Sarin is a 53-year-old single woman who lives in Phnom Penh province and is the primary caregiver for her elderly parents. She has five living siblings (sadly, two of her siblings died young) who help to support her and her parents. Most of her day is taken up with caring for her parents, cooking, and cleaning. In the evenings, Sarin likes to practice dhamma - a form of Buddhist meditation - as well as listen to the village monks pray on the local radio station. For many years, Sarin had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. If untreated, a cholesteatoma can cause erosion of the three small bones located in the middle ear, resulting in nerve deterioration, imbalance, vertigo, and deafness. It can also affect and erode, through the enzymes it produces, the thin bone structure that isolates the top of the ear from the brain, risking further infection with serious complications. Sarin's cholesteatoma has caused her many problems. She suffers ear discharge, headaches, and a gradual loss of hearing. It is difficult for her to communicate with her family and other villagers, and she is embarrassed that she cannot hear well. She visited several hospitals seeking care but could not afford to pay for surgery. One of the hospitals suggested she visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Sarin traveled to CSC and, after examination, learned that she will be able to receive treatment. On October 17, the ENT surgeons at CSC will remove the cholesteatoma by performing a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. CSC is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sarin said: "I hopeful that this operation will improve my hearing and prevent a brain infection."

Thein resides with his wife and children. He had worked at a gardening job in a park in Bangkok but due to his health condition, he is now unemployed. Thein's wife collects bottles and other recyclable items from the trash and sells them to support the family. During his free time, Thein enjoys singing alone. In the middle of 2021, Thein noticed a black spot on the sole of his right foot. He felt no pain at the time, and the size of the spot remained constant. But in 2022, the black spot began to grow and became painful. Unfortunately, Thein was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on the sole of the right foot. Currently, Thein feels pain throughout his foot, experiences ulcer discharge when walking, and struggles to sleep well due to the pain. An amputation may be necessary. Because of his financial constraints, Thein sought treatment through Burma Children Medical Fund, Watsi's medical partner, for financial aid to access the required surgery. The doctor scheduled a CT scan of Thein's foot and subsequent surgery on 21 August 2023. Thein expressed his gratitude for help, saying: "When I first learned about the diagnosis, my foremost concern was the treatment cost. I am very thankful to all the generous donors for the opportunity to receive treatment."

Elisante is a 16-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives in Arusha with his mother and father. He has five siblings. Elisante loves playing football and enjoys watching matches on television. In 2020, Elisante was playing football and hit his leg. He experienced pain in his leg, swelling, and discomfort walking. After about a month, his leg began to feel better and he continued his usual activities. However, Elisante identifies this injury as the start of various issues with his legs. Recently, Elisante was diagnosed with windswept deformity. His legs bow both inward and outward, causing a windswept appearance. As a result, he experiences difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Elisante. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 21st. Treatment will hopefully restore Elisante's mobility, allow him to participate in his usual activities, and decrease his risk of future complications. Ephraim says: “I can no longer play football much. Walking has become challenging and I can no longer wear shorts due to how my legs are bent. I would be grateful if I had this surgery.”

Irene is a 43-year-old mother dedicated and resilient mother from Philippines who diligently cares for her family, despite facing the challenges of stomach pain and financial constraints. Her dedication is evident as she strives to provide for her five children by taking on various chores. Her husband works as a room attendant and is the sole provider of the family. The burden of her health issues not only affects her but also weighs heavily on the concerns of her entire family. Five years ago, Irene began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe stomach and back pain. When she was examined, the attending physician recommended an open cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Irene is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on December 8th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP and Irene need your help raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Irene's surgery and care. Irene shared, "I am hoping to be one of the beneficiaries for this surgery. This would be an immense blessing not just for me but also for my family who also suffers greatly from my illness. I would never be able to afford an expensive surgery and so I am very grateful to everyone who will make this possible for me."

Paulo is a 17-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives with his parents and his four siblings. His parents are farmers who grow food for their family and sell the excess to support their family. Due to limited funds, Paulo and his siblings had to stop attending school. Paulo experiences difficulty with his mobility. When Paulo was enrolled in school, he was often unable to walk the distance to class. Paulo's parents were inspired to seek treatment for Paulo after attending an outreach seminar held by our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Doctors at AMH's care center determined that Paulo's limited mobility is due to the shape of his legs, and Paulo was diagnosed with genu varus. Genu varus is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Fortunately, AMH can help. AMH is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Paulo's legs. Paulo's procedure is scheduled to take place on June 6th, and will hopefully restore Paulo's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and decrease his risk of future complications. Paulo says, "I hope that one day I will be able to walk without feeling any discomfort."

Sitheny is a 40-year-old tailor from Cambodia. She and her husband have one daughter and two sons. Their daughter is eighteen and studies in grade 11, their older son is fourteen and studies in grade 7, and their youngest son does not attend school yet. He stays home with Sitheny, who works from home with her sewing machine to make clothes for local stores. Sitheny's husband works in construction. In her free time, Sitheny likes to spend time with and cook for her family. In October 2021, Sitheny fell off a motorbike, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was unable to receive treatment at the time. She has been taking medication for the pain, but it is challenging for her to walk, and she has chronic pain in her knee. When a relative told her about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she was able to visit the care center for review. Sitheny has a malunion in her left femur, which occurs when a broken bone heals in an abnormal position. On July 18th, she will undergo fracture repair surgery to correct the alignment of her fractured bone, allowing her to walk again without pain and relieving the stress on her kneecap. CSC is requesting $483 to fund this surgery, and Sitheny contributed $100 to her care. Sitheny shared: "I am in pain and feel helpless because I cannot do many things. I hope to walk well again so I can take care of my family."

