Marife is a loving wife and mother from the Philippines. She previously worked as a janitor at Makati Medical Center but had to quit to give more time to her daughter, who has difficulty breathing with asthma. Marife occasionally does freelance work, but their family mostly depends on the income her husband makes as a janitor. Marife and her family reside in a Housing Relocation Site provided by the National Housing Authority. One year ago, Marife began to experience troubling symptoms, including vomiting and extreme abdominal pain. She described it as even worse pain than when she gave birth. For a year, she tried various medications and home remedies to help ease the pain, but to no avail. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Marife was diagnosed with cholelithiasis, or gallstones. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Marife is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) on October 21st. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Marife's surgery and care. Marife says, "This surgery will be a great help for me and my family as it will regain my confidence. I have been through depression since I first felt my symptoms. This illness sacrificed my supervision and parenting time with my daughter. I had come to the point of being hopeless but thanks to this hospital and the donors I will fight and continue my life. I hope they can help more people like me who need an operation. Thank you very much."

Mai is a 59-year-old rice farmer from Kompong Thom province who needs eye surgery. He is married and has one daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren. He and his wife are rice farmers, as are all of his children. Two years ago, Mai developed a pterygium in his right eye, which causes him to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, which is the mucous layer that lubricates the eye. When the conjunctiva is exposed to too much sun over time - as happened with Mai, who spent most of his working life outside - cells grow abnormally over the pupil of the eye, causing vision impairment. Mai needs surgery to remove the abnormal cells, which will be replaced by a conjunctival graft. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is here to help. On September 1st, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will operate on Mai, restoring his vision. The total cost of this procedure - including the medications, supplies and two days of inpatient care - is $225, and Mai needs your help to raise this money. Mai said: "I hope after surgery the irritation and red eye will go away. I want to go back to growing rice and see better."

Amina is a 48-year-old woman who works as a nanny. She accounts for only one family relative, a cousin. The rest of her family, including her grandparents and her mother, who was also an only child, have unfortunately passed away. Amina became really tearful when she started sharing her story. From a young age, her menses have been heavy and painful. This condition has intensified over the past year. She explained that she has struggled with her condition for so long to the extent of giving up on getting any treatment. Amina has been experiencing severe bleeding, lower abdominal pains, dizziness and headache. She has also been treated for anemia and depression. She has been diagnosed with multiple fibroids and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus to finally help her heal. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) is requesting $755 to fund Amina's surgery scheduled for July 26th. Once recovered, Amina will be able to live her lifer free of pain. “I am so desperate and alone. I kindly plead for support so that at least my health can be back to normal, and I can resume my job and support myself,” said Amina.

Dennis is a hardworking tricycle driver from the Philippines. He lives with his wife, Marecar, and their three-year-old child. Despite his hard work and dedication, Dennis's income is just enough for his family's basic needs but not for his needed surgical treatment. In October 2022, Dennis began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and bleeding in a sensitive area. He sought medical consultation and was advised to undergo a colonoscopy. He was prescribed medicines to relieve the pain, but unfortunately, it has continued. He was then forced to have another medical checkup and was diagnosed with bleeding internal hemorrhoids, which gives him discomfort and pain, and hinders him from working to support his family. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Dennis receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on June 20th at WSFP's care center. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of his treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Dennis's procedure and care. Dennis shared, "I am very thankful to Watsi, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, and those helping us get this surgery done. It is such a big help for me and my family."

Collings, who is four years old, is the only child of his single mother. Collings lives with his grandmother in Malawi while his mother works as a farmer. Collings' grandmother is also a farmer. When Collings was about a year old, his mother noticed swelling in his left inguinal region. Collings was brought to the nearest clinic in Malawi. From there, they were referred to Nkhotakota district hospital for additional care. A diagnosis of a hernia was made and surgery was recommended. Now Collings is four and since his diagnosis, he has remained untreated. The episodes of swelling have worsened, causing Collings a lot of pain. His grandmother has had to suspend her work as a farmer as she tries to get Collings the care he needs. On May 2nd, Collings will undergo hernia repair surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $575 to fund Collings' treatment. His grandmother hopes that the operation will help Collings get better. Collings' grandmother happily said: “I can’t wait to see Collings well again; thank you, Sponsors, for coming in with support.”

23-year-old Josephine and her two siblings live with their mother in Kenya and participate in small-scale farming for home consumption. Josephine has no source of income but is hoping to pursue a course in hairdressing. On April 16th, 2022, while planting corn on their farm, Josephine slipped and plunged into a hole she hadn't seen. She sustained a fracture in her right leg and surgery was performed to stabilize the bone and help the fracture heal. Two months after the surgery, Josephine started noticing pus accumulating in the affected area. She returned to the hospital and was treated, but her condition did not improve. In October 2022, doctors noted that the hardware that had been placed in Josephine's leg to stabilize the bone had actually caused an infection. Despite the removal of the hardware, the infection has persisted. Josephine has a large mid-diaphyseal sequestrum. This means that her femur bone is infected. As a result, she is unable to use her right leg to walk. If left untreated, the infection can spread, and potentially result in an amputation. With the assistance of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Josephine has been scheduled for a Right Femur Sequestrectomy and Exfix to clear the infection and strengthen the bone, allowing it to heal completely. The surgery, which will take place at AIC Kijabe Hospital on April 17th, will enable Josephine to walk easily again so that she can farm and pursue the course in hairdressing. She and her family need your help to raise the $1,500 to fund her treatment. Josephine says, “I want to go to college and do a course in hairdressing. I am unable to pursue this dream since I have a broken bone that needs to be attended to.”

