Ma Sway is a 39-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and five children in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She is originally from Karen State, Burma. She moved to the refugee camp in 2003, due to the fighting in her village in Burma. Her husband works as a farmer, where he plants vegetables around the camp. Ma Sway works from home as a tailor. Four of her children are attending school in the camp, and one is working outside the camp. They receive food rations and cash support from an international aid organization. In March 2024, Ma Sway noticed a painful mass in her left breast. She went to the camp hospital operated by another non-profit, where the doctor provided pain medication that offered some relief. However, in March 2025, she felt weak and felt two firm masses in her left breast. She underwent further tests, where doctors informed her the masses were not cancerous, but she needed surgery to have them removed. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ma Sway receive treatment. She will undergo mass removal surgery on June 12th at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sariang Hospital. Now, she needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once removed, Ma Sway will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and worry. Ma Sway shared, “I would like to have the masses in my breast removed because whenever I feel them, I worry they will become cancer.”

Vincent is a 13-year-old boy from the Philippines. His mother works as a cashier at a pawnshop, and his father is a factory worker. At the age of 10, during a consultation for circumcision, Vincent was found to have hypospadias, a congenital condition that affects the urethra. Initially, his parents thought that his condition would resolve naturally, as their son did not experience any pain. However, the attending physician explained that Vincent could not undergo a regular circumcision and required corrective surgery instead. Following the diagnosis, the family sought medical evaluation at various hospitals, looking for an option they could afford. Fortunately, they were referred to our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Vincent will undergo corrective surgery on May 3rd. A portion of the cost of his procedure will be supported by the government health insurance program, but Vincent needs help to raise $1,184 more to completely fund his procedure and care. Vincent's parents shared, "It is our dream to provide Vincent the necessary surgical intervention. As his parents, we want him to live normally. I believe this is crucial as untreated hypospadias could affect his ability to have children in the future. So we couldn't thank you enough for making this dream come true."

Simon is a six-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives with his aunt and his five older siblings, as his mom sadly passed away giving birth to him. When Simon was small, doctors noted a heart murmur and explained that it may resolve itself over time. Unfortunately, it didn't, and doctors determined that it can only be treated with an open heart surgery. Simon has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 16th, Simon will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Simon's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Simon's aunt shared, "I am very hopeful that my nephew's health will be much better after this surgery!"

Jane is 57 years old and a farmer from Malawi. She is a widow who lives with her son, a journalist, and a grandchild from her son who had passed away. Jane is a retired teacher who now farms to support her family. She likes chatting with her son and grandchild and enjoys eating rice with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. In 2019, Jane noticed a small lump on her right breast. She went to a hospital where she was prescribed painkillers. As the lump did not resolve on its own, she went back and was told she needed a biopsy. However, Jane could not afford it. The lump grew bigger, causing discomfort and pain. A few months ago, Jane started experiencing itchiness and pain around the affected breast, interfering with her daily activities. Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent several cycles of chemotherapy. She was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she was told she needed a mastectomy, a surgery to remove the breast tissue to prevent the cancer from spreading from other parts of her body. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,194 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Jane. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 18th and will hopefully, remove the cancer from her body. Jane says, "I wish to get better for me to fully resume my farm work in order to boost my income for upkeep and to continue supporting my child and grandchild as I am the only parent left."

Hay, a 26-year-old man from Burma, lives with his wife, his cousin, her husband, and their two children. Currently unemployed, he and his family are receiving assistance from his sister-in-law and also borrow money from their neighbor. In his free time Hay likes to listen to music. Hay has been experiencing pain in the left side of his lower back when he engages in physical work at home. He has been diagnosed with kidney stones, and doctors at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakron Chiang Mai Hospital, advised him to undergo a procedure to remove them. Previously, he was the sole income earner in their household, but he lost his job due to the condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 17th and, once completed, it will alleviate his pain, allowing him to go back to work. Hay said, “I am very stressed right now. I feel like I am a burden to my cousin, and we do not even have money to come back home to see my son. I really hope that after the treatment, I can find some work around here to make money to go home.”

Meet Sara, a seven-year-old girl from Bolivia! She lives with her mom, dad, and little sister. Sara loves math, arts, painting, dancing, and singing. She is very extroverted; she makes friends easily. Sara has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. On January 15th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will sew a patch over the hole to close it, so that blood can no longer leak through. Sara's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Sara shared, "I love to paint! As a matter of fact, I painted something so well, that my teacher congratulated me. I am looking forward to painting much more after my surgery."

Michelle, 37 years old, is a single mother from the Philippines. She lives with her mother as Michelle is hearing and speech impaired. The family relies mostly on government assistance and occasional support from other family members to cover food and utility expenses. About a year ago, a lump formed on the side of Michelle's face. Concerned, they took her for a check-up where the doctor recommended a biopsy and ultrasound. Unfortunately, they were unable to proceed with these tests due to financial constraints. Michelle was referred to our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, where she was told she needed a parotidectomy, a surgery to remove partial or all of the parotid gland. She is scheduled for surgery on December 19th and our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Michelle's treatment, diagnostics, and care. Michelle's mother shared, "We are very grateful and we appreciate the organizations and individuals dedicated to helping those in need. The amount for this operation is a handful, especially for us who mostly rely on help from others. Thank you very much for helping us."

