Meshack is a quiet eight-year-old boy from Kenya. He is in the second grade. Two days ago, Meshack was chasing after goats when he slid and knocked his hand. He fractured his upper arm. He is in pain and unable to use his arm completely. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On December 11, Meshack will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him regain full function of his arm. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $968 to fund this procedure. Meshack says, "I hope that God will take care of everything."

Than is a 49-year-old woman who lives with her father in Burma. She works as a fruit vendor and takes care of her father. Than’s health problems started over ten years ago, when she noticed that she had breathing problems. She tried to use traditional medicine to treat herself. At first, Than felt better, but in 2017 her health worsened. She cannot breathe well, and gets tired in hot weather. She underwent a heart examination and was told that she requires heart surgery, which is scheduled for November 20. Than said that in the future, "I want to work as a fruit vendor again and continue caring for my father." Watsi is requesting $1,500 to help fund Than's treatment.

Carlos is a two-year-old boy who lives with his family in rural Guatemala. He was born with Down's Syndrome and is a caring and playful boy. In school, his teacher says he is an intelligent child, and Carlos's parents do everything they can so he can grow and develop well. Carlos was also born with cryptorchidism, meaning he has an undescended testicle. This condition is frequently found in young boys who were born prematurely, as Carlos was. In order to treat this condition, Carlos will need to undergo surgery. If left untreated, Carlos could be at risk of a variety of reproductive illnesses in the future, including inguinal hernia, infertility, and testicular cancer. With Watsi support, Carlos will undergo a procedure called orchidopexy, which is a surgery to move an undescended testicle into the scrotum and permanently fix it there. He will need $1,500 to fund laboratory testing, medication, and travel to and from the hospital. His procedure is scheduled for September 8. After treatment, Carlos will be much less likely to suffer from cryptorchidism-related complications later in life, and his parents will have peace of mind. Carlos’s mother says, “Thank you all for your great hearts, thank you for donating so that our son can have this surgery."

Eng is a 63-year-old rice and crop farmer who has a brother and four sisters. She likes to listen to monks pray at the pagoda and watch Khmer movies. Eng developed a cataract in each eye about a year ago, causing her blurred vision, pain, cloudy lenses, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any type of work, and go places by herself. She is worried that her vision will continue to worsen. Eng heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because a person in her village had surgery there. She traveled for four hours with her sister to reach CSC for treatment. She is scheduled for surgery on June 1. CSC has requested $292 to fund this surgery. After the surgery and a lens implant in each eye, Eng will be able to see clearly again.

Penh is a 64-year-old grandmother with one daughter and three grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray in her free time. Penh developed a pterygium in each eye about ten years ago, causing her blurred vision and redness. She finds it difficult to see things clearly. She does not feel comfortable enough to do any type of work or to go anywhere outside by herself. Penh knew about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because her sister had surgery at CSC before. She traveled for two hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. On June 1, eye surgeons at CSC will remove the pterygium from each eye to enable Penh to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $148 to fund the procedure. The requested $148 pays for surgical materials, medication, and two nights of hospital stay.

Uttama is a 24-year-old Burmese Buddhist monk who aspires to eventually teach Buddhism and meditation. Uttama has a tightening in his Achilles tendon, which he has had since birth. This condition makes walking in the morning without shoes difficult, and affects his capabilities at the monastery. After traveling to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, for treatment, Uttama is scheduled to undergo Achilles tendon lengthening surgery on May 16. This will allow Uttama to walk comfortably again. Uttama is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of the procedure. “When I buy new shoes, it is easier to walk. But after three months they are always looser on my foot and it becomes even harder to walk. This happens all the time,” he says.

Meet Harrison, a husband and young father. On October 2, 2016, Harrison was in a road accident while riding his motorbike, and he fractured his right leg. Harrison was taken to a hospital, where a splint was applied. However, he continued to feel pain and numbness in his leg. He relied on his wife and friends for daily support. Without treatment, Harrison was at risk of infection, loss of function, and permanent disability. Fortunately, Harrison received treatment from our medical partner on November 2, 2016. Harrison is the sole breadwinner of his young family. His friends and his church helped to pay for his first hospital bill. Now, he needs our help to fund this $1,451 procedure. “I want to be well to continue providing for my family and proceed with my education," says Harrison.

Eng is a 35-year-old rice farmer living in Cambodia. She is married with two daughters and a son. She likes to watch dramas and comedies in her spare time. Ten years ago, Eng developed blurred vision, itching, irritation, and redness in both eyes. It has been difficult for Eng to see things clearly. She heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). from her sister. She traveled with her nephew to CSC for evaluation. Eng has been diagnosed with a pterygium in each eye. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. The growth can cause discomfort and obstruct vision. Eng needs a surgical procedure to scrape and remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $148. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for February 24. After her pterygium excision surgery, Eng's discomfort will be relieved, and her vision will improve.

Sien is a 54-year-old farmer who is married with three sons and one daughter. She likes to cook, look after her children, and wash her clothes. In December 2016, Sien fell down the stairs, causing a fracture in a joint of her right foot. It is difficult for Sien to walk, and she is in pain. She went to both a traditional healer and a private clinic for treatment, but her symptoms did not improve. When Sien learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. She is scheduled for fracture treatment on February 3. CSC is requesting help to raise $411 for her care. Surgeons at CSC will perform a procedure in Sien's right foot to heal her fracture and allow her to walk easily again.

Saroeun is a 47-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons and four daughters. In his free time, Saroeun enjoys taking care of his garden, cleaning around his home, and looking after his children. In November of 2016, Saroeun was hit by a cow and fractured his left forearm. Saroeun first went to seek treatment from a traditional Khmer healer, but to no avail. The fracture did not improve. The pain from the fracture makes it difficult for Saroeun to use his left arm and to carry out his daily activities. Saroeun learned about our medial partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his brother. He and his wife then traveled for four hours in order to reach CSC for assistance. CSC surgeons will be performing an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery to repair the fracture. They will use steel rods, screws, or plates to realign the bone to its normal position and stabilize it to allow proper healing. Saroeun will be receiving this surgery on January 11 at CSC's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. To fund Saroeun's treatment, CSC is requesting $411. After the fracture heals, Saroeun will be able to use his left arm normally again.

Lyness is a 46-year-old soybean farmer from a village in Malawi. She is a widow who lives with her six children and five grandchildren. In her free time, Lyness enjoys talking and laughing with her children. She also loves singing with her friends. Three years ago, Lyness developed a painful hernia, which prevented her from living her normal life. Her family could not afford surgery, so Lyness lived with the pain for three years. Fortunately, she recently visited our medical partner's hospital, Nkhoma Hospital. She underwent a hernia repair procedure on December 22. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $327 to fund this surgery. Lyness and her family are thrilled that she will return to her farm and family pain-free. "Thank you so much!" says Lyness.

Three-month-old Amadily has not grown at all since she was born. Her mother is unable to produce breastmilk. As a result, Amadilly is not growing, and she has difficulty sleeping due to hunger. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Amadilly's health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. Brain development is compromised, and Amadilly is at risk of long-term damage. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 17. Amadily is the first child to her parents. Together, they live in a rented one-room adobe house. Her parents work in a butcher shop. They need help to fund this $1,107 treatment. Amadily's treatment will be simple and effective. She will receive formula, which will give her the protein, calories, and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. Her mother will receive in-home nutrition education, so she will learn low-cost ways to prevent future cases of malnutrition. Amadily's immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. "I really want my daughter to be able to get better, but I do not have the economic resources to buy her the milk she needs," says Amadily's mother. "I want to see her grow, be a good person, and maybe even become a doctor when she's older."