Chikaima is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife and their six children. Chikaima spends his days caring for his land and his goats, and in his free time he likes to attend his local church and worship with his family and friends. Since July 2017, Chikaima has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Chikaima's surgery. On June 5, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Chikaima was thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded, and he is looking forward to working again and no longer suffering with the symptoms associated with his condition. He says, "Thank you, Watsi."

Chan Thou is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She works at a money exchange stall in the market. She has been experiencing pain on her right hip for more than 12 years. The pain is so severe that she cannot walk on her own or sleep at night. Fortunately, Chan Thou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chan Thou of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 11, and Chan Thou needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I hope I can take care of my family and walk again."

Nakweatoo is a three-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her family of nine. Nakweatoo’s father is a small businessman selling foodstuffs such as sugar, cooking oil, and tea leaves at his shop in Nairobi. Nakweatoo’s mother is a small-scale farmer growing food for her family to eat. When Nakweatoo began to walk, her parents realized that her right leg bent outward. As she grew older, the bend in her leg grew greater. It is now difficult and painful for her to walk for any significant distance and she cannot play with the neighborhood children. Surgery has been recommended so that Nakweatoo might be able to grow and develop normally. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $838 to fund Nakweatoo's surgery. She is scheduled for treatment on October 27 at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. "I and Nakweatoo’s mother will be very happy and thankful to see Nakweatoo get treatment and grow well," Nakweatoo's father says. "And we promise to take her to school and have her reach her dreams in life when she grows up."

“I need your help to support my child's medical needs,” says Mekliet's mother, a woman from Ethiopia. She lost her husband in a car accident when she was six months pregnant with Mekliet. The two now live with Mekliet’s grandmother, and have no income source of their own. Mekliet, who is now five months old, was born with anorectal malformation. As a result, she experiences bowel dysfunction. For $1,500, we can sponsor a procedure on September 21 to repair her condition. This will cover the costs of her lab tests, medications, and one-day hospital stay.

Moses is a 42-year-old man who lives in Kenya with his wife and two children. He roasts green maize at the roadside. He was crossing the road this October when he was hit by a car. The accident fractured his left tibia and fibula (the two lower bones in the leg). He was brought to the hospital, where an ORIF treatment was ordered. This is a surgical method of realigning the bones and fixing them together with rods or plates so that they rejoin. If not treated, Moses may have malunion, nonunion, or infection. His treatment is scheduled for October 23. Moses hopes that he can "be well and go back to caring for my family." Watsi is requesting $998 to fund Moses's treatment.

Meet 13-year-old Kwan from Thailand. Kwan is an avid basketball player and he also enjoys going motorcycling with his friends. Kwan is currently in year five at school. Kwan recently fractured his forearm during a basketball game. Doctors at a local hospital advised Kwan that he has a broken bone in his left forearm, for which he requires surgery. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, has arranged for Kwan to undergo surgery on October 4 to reposition the bone into its normal alignment. Kwan's parents are day laborers and cannot afford their son's $1,500 surgery. Kwan shares with us, "I want to be a singer when I grow up!" Let's help him to achieve his dreams.

Ana is a five-year-old girl from Guatemala. Her mother used to work in a neighbor’s house, doing laundry, washing dishes, and preparing meals. However, she recently had to leave her job to take care of Ana. Ana has both cataracts and strabismus. Cataracts occur when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Strabismus is a condition that occurs when the eyes do not align in the same direction and appear crossed. In Ana’s case, these vision defects make it difficult to see, and they worsen over time. She has had symptoms since she was born, and often complains that she has trouble seeing. Ana needs surgery to fix these conditions. Without intervention, her vision could be irreparably damaged. Ana’s mother cannot afford to attend a consult with an eye specialist, or the expensive surgery Ana needs. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,500 to fund Ana’s eye surgery. Ana will receive further evaluation from an eye specialist and surgery to remove her cataracts and correct her strabismus. She will also receive post-op follow-up treatment and accompaniment and transportation throughout her treatment process. This surgery is safe, effective, and will positively impact Ana’s life for years to come. Ana’s mother says, “We are so grateful for this support. I hope everything will go well with the operation, and that next year Ana will go to school. She is very excited about this.”

