-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She and her husband have four sons, one daughter, and five grandchildren. In her free time, Kimsreang likes to watch Thai and Khmer soap operas on television and visit the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Kimsreang traveled two hours with her daughter to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), so she could obtain treatment for her cataracts. The cataracts, which are present in both eyes, cause her blurred vision and extreme sensitivity to light. At CSC, Kimsreang will undergo a phacoemulsification procedure on both eyes. During the procedure, doctors will break apart her clouded lenses and replace them with clear implant lenses. Kimsreang needs assistance to cover the $292 surgery, after which she will be able to see clearly again. "I hope I can see everything more clearly than now so that I can continue my work as a farmer and easily look after my grandchildren," says Kimsreang.

Chantho is a 77-year-old grandmother living in Cambodia with her husband, daughter, and five grandchildren. She likes to visit the pagoda to listen to monks pray and join ceremonies. Two years ago, Chantho developed blurred vision, itchiness, and cloudy lenses in both eyes. Since then, it has been difficult for her to recognize faces, and she has difficulty traveling independently. She and her sister sought treatment at a clinic through our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because her sister had been treated there before. Chantho's doctors diagnosed her with cataracts, and recommended surgical intervention. She needs a phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in each eye, which will replace her internal lenses and restore her vision to full clarity. In total, the procedure, supplies, drugs, and four days of inpatient care will cost $292. Following recovery, Chantho will have restored vision in both eyes, and will be able to safely travel independently. She will be able to easily visit the pagoda, as she had done before.

Robert is an 8-year-old boy from Kenya. He is very bright and adores his grandparents who are his guardians. During his pre-operative interview, he pulled a chair out for his aged grandmother and pointed at it, asking her to sit. Eight years ago, Robert was born and later abandoned at the age of six-months by his mother when she noticed that he could neither hear or talk. He is now under the care of his grandparents and has grown very fond of them. Fortunately, Robert got sponsorship from the local government and is enrolled in a special school and doing very well. In early August, his grandmother noticed that his right testis was missing from the scrotal sac while giving him a bath. After consulting with a neighbor, they found that out of the ordinary. A scan recommended from the nearest local hospital confirmed that Robert has a right undescended testis and would require specialized treatment. If not treated, Robert may develop hernia or testicular cancer. His grandmother, the sole breadwinner, is a subsistence farmer and ails from high blood sugar while his is grandfather is bed-ridden after having a stroke. Robert’s grandmother wishes the best for her grandchild and hopes he will excel in life when she is gone. For $535, Robert will undergo an orchidopexy surgery at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. This surgery will greatly reduce his risk of growing up with any complications. “I am hoping that someday all will be well, especially for my grandson. I really pray that God touches someone who can come through to fund Robert’s surgical care,” says Robert’s grandmother.

"We are all looking forward to the day when we don't have to worry about Medjina's heart anymore," shares Medjina's mother. Medjina lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with her mother, father, and younger brother. She is four years old, and she enjoys going to preschool and coloring with crayons. Medjina was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers in the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves that leads to her lungs. In 2014, when she was two years old, she underwent a surgery to allow blood to flow more freely to her lungs, making her body more healthy and giving her heart time to grow so that a complete repair could be done later. Medjina is now ready for her second surgery, to completely repair her heart and allow her to lead a near-normal life. As a result of this condition, she is constantly sickly and weak. If untreated when she was two years old, it would have been fatal. $1,500 in Watsi funding, and an additional $10,000 subsidy from Have a Heart Cayman Islands will fund the life-saving heart surgery that Medjina needs to grow up healthy.

This is Esther, a one-month-old girl from Kenya. She was born via caesarean section after a scan revealed that her head was abnormally big and normal delivery would not be an option. Esther’s parents took her to a neurosurgeon, and there she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a disorder where extra cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the cranium. This condition could become painful for Esther as the liquid presses against her brain. And if untreated, the long-term consequences could be severe. To avoid these outcomes, Esther needs to have a shunt surgically implanted in her brain. The shunt will help drain the fluid away from her head so that the swelling subsides. Esther’s parents were relieved to hear that their child has a good chance of survival if she undergoes this procedure—but they cannot afford it. Esther’s mother is a stay-at-home mom, and Esther’s father has just founded a research business that is financially struggling. With the little savings they had, Esther’s family have managed to raise $52, but this falls short of the funds required. “I am in a financial crisis and would appreciate anyone who contributes to Esther’s treatment,” Esther’s father says. For $615, we can make up the differential that lies between Esther’s family and the operation their baby needs. This funding will also cover the medications, lab tests, and five-day hospital stay that will accompany Esther’s surgery. Let’s help Esther’s family make it through their financial straits so that their one-month-old can grow into a healthy and strong little girl.

Diego lives alone with his mother in a one-room adobe house that is rented from family members. Diego's mother does not work, and is currently borrowing money from family members to pay for living expenses. She does not have enough money to buy much food for herself some days, and buying formula is just not something that she could ever afford, even if she sold all of her belongings. Diego's step father has left Diego's home and has not been back (we have verified that Diego and his mother are in a safe home situation). His mother is unable to breastfeed Diego. Now, Diego is losing weight extremely quickly and faces the life-threatening danger of getting diarrhea, fever, or an acute respiratory infection. Our community health worker had to give Diego empirical treatment before beginning formal treatment with out nutritionist to prevent a life-threatening situation. With $1016, Diego can receive proper nutrient supplementation. Although Diego's condition is severe, it is very treatable. He will receive formula which will give him the calories, nutrients, and protein he needs to grow and develop normally. His mother will receive motivational nutrition education so she knows what and when to feed her child to prevent future cases of malnutrition. Diego's mother shared: "I dream that my son will be a good student and be able to become a professor."