20-year old-Evans, who recently finished school and began working as a motorbike rider, lives in Kenya with his parents and two younger siblings, who are still in school. Evans was riding his motorbike on March 4th, 2023, when he was hit from the side by another vehicle. He was not able to stand on his own or to bear weight on his left leg following the incident. In addition, he lost a significant amount of skin on his leg and foot. Bleeding and in severe pain, Evans was rushed to a facility in Kiambu town where an X-ray was performed. The results revealed a fractured bone that required immediate attention. While Evans' wounds were debrided and irrigated, he was told that he is in need of skin grafting and additional debridement to prevent infection. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Evans receive treatment. On March 17th, surgeons at AIC Kijabe Hospital will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help prevent infection and save his leg. Now Evans needs your help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Evans says: “I had just started this boda-boda job to help my parents. Unfortunately, I got into an accident that made me unable to walk. I need this surgery to heal this wound.”

Nang is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and son in a camp for people who are internally displaced due to conflict in her country. Her husband is a day laborer, while she looks after their son at home. A few years ago, Nang accidentally cut off her left index and middle finger while chopping wood. Unable to afford a hospital or clinic, she wrapped her injury in a cloth and tried to treat herself with traditional medicine. Over time, the wound became infected, and the infection spread up her hand. She later had her arm amputated below her left elbow at the IDP camp clinic. However, the wound never healed fully and became re-infected. Doctors want Nang to undergo an MRI, a scan which will hopefully help doctors fully diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $814 to cover the cost of Nang's MRI and care, scheduled for March 6th. She said, “I feel sad about my condition. I am looking forward to getting treatment or surgery at the Hospital. I would like to thank the organization BCMF as I am happy to have the opportunity to receive treatment for my wound."

Dara is a friendly 3-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is an only child and lives with his parents in Preah Veng Province. His father is a construction worker, and his mother is a homemaker. He likes to play with friends in the village and loves his mother's homemade soups. Dara was born with syndactyly of his right hand. This means that several of his fingers are joined by skin, soft tissue, and underlying bones. It is difficult for him to use his hand to grasp objects or hold a glass. On February 21st, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused fingers. Our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) is requesting $444 to fund this procedure. The surgery will allow usage of his hand and will also prevent worsening finger deformities. His family hopes that, after surgery, he will have more finger movement.

Farhio is a 47-year-old mother and widow from Somalia. She lost her husband two years ago. She is now the sole breadwinner to her family of four children, aged between 8 and 16. Farhio works as a street vendor selling tea by the roadside. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago and underwent chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiation. She thought that the cancer had subsided, but, unfortunately, it returned. She went to a hospital in her home country of Somalia where doctors recommended she undergo surgery. She preferred to come to Kijabe Hospital after relatives who live in Nairobi referred her there. Farhio has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Farhio. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 3rd. After treatment, Farhio will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Farhio says, “I thought this disease had gone. Sadly, it came back. I need to treat it before it spreads.”

Mark is a 2-year-old boy, His mother works as a teacher, while the father owns a small business of selling thrift shoes around town. However, ever since the lock down period during the COVID-19 pandemic, their business has been slow, thus, reducing their household income. The past year has been the most difficult for them, and they are unable to raise funds to seek medical treatment for their son. Last year, while playing with his friends, Mark accidentally pulled on a flask of hot water resulting in the water spilling and burning most parts of his arms and stomach. Following the accident, his mother applied honey and a raw egg on the wound as first aid and then rushed him to the hospital. Mark was given ointments to help the wound heal, but his mother was led to believe that applying mashed cassava mixed with honey would help Mark’s wound heal faster and better compared to the medicine he was given at the hospital. Two months after the incident, Mark no longer had an open wound, but the skin around the fingers of his right hand was badly damaged. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around the burn. Now it is difficult for him to use his right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mark receive treatment. On March 3rd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to increase the functionality of his fingers. Now, he needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Mark’s mother says, “Sometimes I wonder if not following the doctor’s advice is the reason my son’s hand is the way it is, and I’m the one responsible for that.”

Manith is a 19-year-old with two brothers, two sisters, and his parents are rice farmers. He recently got a job feeding and looking after ducks. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and going out with his friends. In 2020, Manith was in a motorbike accident and fractured his right clavicle and patella. He went to an emergency hospital and he had a sling fixed for the clavicle fracture and a tension bend wire for his patella. Now, it is time to remove the fracture hardware from his knee so he can fully heal and be out of risk for infection. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 11th, Manith will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This procedure will help him walk easily again. He shared, "After I have surgery, I want to walk easily again and do my new job well."