“We have tried so many hospitals but have yet to get the help we need,” shares Namara’s mother. Nine-year-old Namara comes from a big family in Uganda—he has eight siblings. In his third-grade classes, he excels in mathematics and English, and hopes to one day become an engineer so that he can design and build houses. But it has been hard for Namara to focus on his studies lately. About four years ago, Namara’s mother noticed an unusual swelling in the young boy’s scrotum. After visiting a traditional healer and two hospitals without seeing any improvement, Namara’s mother visited our medical partner's care center, Virika Hospital. There, doctors diagnosed Namara's lump as a hydrocele, or an accumulation of excess fluid around the testicle. Namara's condition can be remedied with surgery, but his parents—who work as a farmer and a pastor—cannot afford to pay for it. For $185, though, we can sponsor Namara’s operation, scheduled for April 26. This funding will also cover the costs of his lab tests, medications, and three-week hospital stay. After his surgery, Namara looks forward to having the strength to return to his studies. Let’s make sure he doesn’t have to take any more time away from pursuing his dream of becoming an engineer.

Siengly is 23 years old. He has six siblings. He likes to stay at home and watch TV. He is learning to repair smart phones in his free time. Five days ago, Siengly developed chronic pain in his left groin and hip. It has become difficult for Siengly to walk. He went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. Siengly heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his neighbor. He traveled for two hours with his mother to reach CSC for treatment. When he arrived, surgeons at CSC informed him that he will need an arthroplasty to repair his hip joint. The arthroplasty will help restore the function of his joint. His surgery is scheduled for April 6. The treatment will cost $450, and Siengly needs help to raise this money. After his treatment, he will be able to walk more easily and will be able to live comfortably again.

Deborah is a quiet six-year-old girl from Tanzania who likes singing and studying. Her father owns a small restaurant, and her mother is a small-scale farmer with one acre of land that supplies food for the six family members to eat. When Deborah was five years old, her mother noticed that she was not swallowing food properly. She took Deborah to the hospital, where the doctor noted that her tonsils were infected and enlarged. The doctor recommended an operation—a tonsillectomy—to remove her tonsils. Tonsils are soft tissues located in the back of the throat, and they are part of the immune system. They help to defend the body from harmful bacteria and viruses, but they sometimes become infected and enlarged, causing a sore throat, tender neck lymph nodes, fever, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Currently, Deborah is unable to swallow properly while eating because her throat is sore. She also experiences difficulty breathing and is unable to fully participate in some activities. Deborah's family has raised $49 of the $633 needed to pay for the tonsillectomy, which is scheduled for April 13. Funding for Deborah also pays for four days of hospital care, blood tests, and medicine. After treatment, Deborah will be able to swallow properly, breathe normally, and participate in all activities fully. "When Deborah gets the treatment, I will be very happy," shares Deborah’s mother. "I would like her to study up to university and become a minister."

Phan is a 75-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married and has three sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren. In his free time, Phan likes to listen to music on the radio and watch TV. About two years ago, Phan developed a cataract in each of his eyes, causing him blurred vision, itching, and extreme sensitivity to light. He has difficulty seeing clearly, and he now worries that his eye condition will worsen. Phan learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), from his neighbor. He traveled for eight hours with his daughter to reach CSC for treatment. On April 3, Phan will undergo small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and intraocular lens implantation in each eye. After recovery, Phan will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund this procedure.

John is a father of one child who lives with his family in a rental house in rural Kenya. He is a lorry driver. In January, John sustained a fracture in his jaw. On the day of the injury, he was taken to a local hospital, where he learned that he needed surgery. However, John and his family could not afford the high cost of the surgery. If his fracture is not treated, John will be at risk of malunion or nonunion. In other words, his broken jaw may heal improperly, which will cause him continued pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $640 to fund a repair surgery. John's family will pay $52. He is scheduled to undergo the operation on March 10. After he receives the proper treatment, John will be able to live a healthy life again. He says, “I want to be well and continue providing for my family."