Ranny is a woman from Cambodia. She has been married for eight years. She likes to cook, watch TV, and spend time at home. For the past three years, Ranny has had back pain. One of the nerves on her spine is being compressed due to herniation of one of the discs. This causes immense pain. She is unable to walk and move, and thus is unable to work and support her family. Ranny needs to undergo a laminectomy and discectomy procedure to relieve the pressure and pain in her back. Surgery is scheduled for December 4 and will cost $930.

Oudom is a grocer from Cambodia. He has one daughter and one son. He likes to listen to music and play football. Fourteen years ago, Oudom had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Oudom experiences pain, tinnitus and ear discharge. It is difficult for him to hear well. Oudom traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 6, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. He says, "I hope my hearing improves after the operation."

Ka Buh is a 13-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and older brother. His family members are farmers. On May 28, Ka Buh slipped, and stones fell onto his left leg and chest. The stone on his leg was very heavy, and he sustained a fracture. Currently, he is in a lot of pain and he is unable to walk or sit properly. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Ka Buh will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for June 29 and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Ka Buh will be able to walk again.

Joshua is a farmer from Kenya. He is married and has one child. Last month, Joshua slipped in the rain. This caused a fractured tibia and fibula and an ankle dislocation He is not able to walk or work. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 10, Joshua will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure. “I am worried because my family fully depends on me. I hope Watsi will help me, and hope my leg will be well soon so that I can take care of my family,” says Joshua.

Paulo is a farmer from Tanzania. He lives with his parents and siblings. His parents are farmers, cultivating maize and groundnuts. Paulo has keloid growths on his neck, back, and right hand. They cause him discomfort and pain. Doctors plan to surgically remove the keloids and follow up with steroid injections to ensure that they do not return. Paulo traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons will remove the keloids. Now, Paulo needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. “I would like to continue with my farming and one day get married,” Paulo says.

44-year-old Paw is originally from Burma, but has been living in a refugee camp in Thailand for the past 20 years. She lives there with her husband and their two young daughters. While Paw’s husband sometimes finds miscellaneous work as a day laborer outside the camp, neither of them has a steady job. They primarily rely on the aid given out in the refugee camp. At the beginning of this year, Paw began experiencing heart palpitations on a regular basis. These palpitations frighten her and leave her extremely fatigued. Sometimes, she is so exhausted from the palpitations that she can only walk short distances at a time. The refugee camp’s health center referred Paw to Mae Sot Hospital, where she was diagnosed with atrial septal defect. This means that there is a hole in the wall that divides the upper chambers of her heart. As a result, oxygen-poor blood mixes with oxygen-rich blood, and her brain, organs, and other body parts receive an inadequate oxygen supply. Paw needs surgery to close this hole in her heart. However, without a reliable income, she and her husband cannot pay for the procedure. But we can help. By raising $1,500, we can pay for Paw’s operation on December 10, as well as her lab tests, four-day hospital stay, and travel to Chiang Mai for doctors’ visits. Paw’s family was very distressed when she received her diagnosis. But by securing her surgery, we can help them take steps towards their hope of someday moving out of the camp. “I want my children to have a better future in the U.S.,” shares Paw.

“I want to help other people when I grow up,” says Malyne, a seven-year-old girl from Kenya. Malyne had a happy childhood until August of this year, when she began complaining of headaches. Her parents gave her over-the-counter painkillers, but these did not help much. After several hospital visits failed to resolve the issue, Malyne also began to develop what seemed like symptoms of a mental problem: she would talk to herself and wander for long distances if not looked after. Her right limbs became numb, and her eyesight dwindled. Frightened, Malyne’s parents obtained CT and MRI scans for Malyne. These tests revealed that Malyne has a brain tumor. She urgently needs a surgical procedure known as craniotomy, in which the surgeon will temporarily open her skull to remove the tumor. If not treated, Malyne is at risk of undergoing brain damage, permanent vision loss, or death. Though this operation is essential for Malyne, her parents cannot afford it. Malyne’s mother sells groceries while her father works in road construction. Nearly all of their combined income goes towards the daily needs of their three children, and so they are only able to contribute $51 towards their daughter’s surgery. We need your help to raise an additional $1,500 for Malyne’s operation on December 6, as well as her lab tests and medications. Let’s make sure Malyne has the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong—so she can one day help others, as she hopes to.

Sarah is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, brothers, and sisters in a rural area in the mountains of central Haiti. Her parents are both farmers. Sarah has graduated kindergarten but is not attending first grade this year because of her illness. Sarah has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This diagnosis involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a blockage of one of the valves. Sarah will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On November 10, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart with a patch and remove the muscular blockage in her valve. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Sarah's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Sarah's family overseas. Her aunt says, "Our family is very excited for Sarah's surgery so that she can be healthy and safe, and can go to school."

José is a 79-year-old elderly man who lives with his wife in Guatemala's rural highlands. He and his wife have six children, but only one daughter still lives with them. José used to work as a day laborer, planting and cultivating crops in the local countryside, until an accident that caused him to lose one of his legs rendered him unable to work. Although José's wife began to work in the local market immediately following the accident, the couple still does not have the resources to pay for a prosthetic leg. On June 9, José will receive a specially molded leg fit just for him. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,166 to fund the prosthetic leg, hospital stay, and transportation to fitting and molding sessions. With a prosthetic, José hopes that he will be able to find ways to support his family again. He states, “I hope that with this I will be able to walk well and that I can then help my wife.”

Dorcas is a four-year-old girl from Kenya. Dorcas was born with clubfoot, a condition in which the feet are rotated inwards at the ankle. As a result, Dorcas’s feet knock each other when she tries to walk and she experiences severe pain due to her deformity. Seeking treatment through our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Dorcas is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her clubfoot on July 3. Her family is requesting $1,224 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After her recovery, Dorcas will be able to walk, stand, and play free of pain. “My life’s dream is to see all of my children one day become independent. I cannot afford the amount to cater for my daughter’s surgery and your help will be of great importance to her. God bless you," her father says.

Nim is a 67-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married with three sons, two daughters, and eleven grandchildren. She enjoys going to the pagoda to listen to the monks pray and join ceremonies. Two years ago, Nim developed cataracts in both eyes, causing her blurred vision. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any type of work, or go anywhere. On May 1, surgeons will perform small incision cataract surgery and insert an intraocular lens in each eye. After the procedure, Nim will be able to see clearly again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, requests $292 to cover Nim's medical care.

Mithona is an eight-year-old from Cambodia who is in the second grade. In his free time, Mithona enjoys reading, watching TV, and playing football. In May, Mithona fell and dislocated his left elbow. His mother initially took him to a traditional Khmer healer for treatment, however Mithona's symptoms never improved. He continued to experience limited mobility and pain. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center, is requesting $390 to fund an open reduction procedure to heal Mithona's elbow. The surgery is scheduled to take place on June 21 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Mithona to use his arm easily and comfortably again.