Meet Cecilia, an active 42-year-old woman living in the Philippines. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), shares that when Cecilia was just 20 years old, she developed a goiter, a mass that develops in the neck due to swelling of the thyroid gland. Before developing this goiter, Cecilia lived an active life and "had no image disturbance issues. She used to be active in school and play volleyball for their school team," ICM details. "She also enjoys climbing mountains as her friends live far in the mountains." Now, however, Cecilia shies away when speaking because of her goiter. Not only does this goiter affect her self esteem, but it impacts her daily life and energy level. “Cecilia is experiencing tightness when doing house work that requires carrying heavy objects such as water gallons," ICM continues, "She reports that she easily gets tired." Without treatment, Cecilia’s goiter could enlarge, causing more severe shortness of breath. She also risks developing hyperthyroidism, which can cause extreme hormonal imbalances. Cecilia sells snacks and her husband husband collects garbage for a living. ICM reports: "Their income is sometimes not enough for their daily needs.” ICM can help Cecilia with a thyroidectomy to surgically remove the thyroid gland. The procedure will cost a total of $1,500. This fee includes travel, medical and surgical expenses, as well as a 10 day stay in the hospital with meals. "I am very thankful that you are helping me get this operation," Cecilia shares. "I cannot afford this treatment on my own, and I am very happy that someone has the heart to sponsor my operation."

Sopheap is a 46-year-old grandmother from Cambodia who is married with one son, one daughter, and one grandchild, and is a rice and crop farmer. “Sopheap developed a cataract in each eye one year ago. This causes her blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and she is afraid of sunshine. She can't see everything clearly, do work well, or go anywhere outside,” explains our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, which causes decreased vision and functional blindness. In Cambodia, 90% of blindness could be avoided through proper treatment, and cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain such as cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services. $225 funds cataract surgery that will remove the cloudy lenses from both of her eyes and replace them with artificial lenses. Funding for her surgery includes post-operative care, and after the surgery, she will be able to see clearly again. Sopheap enjoys watching Khmer dramas on television and listening to romantic music, and once her vison is restored she looks forward to selling khmer cake to support her fmaily. Let's help her get back to the activities she enjoys!

Three months ago, Phon developed cataracts in both of his eyes. Now the 67-year-old man from Cambodia has trouble seeing clearly, doing work, and walking outside alone. “Phon’s cataracts cause him blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and he is afraid of sunshine,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Phon is married with two sons, four daughters, and five grandchildren. He enjoys watching the news on TV and traveling to the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Phon’s family worries about his vision loss and the impact it has on his quality of life. Phon and his son traveled three hours to CSC. For $225 Phon will receive a surgery where CSC doctors will remove the cloudy lenses in both of his eyes and replace them with synthetic implants. Phon will be able to see clearly again the same day of his surgery. “I hope to see again so I can do work like clean my home, cut the grass, and watch my grandchildren,” says Phon. “When I can see again I will be able to do things by myself.”

Mesiaki, a 3-month-old baby boy from Tanzania, is a previous Watsi patient who was born with myelomeningocele—a condition in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. He successfully underwent myelomeningocele closure surgery in January 2016. Mesiaki is progressing very well, but he now has an inguinal hernia on his right side that requires surgical intervention. Part of Mesiaki’s intestine bulges through his lower abdominal wall, which puts him at risk for developing potentially life-threatening intestinal obstruction. “When the area swells, he seems to be in pain and cries excessively,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). For $610, Mesiaki will receive hernia repair surgery, during which doctors will return the herniated tissue to the abdominal cavity and mend the weakness in the abdominal wall. This cost includes a six week stay at the Plaster House, a rehabilitation center for children recovering from surgical procedures. “Mesiaki’s parents still need financial support because they do not have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the operation which their son needs,” shares AMHF. “My son has been doing well and I still hope he will get the right treatment and continue with normal growth,” says Mesiaki’s mother. “I will be happy to see him able to walk and later on live an independent life.”

Phal is a 55-year-old woman from Cambodia. She has three daughters, three sons, and six grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks pray at the pagoda. Four years ago, Phal developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for her to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," explains our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). After learning about CSC, Phal and her husband travelled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Phal’s sight. With $225, Phal will undergo cataract surgery, during which her old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing her to see again immediately after her operation.

Pov is a 65-year-old mother and grandmother from Cambodia who enjoys visiting the pagoda and reading religious texts. Two years ago, Pov developed a cataract in each eye, compromising her vision and making it difficult for her to read or go out alone. A cataract occurs when there is a buildup of proteins in the lens of the eye. This causes the lens to become cloudy, disrupting the passage of light through the lens and impairing vision. Most cataracts are due to age-related changes in the eye and account for 50 percent of all cases of blindness worldwide. Formation typically occurs in both eyes, as is the case for Pov. Because of the cataracts, Pov has “blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and cloudy lenses, and she is afraid of sunshine,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “She can't see anything clearly, recognize faces, do work, or go outside anywhere.” For $225, Pov will undergo surgery to remove the cloudy lenses from her eyes and replace them with artificial ones. Funding for her treatment also includes two days of hospital care, eye drops, ointments, medicine to reduce pain and prevent infection, and one post-operative consultation. After surgery, “Pov will be able to see clearly again,” says CSC. Pov looks forward to having her vision restored. "I hope [to] see everything more clearly than now so I can easily read any letter, do any work, and go anywhere without disturbing someone to take care of me," she shares.

“Ten years ago, Mao developed a cataract in each eye,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Mao’s cataracts cause blurred vision, tearing, and cloudy lenses.” Mao, a 67-year-old woman from Cambodia, is a rice farmer. In her free time she enjoys planting morning glories and banana trees around her home as well as traveling to the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Since her cataracts developed ten years ago, it has been increasingly difficult for her to work and do these activities alone. Mao shares, "It is hard for me to see everything, go anywhere outside on my own, or do any work." For $225 Mao’s cloudy lenses will be removed and replaced with clear lens implants so that her vision will be restored. After the brief, 40-minute procedure, her vision will be fully restored. Mao hopes that the surgery will allow her to work on her farm and travel independently.

While walking home from school in Nepal, four-year-old Lokesh slipped and fractured his right elbow, our medical partner, Possible, shares. "It has swollen considerably and is tender too." Ever since his fall, Lokesh has been taking medicine as a temporary way to manage his pain, Possible adds. Because of his injury, Lokesh is unable to do the things he used to. "Lokesh enjoys spending time with his little sister at home," Possible shares, "he also likes to help his mother cook in the kitchen." $579 covers the cost of the surgery that Lokesh needs to ensure his elbow heals properly, and he regains full use of his arm, along with antibiotics and follow-up appointments. "Lokesh's fractured bones will be aligned correctly and secured," Possible explains. "Within a month, it will heal properly and he will get his mobility back." Lokesh's father shares his son's hesitation of having this important surgery. "My baby is scared about the surgery. I am having a difficult time trying to convince him that all will be well."