Meet Kadango, a 60-year-old man who lives in Malawi and works as a farmer. For the past two months, Kadango has been experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate. In this condition, the prostate becomes abnormally big (though not cancerous) and puts pressure on the urethra, the channel that moves urine out of the patient’s bladder. As a result, Kadango has difficulty urinating, and has been using a catheter. Unfortunately, though, the catheter is prone to leaking and discomfort, leaving him with pain and inconvenience. An operation known as a prostate resection would help him. In this procedure, doctors remove parts of his enlarged prostate to reduce it to a healthier size. Kandango cannot afford this surgery on the salary he earns as a farmer. $742 covers the cost of the operation, as well as Kandango’s medications, travel, and stay at the hospital. Kadango is expected to make a complete recovery after the operation. He is excited to receive his surgery and be able to resume his life catheter-free.

Meet 70-year-old Tim from Cambodia. "Tim is married with three sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren," says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). "She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray, planting crops around her home, and caring for her grandchildren. She traveled three hours with her daughter to reach CSC." Tim has glaucoma and a cataract in each eye. Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, while cataracts lead to clouding of the eye lens. Glaucoma and cataracts worsen with time, resulting in diminished vision. "She is partially blind, experiences tearing, pain, burning, and is afraid of the sunshine," explains CSC. "She can not see everything clearly, recognize faces, do work well, or go anywhere outside by herself." For $300, Tim will receive trabeculectomy surgery. The surgery "will release the pressure in her eye caused by glaucoma. Her vision will improve and her pain will be relieved," continues CSC. Tim's daughter remains hopeful that her mother's pain will soon come to an end. She shares,"I hope my mother can see everything clearly again and not be in pain anymore, and she can easily do any work and walk anywhere by herself." Tim is eager to heal properly and return to daily life. She says, "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly as normal again. I would like to do any work well and easily go anywhere outside by myself, too."

Ashley is a three-year-old girl who lives with her parents and three siblings in the central part of Haiti. "She smiles frequently and is curious about what is happening around her," writes a staff member of Haiti Cardiac Alliance, a Watsi medical partner. Ashley has a condition called patent ductus arteriosus, a hole in the heart that is normally present in a fetus but closes a few days after birth. Ashley's hole did not close on its own, and needs to be sewn shut with surgery. At present, blood flows through this hole before it can reach the lungs, depriving her body of oxygen and causing fatigue. For $1500, we can fund this little girl's surgery, allowing her to live a more active life and enjoy her childhood. Let's work together to keep Ashley smiling!

"I want to be a teacher," eight-year-old Felista said, "but the headaches make it hard for me to concentrate in school." The headaches Felista is experiencing are caused by a tumor in her skull that is putting pressure on her brain. Felista's family, who live in Kenya, are unable to pay for the necessary surgery that will remove the brain tumor. Felista's mother is a farm worker and her father is unemployed, and despite their best efforts, they cannot afford the surgery on their own. For $1,500, we can fund Felista's craniotomy, and she will likely no longer experience the headaches she has now. Felista dreams of a day when she will no longer experience these headaches and can begin working towards becoming a teacher. Let's get Felista the funding she and her family needs!

Cancer often goes undiagnosed in Guatemala because people simply don't have the resources to receive treatment. We don't want that to be Juana's story. Juana recently took part in a screening program run by our Guatemalan medical partner and was diagnosed with a precancerous cervical lesion. Juana is nervous, because the cost of the procedure to remove the lesion is much more than she can afford. With just $220, Juana will be able receive surgery to have the lesion removed. Let's help Juana get over the financial barrier of preventing full-blown cancer so she can live a healthy life!

Say hello to Shameem, a sweet three-year-old from Kenya! She has a six-year-old sister who just started school. Her mother is a housewife and her father works as a mechanic. Recently, a candle in their home fell and set the house ablaze. Shameem was left with burn scars on her face and arm. The scars are very noticeable and if Shameem does not seek treatment she is likely to have low self-esteem as she grows up. Shameem’s parents have successfully raised $375 towards a surgery that will help reduce the scarring, but they still need $1500 more. Her mother says, “I want my daughter to get well so that she can have a normal life and not be scared for life.” Let's help Shameem so she can grow up with good health and confidence!