Lawrence a 24-year-old young man who lives with, and cares for, his two siblings in Uganda. Lawrence's parents passed away years ago and he has played the parental role to his siblings since he was 17 years old. One year ago, Lawrence got severe burns while working as a porter for a charcoal maker. Lawrence did not heal properly and did not fully regain his range of motion after recovering. Though this has affected his work for the past four years, he can not afford the medical care he needs because his wages go towards the basic needs of himself and his siblings. For $351, Lawrence will undergo surgery to release his burn contractures so that he can once again have full range of motion and not be in constant pain. This operation will ensure that he can work even harder, and without pain, so he is able to continue supporting his family. Lawrence is looking forward to working harder, saving enough money to start a shop, and helping his siblings and others who are attending school. "Being the bread winner for my siblings, I have had difficulties in movements and working to raise school fees for them. I hope to be able to work easily and raise enough money to support our family," Lawrence said. Lawrence thanks everyone who is supporting his care, and would like to see these life-changing opportunities reach everyone in need.

Orn is a 62-year-old farmer living in Cambodia. She is married with two sons and grandchildren. When she isn't farming, Orn enjoys drawing pictures, looking after her home, and caring for her grandchildren. On October 29th, 2015, Orn fell down from her house, which-- like many Cambodian homes-- is elevated on stilts to protect from flooding in rainy season. During the fall, she fractured her left femur, or thigh bone, and can no longer walk. Orn traveled three hours with her son to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) and seek treatment. CSC can help her through open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. After the ORIF procedure, the fracture will heal properly, and Orn will be able to walk again. Treatment will cost $405 in total, which includes surgical and medical fees, six post-surgical follow-ups, and five days at a physical therapy center. "I hope after surgery I can walk normally again and not be in pain. When I am healed, I will go home and look after my grandchildren," said Orn.

Channou is an 18-year-old from Cambodia who is currently in grade 12. He has three brothers and one sister, and enjoys helping his mom at home with work and reading his school books. He traveled three hours with his mom to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Channou was in a moto accident on March 28th, 2016. The accident resulted in a fracture of his left femur, which causes him pain and prevents him from walking. After the accident Channou went to a hospital for treatment but they required a $1,500 payment to operate, which his family does not have. The family heard about CSC from a nephew's friend and decided to seek treatment there. Channou requires open reduction internal fixation surgery-- a procedure that will reset his bones and fix them in place with a dynamic hip screw. For a cost of $405, this surgery will allow his fracture to heal properly. "I hope after surgery I can walk normally again and without pain," says Channou. "I will go home and return to school when I am healed."

Five-month-old Edwin is an only child who lives with his parents in a single-roomed rental house in Kenya. He has beautiful bright eyes. Edwin was born with spina bifida, a birth defect in which several vertebrae in the lower back do not close properly, leaving his spinal canal exposed. The spinal cord and its surrounding membranes protrude through the opening in the backbone, forming a cystic mass on his lower back. If not treated, Edwin is at a risk of infection, malformation of the spinal cord, and loss of muscle function on his lower limbs. Surgery was recommended to close the open defect on Edwin’s spine, but his parents are unable to afford the cost of the treatment. Edwin’s father is a casual construction site worker since he lost his job two years ago, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Since last December, when they were advised that Edwin would require surgery, they have managed to raise only $104. For $805, surgeons will place Edwin’s spinal cord and membranes back inside the spinal canal and close the opening on his back. Funding for Edwin also covers the costs of a five-day hospital stay, three days of physical therapy, imaging, lab work, and medicine. Edwin's parents are contributing the $104 they have saved to help cover additional costs associated with his care. Spina bifida closure surgery will help prevent infection, development of tethered cord, and paralysis of Edwin's legs. "Having Edwin was the best gift we could receive, as he was born near Christmas," shares Edwin's mother. "I had tried to have a child for some years, and he came to us as a miracle for which we are grateful. We are hoping that he will get treated."

Say hello to Tumaini, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. “He is a serious little boy, but he does have a beautiful smile when he decides to smile,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “While at home, he is quick to pick up a stick and start chasing the calves when he sees them. ” Tumaini was diagnosed with enlarged adenoids. Adenoids are lymphatic tissue in the back of the throat. “He has trouble breathing through his nose,” explains AMHF. “The condition got worse when he was four months old. It was difficult for him to breastfeed and he can’t close his mouth when sleeping.” “His parents are small scale farmers. They earn enough to cover the cost of their basic needs. Coming up with enough funds for their son’s operation has been a challenge,” shares AMHF. For $488, Tumaini will receive an adenoidectomy or removal of the adenoids. “The surgery will help Tumaini breathe normally through his nose and he will peacefully sleep at night.” “I pray that my son will get well and have the ability to breathe properly,” says Tumaini’s mother.

Sarah, a 10-year-old student in Kenya, was out with her mother and two siblings over the holidays and "were involved in a road traffic accident in which two people died," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares. Immediately after the accident, Sarah and her family were taken to the hospital by good samaritans, and "are lucky to be alive," AMHF says. Sarah's right hand was fractured, and "an X-ray done confirmed the fracture and the surgeon ordered an ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) to be done." Right now, "Sarah is experiencing pain and inability to use the hand." Her mother shares that Sarah "was supposed to report back to school after the holidays but now she can't" because of her injury. Being the oldest of three children, her family has high hopes for Sarah's education. Sarah's father is a casual laborer at the local open air market, and her mother cares for their children. AMHF adds that the family "lives on very little; they live from hand to mouth" and are not in a position to meet the cost of this surgery. $1,125 covers the cost of the treatment that Sarah needs to be able to return to school with a healthy hand. Funds cover the cost of surgery supplies, meals, medicines, and post-operative care. During the procedure, doctors will go in and realign the broken bones and then fix them in place to ensure they heal properly. AMHF shares that Sarah's father was immensely distressed after the accident. "Please help my girl, the others are also here in the ward and I don’t know what to do." Despite the injuries, he still looks towards an optimistic future. "I pray that Watsi will help my daughter so that her hand can be well again to enable her continue with her studies. She is the hope of our family.”