Sreng is a 69-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She is married and has one son, one daughter, and seven grandchildren. In her free time, Sreng likes to listen to monks pray at her local pagoda. About three months ago, Sreng developed a cataract in each of her eyes, causing her blurred vision, burning, and sensitivity to light. Her condition has made it difficult for her to see things clearly and be independent. After hearing about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a neighbor, Sreng decided to seek treatment. CSC is requesting $398 to fund Sreng's cataract removal surgery and implantation of intraocular lenses. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 26 and, once completed, will hopefully restore Sreng's vision to its former state, allowing her to see clearly and live comfortably again.

Pedro is a baby boy from Guatemala and is the second child in his family. His father works as a construction laborer, and his mother takes care of the family. His mother cannot produce breastmilk, so Pedro has fallen into the dangerous cycle of acute malnutrition. He is just four months old and is underweight and small for his age. This has dangerous implications for Pedro’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised, and Pedro is at risk of long-term damage. To stabilize his condition, Pedro was given a preliminary supply of formula. Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying Pedro with formula, he will receive the calories he needs to grow and thrive. Pedro’s mother will be taught how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Pedro’s immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. Pedro’s parents are very worried that their son is not growing, but they are unable to afford the help he needs. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund Pedro’s treatment. Pedro’s mother says, “I dream for my son to gain weight and grow. Maybe when he is older, he can become a teacher.”

Joshua is a one-year-old boy from Kenya. He is a smiley child who loves being with his mother, and who can be easily enticed with candy! Early on, Joshua's mother noticed that his legs were beginning to bow. She took him to the doctor. He was diagnosed with clubfoot, a condition in which the feet develop inward, making it difficult to walk. On May 3, Joshua will undergo clubfoot correctional surgery at AIC Cure International Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is asking for $1,224 to fund his surgery. Correcting Joshua's condition at a young age will improve his gait and allow him to grow alongside other children without impediment. Joshua's mother is very grateful for all the help she receives.

Chris is thin child with a bloated tummy. He is only eight months old and loves to play with his toys. His family lives in a small house made of bamboo. His father works as a fisherman and has difficulty providing for the family. Chris has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, Chris will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 23. Chris will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Chris's mother says, "I am hoping that Christopher will grow strong and recover from malnutrition."

Bora is a one-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has one sister. He likes to play with his sister and his toy cars. Bora was born with polydactyly of both hands and both feet. This means he has an extra finger on each hand and an extra toe on each foot. When Bora's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), the family traveled for one hour to seek treatment. On January 19, surgeons will remove the extra digits from Bora's hands and feet to allow him to feel comfortable. CSC is requesting $296 to fund Bora's polydactyly repair.

Five-year-old Malia lives with her parents and older siblings in Haiti. She is especially attached to her father, who works in construction. Malia was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. As a result, blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her feeling weak. To close the hole in her heart, Malia will need surgery. First, Malia will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 18. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Malia also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Malia's surgical care. "I want to thank everyone for being so kind and caring to my daughter and to our family," shares Malia's father.

Kiiza is a 77-year-old man from Uganda. Since retiring from his career as a high school teacher, he enjoys spending his time writing, editing, and translating books in his native language. For the past year, Kiiza has been experiencing pain and swelling from a right reducible inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of the intestines through a weak region in the abdominal muscles. Its presence makes coughing, bending at the waist, or lifting heavy objects very painful. Due to the pain, Kiiza was unable to sit upright. He had a backache and constant headaches. His right leg was partially paralyzed. "I have a lot of pain," shared Kiiza, "but I have faith that I will be well again." When Kiiza was diagnosed with the inguinal hernia last year, he had no means to pay for treatment. Then, he visited our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, and was advised to have an operation to repair the hernia. On November 30, Kiiza underwent a hernia repair surgery. During the operation, the doctor pushed the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sewed together the weakened muscle with a synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue will grow into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to pay for Kiiza's care. Funding for him also covers the costs of three nights in the hospital, pain medicine, antibiotics, and blood tests. After recovery, Kiiza hopes to continue translating books.

Srey Ing is 16 years old and in the tenth grade. She has two sisters and two brothers. She likes to watch movies on TV and draw pictures of flowers. In 2013, Srey Ing was in a motorbike accident that caused a fracture in her left jaw and the humerus of her left arm. She was treated in a hospital in Phnom Penh, but her symptoms did not improve. Srey Ing first visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), in 2015. She was diagnosed with temporomandibular joint ankylosis, a condition in which her jaw bone is fused by bony tissues. This condition made it difficult for her to open her mouth to eat and speak. At CSC, she underwent an osteotomy procedure and completed physiotherapy. Though her symptoms improved, she still had difficulty opening her mouth. On November 29, surgeons at CSC performed another osteotomy procedure to heal Srey Ing's fracture and alleviate her pain. This procedure will allow her to use her mouth easily again. Now, she needs help to pay her $411 medical bill.