Gabriel is a teenage boy from Kenya. He is the second child in a family of four and in the 8th grade. Gabriel dreams of becoming a doctor someday to help patients in need. His mother does day jobs she can find like picking tea and farming. Gabriel was born with bilateral clubfoot, where both feet are twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. When he was just five days old, his mother took him to a hospital where he began treatment with serial casting. While his condition improved, it was not fully corrected. Gabriel was brought back for treatment, including casting his feet and wearing special shoes. Around this time, Gabriel started having other serious medical conditions, prompting the medical team to pause treatment for his clubfoot. Now, Gabriel is at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, where he’s undergoing serial casting to prepare his feet for surgery. This treatment is helping to soften his tissues and align his bones, getting him ready for the upcoming operation. On November 12th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Gabriel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk comfortably, play football with his friends, and feel more confident. Gabriel shared, "I am looking forward to a quick recovery so I can get be with my friends and play football."

Alex is a 31-year-old man from Kenya with a bright future ahead of him. He graduated in 2022 with a degree in Estate Agency Management but has faced challenges finding stable employment. To support himself and his mother, who works as a casual laborer maintaining offices, Alex has taken on various construction jobs. Raised by a dedicated single mother, Alex is her only child, and they have always relied on each other. However, Alex's life took a sudden turn in September 2024 when he began experiencing headaches and neck pain. What started as mild discomfort quickly escalated, and a worrying persistent headache led a friend to take him to a medical facility. After extensive scans, doctors discovered a tumor in his head. They placed Alex on medication to monitor his condition, but just as he was about to be discharged, he suffered a seizure. This turn of events required him to be admitted to the critical care unit for stabilization. Although he eventually stabilized after three days and was moved to high-dependency care, his situation remains critical. Doctors have been draining fluid from his head, but what he truly needs is urgent surgery—a craniotomy—to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, Alex does not have insurance to cover the costs of this life-saving procedure, and he remains in pain, unable to move independently. Fortunately, our medical partner can help. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,500 for Alex's medical care that includes surgery, medications, and ICU care. He is scheduled for brain surgery October 16th at AIC Kijabe Hospital. After surgery and recovery, Alex will regain his strength and return to the life he envisions—a life where he can care for his mother and pursue his dreams. Alex says, "I never imagined I would face such a serious condition, but I am determined to fight it and reclaim my normal life."

Yee is a 59-year-old mother of two from Thailand. She lives with her family and is retired due to her health condition. Her husband works as a day laborer, and her two sons work at a restaurant. In her free time, Yee enjoys meditation and listening to religious sermons. In October 2023, Yee began experiencing pain, difficulty urinating, and producing only small amounts of urine. Additionally, she feels swelling and pain in her back, which has forced her to stop working. She has been diagnosed with kidney stones, which are hard deposits of minerals that form in the kidneys and are often very painful to pass. She has been advised to undergo surgery to remove her kidney stones. If left untreated, Yee's symptoms will continue to worsen and will put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to fund Yee's kidney stone removal surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 17th. Yee said, "I wish I could have the kidney stone surgery, but I don't have the money to cover the cost. But now, I have found that Watsi and BCMF can help me. I am very grateful and will pray for Watsi donors to remain healthy and help more patients."

Margaret is a 59-year-old woman from Nairobi, Kenya. Margaret has two adult sons. Both were married but separated from their wives, leaving their children with Margaret. Margaret works as a domestic worker and sells boiled maize at the market to provide for her family. In 2013, Margaret developed a boil on the roof of her mouth. Despite seeking help at several hospitals, Margaret couldn’t afford the costs of scans and diagnosis. The boil continued to grow, affecting her teeth and speech, and causing her discomfort and pain. For the past eleven years, Margaret has endured this pain without treatment as she could not afford to seek help. In March 2024, our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, conducted an outreach in the area where Margaret lives. During the free check-up, Margaret was advised to visit the main hospital for further diagnosis. However, she couldn’t afford the transportation costs and took four months to make the trip for a follow-up. In July 2024, doctors diagnosed Margaret with a hard palate mass that had extended from her palate up to her nose. Margaret needs a mass excision surgery to remove the growth before it causes further complications. On August 14th, Margaret will undergo surgery and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure. Margaret says, “I am stressed out, I keep on thinking this growth will affect me further and I will not be able to speak.”

Lydiah is an 18-year-old from Kenya. In February 2022, Lydiah's schooling and aspirations for becoming a doctor had to be put on hold when she began to experience excruciating pain in her right leg and hip. The pain progressed to the point where she could no longer bear weight on her leg, forcing her to leave school. When she was unable to find help in her province, Lydiah moved to live with her aunt in Nairobi. Despite visits to various dispensaries, and attempts to secure medical care, including painkillers, Lydiah's condition did not improve. She and her aunt tried visiting hospitals, but could not afford to pay for the necessary scans. In November 2023, Lydiah developed a swelling on her hip joint. Financial limitations prevented her from accessing care, leaving her in persistent agony. In June 2024, when her condition deteriorated further, Lydia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Lydiah was diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the right thigh bone and was recommended to undergo sequestrectomy surgery. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. The recommended surgery will remove the bone that has died, as a result of the infection. Again, finances have been a challenge, and Lydiah has remained in pain. Currently, Lydiah suffers from a painful, swollen thigh with a draining sinus, intensified by the cold season. Compounding her challenges, Lydiah is the only child of her mother who has been grappling with mental health issues since her husband's passing in 2015. Her aunt is her only hope since she is the one who has been taking care of her since she fell ill. Lydiah’s aunt is a casual beauty laborer, who weaves hair extensions for women, and whose income is precarious. Lydiah’s aunt is also a single mother to three children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the $1,400 needed for Lydiah's surgery, scheduled for July 16th. They hope this intervention will not only alleviate her suffering, but also pave the way for her to pursue her dreams. Lydiah said: “I know that I am advanced in years, but I am willing to continue from Form 2, where I left off, and proceed to pursue my career as a doctor.”