Bunhorm, who is 16 years old, lives with his parents and younger sister in Prey Veng province in Cambodia. His parents are rice farmers, while his older brother works in Phnom Penh City. Bunhorm loves team sports and aspires to be a professional volleyball player. Unfortunately, two weeks ago, Bunhorm fell during a volleyball game and suffered a fracture to his right lower arm (distal radius). His parents took him to a traditional Khmer healer, but his arm has remained swollen. He cannot use his hand and is in great pain. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help with a noninvasive treatment technique called manipulation under anesthesia. While under general anesthesia, Bunhorm's muscles will relax, permitting the manipulation and correction of his fracture by moving his bones back into alignment. The procedure is scheduled for April 28th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, and Bunhorm and his family need your help funding the $521 procedure. Bunhorm's mother shared: "We hope his arm will be straight, and he can go back to school and play volleyball again."

Ramal is a 5-month-old baby from Kenya and the only child in his family. His parents separated before he was born. Ramal lives with his mother and great-grandparents. Ramal’s great-grandmother works jobs on people’s farms to earn a living, while his mother does laundry and also works casual jobs to provide for the family. Ramal’s family does not have NHIF coverage and needs assistance raising the required amount for Ramal’s hospital bills. Ramal was born two months early at seven months of pregnancy and was admitted to the nursery for two months. While in the nursery, the doctors noticed his head increasing in size, and upon close examination, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. When he was discharged, the doctors referred the family to another hospital in their home county for treatment. His mother gathered some funds and took him to the hospital, where he was booked for clinics and waited for surgery. This continued for a few months until a doctor referred them to our medical partner’s care center for treatment. Once arrived, an urgent shunt insertion surgery was scheduled. Ramal has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result, Ramal has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Ramal will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Ramal to treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 15th and will drain the excess fluid from Ramal’s brain, thus reducing intracranial pressure and greatly improving his quality of life. With proper treatment, Ramal will develop into a strong, healthy young boy as he grows. Ramal’s mother said, “This condition is something that we have never seen before. This made us worried for Ramal’s health.”

Meet Pati, a 16-year-old student from Burma. Pati helps his family on the farm and loves to listen to music in his free time. Pati was born with club foot in his left foot that impacts his mobility. Doctors want Pati to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will help doctors with diagnosis and formulating an appropriate treatment plan. Pati is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on April 11th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $469 to cover the cost of Pati's CT scan and care. Sharing about the challenges he has experienced, Pati said: "I always try to encourage myself, though. I feel happy to receive help from you. After I get treated, I want to study and work in Thailand. In the future, I dream about becoming a businessman.”

Meet Ku, a 21-year-old from Thailand. He lives with his parents, four younger brothers, and one younger sister. Two of his brothers are in school, while his parents and other siblings practice subsistence farming. Ku works as a day laborer, providing the sole income for his household. In his free time, Ku enjoys gardening, growing vegetables, and looking after his family's two cows. In March, Ku was in a driving accident that caused his motorcycle to fall onto his left leg, fracturing his left thigh. He was brought to a clinic before being referred to the local hospital. After an x-ray confirmed his diagnosis, he was referred to our medical partner's hospital for further treatment. Currently, Ku is experiencing a lot of pain and cannot move or lift his left leg, sit up, or leave the hospital bed. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Ku will undergo surgery on March 13th to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. This procedure will help him walk again and live pain-free. He will also be able to go back to work and will no longer require a caregiver. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Ku's surgery. Ku shared, "I feel so upset. I never thought I would become like this [bed-bound]. I want to get surgery soon so that I can recover and go back to work. If I'm not working, my family could have a problem. I had to borrow money from my friend [to pay for basic expenses while getting treatment]. I want to go back to work and pay back my debt."

Mwandu is a 5-year-old girl — the first born and the only child in her family. She lives with her parents in a small town called Msevya in the northwestern side of Tanzania. Her parents are subsistence farmers who rely on agriculture for food and money. Inflation has negatively affected their source of livelihood. As small-scale farmers, managing their crops has been more costly than purchasing crops from the market. One day when Mwandu was young, she was playing inside the house while her parents were working on the farm. Her mother had set a pot on the stove to prepare tea. Mwandu walked close to the stove and pulled the pot with her bare hands. Hot tea spilled on her arm and the right side of her body. She got burnt on her arm and armpit. Now burn contractures have developed, tightening the skin around her burn, limiting her arm extension and involvement in day-to-day activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mwandu receive treatment. On March 3rd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her increase extension of her right arm and allow her fully enjoy her childhood and school activities. Now, she needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Mwandu’s father says, “I hope she gets better because she will be starting school soon.”