James is an active four-year-old boy from the Philippines. He was born with a cleft lip and palate. James does well in school, but his condition causes him social difficulty and shyness. His parents feel unable to help their son. When he was two years old, they brought him to a doctor, where they learned surgery would cost more than they could afford. They decided to delay James's treatment. Fortunately, on November 3, 2016, doctors at our medical partner, International Care Ministries, performed a cleft lip and palate repair surgery. This operation should help James focus on his studies and will improve his quality of life. James's father is a laborer and a driver, and his mother works as a house helper. They cannot afford to pay for this $1,246 treatment, and they need our help. Both parents hope their son will enjoy his childhood. "In our current situation, it is so hard to save when you don't have something to eat," says James's father. "That's why we are so thankful that there were people who organized this camp to help my son and other children who had this condition. It was a blessing for us who are unfortunate...Thank you so much that you will give hope for my son."

"When they told me in the health outpost that my son wasn't growing well, I was filled with sadness and I was worried," shares the mother of 10-month-old Esvin. "It has been difficult because he always gets sick. I can't wait to see my son improve. I appreciate the support that you all will give so he can improve, can grow well, and go to school and one day be a professional. I want him to be a professor and teach classes." Esvin's mother has been saddened ever since the health workers at the government-run health outpost told her that her son was losing weight, and that his health was in danger. Our community health worker was able to get in contact with her and now Esvin has the opportunity to receive life-saving treatment for his malnutrition - giving him the chance he needs to receive a healthy and varied diet and overcome malnutrition. Esvin's parents can't afford toys for him, so he plays with things around the house or with his older sister, who is 12. She often takes care of him and talks with him, which always makes him smile. Esvin comes from a humble family with few resources-- they all live in a small one-room adobe house with a tin roof. His father works as a day laborer, but he does not get sufficient pay, and many days he doesn't get paid at all. His mother does not work because she spends her days taking care of Esvin and his sister, cooking, and cleaning the house. Growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation will help Esvin recover from malnutrition, which will put him on track to live a better life in the future. This treatment, which costs $512, will help him gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age. His immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake, preventing him from having any life-threatening situations with diarrhea, fevers, and cough. This will further increase his appetite and help him use the extra calories to develop mentally instead of those calories being wasted on getting over frequent illnesses. Additionally, Esvin's parents will receive support to give him the diet he needs to grow and develop healthily. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Esvin the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made him sick in the first place.

23-year-old Zin Oo lives in Thailand with his wife, one-year-old daughter, four younger siblings, and his parents. They recently moved from Burma to Thailand three years ago seeking better job opportunities. Zin Oo's parents are no longer able to bring in an income, so his entire family depends on Zin Oo and his wife as the only source of financial support. Earlier this year, Zin Oo was in an accident while driving his motorbike to drop off a friend. Pieces of roofing from an unfinished construction site blew onto Zin Oo and his motorbike, causing him to crash into a small channel in the side of the road. The crash broke a bone in Zin Oo's lower leg, so he went to the local hospital where doctors were able to surgically secure his bone back into place with rods. Zin Oo was able to pay for this operation with the little savings he had working on a potato farm, but now he needs another surgery to remove the pins that the surgeons had used-- surgery he cannot afford. Zin Oo used to be able to save some money, but after his accident and visits to the hospital all the money that he saved is gone. Zin Oo can no longer work because of the pain and discomfort in his leg, so his wife now has to work most of the time as a day laborer. This sole income is not enough for even just everyday expenses. “It has been hard for the family since Zin Oo got in an accident because he is the one that the family depends on”, shares Zin Oo's mother. Zin Oo feels like he has become a burden on his wife and his family due to his leg condition. Let's help him raise $1500 for his operation so that he can complete the full procedure to heal his broken leg. After treatment and recovery, he will be able to walk again free of pain. Zin Oo and his family are very grateful for his treatment, and he is excited to return to supporting his family. “I want to recover quickly, continue my work and then I can help my family," Zin Oo shares.

Khet is a 55-year-old woman who has lived in Burma for her entire life. She became a nurse in 1985 and is now ready to retire. Due to her career as a nurse, she traveled frequently and lived in many divisions and states. She owns a home and nine of her family members live there with her. As a nurse, Khet earns approximately $110 per month. Since her health began to deteriorate, her debt has risen and she has had to borrow money from her daughter-in-law’s uncle. The family has sold-off high valued items such as furniture and jewelry. Since 2013, Khet has had high blood pressure and suffered from chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, headaches, nausea, tingling and numbness in her arms and legs, and occasional blurred vision. She has consulted with many cardiologists and has visited several hospitals in Burma. After having angiogram and cardiac catheterization done, doctors advised her for angio PCI (Percutaneous coronary intervention), a nonsurgical technique that uses a balloon or a stent to open the narrow and obstructed arteries of the heart, but she is unable to afford the procedure. Left with no options, Khet only sought for medical care to alleviate her symptoms, not cure her condition. On June 24, 2016, Khet's condition became unstable. She was eventually referred to Watsi's medical partner, Burma Border Projects, for subsidized treatment. With the generosity of Watsi donors raising $1,500, doctors will be able to successfully treat Khet. As a nurse and patient now seeking treatment herself, she sympathizes with patients seeking care at Burmese hospitals where they cannot afford the treatment. She is very happy to learn about Burma Border Projects and the work they do. When she recovers, she would like to become a medical volunteer or try to open her own clinic near home. Khet feels relieved knowing she will undergo surgery. She is looking forward to continuing preparing for her Bible exam and teaching her grandchildren English.