Hoeun is 75 years old and married with two sons, two daughters, and thirteen grandchildren. She likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. One year ago, Hoeun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her vision loss, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, and go anywhere on her own. Hoeun knew about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because her neighbor had surgery there before. She traveled for three hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. She will be receiving treatment on February 3. After a small incision cataract surgery and intraocular lens implant in each eye, Hoeun will be able to see clearly again. However, her family cannot afford the treatment, so CSC is requesting $292 to help fund her procedure. Hoeun says, "I hope to be able to see more clearly than now so that I can help my daughter cook, clean, and take care of my grandchildren. I want to go to the pagoda easily and join ceremonies by myself."

Kuy Pheng is a 29-year-old married man from Cambodia. He likes to talk with his friends and watch TV in his free time. When he was six years old, Kuy Pheng developed an ear infection in his left ear. The infection perforated his ear's tympanic membrane. Since then, he has experienced ear discharge, hearing loss, and buzzing in his ear. Kuy Pheng was unhappy because it was difficult for him to hear. When Kuy Pheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for one hour to seek treatment. On December 23, ENT surgeons at CSC performed a myringoplasty surgery on Kuy Pheng's left ear to repair the perforated tympanic membrane and stop the discharge. Over time, his hearing will improve. Now, CSC is requesting $399 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I can go to work and have good hearing," says Kuy Pheng.

Thun is a 53-year-old potato farmer who has one son, one daughter, and one grandchild. She likes to go to the pagoda and listen to the news and health program on the radio. About a year ago, Thun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and tearing. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, do any work, and go anywhere outside. Cataracts are common in Cambodia, where Thun lives. They are also a leading cause of blindness. Fortunately, on October 25, doctors performed a simple cataract surgery, removing her old, cloudy lenses and replacing them with clear implants. This procedure will restore her vision, allowing her to move and travel independently. "I hope that I can see everything more clearly," she says, "so that I can do any work easily and I can continue my work as a farmer again. I hope to go anywhere outside by myself."

Prosy is three weeks old and lives in Uganda with her family. She has developed pneumonia, and as a result she is lethargic and has difficulty breastfeeding. Prosy is the fourth child to her parents, Stidia and Alex. Stidia and Alex do farm labor for a living. Stidia works cultivating land, and is in most cases paid back a days’ wage in return with food for her family whereas Alex works in tea plantations picking tea. Prosy is the fifth child in her family and all her other siblings attend a local school in the primary level. Stidia hopes that when Prosy recovers, she can nurse her, and when she grows old, join her siblings in obtaining an education which her mother never got. During her free time, Stidia enjoys meeting with other women in the community and worshiping at their church. She also sings in their church choir. “I thank the people donating to my child’s treatment," Stidia shared. "Supporting people that do not afford gives hope to the needy and a reason to smile and working harder to be better. I pray that God blesses the donor.”

“After surgery I hope to be well so that I can return to my work,” shares Tumuramye, a 39-year-old farmer from Uganda. In 1999, Tumuramye developed a swelling in her upper abdomen after undergoing a C-section. The swelling was initially small, but over the past seventeen years, it has increased in size and become painful. Last year, Tumuramye’s discomfort became so great that she visited a hospital, despite not being able to afford treatment. There, she was diagnosed with a hernia. Tumuramye’s injury poses a threat to her livelihood as a farmer: she is unable to do any manual labor because it increases her pain, meaning that for the past two years she has been unable to work to cultivate her beans and maize. Furthermore, if she is not treated soon, Tumuramye risks developing one of the life-threatening intestinal complications that can accompany hernias, such as tissue death. For these reasons, Tumuramye urgently needs hernia repair surgery. But she cannot afford the procedure. She, her husband, and their daughter farm a very small piece of land, meaning that their income is low and seasonal. That’s where we come in: for $220, we can fund Tumuramye’s operation, as well as the medications, lab tests, and two-week hospital stay that will ensure her safe recovery from surgery. After receiving her operation, Tumuramye hopes to resume farming her maize and beans so that she can once again earn money for her family’s basic needs.

13-month-old Mchandael was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, in which one of the four valves of his heart is too narrow to allow enough blood to pass through it. As a result, blood backs up into his heart, leaving him sickly and weak and causing heart failure. Mchandael lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with his mother and father; he is their first child. His mother works at a clothing store and his father sells cell phones in the street. Mchandael is a happy and curious baby who likes playing with toys and clapping to music. For $1500 in Watsi funding, in addition to a $5000 subsidy from Have a Heart Cayman Islands, Mchandael can receive the heart surgery he needs to get healthy. "We want to say thank you to everyone who is helping our son go to the hospital for his surgery," his mother shared.

Lin is a 62-year-old crop farmer from Cambodia. He is married with three sons, one daughter, and eight grandchildren. He enjoys watching the news on TV. Lin developed a cataract in each eye two years ago, so the activities he enjoys, such as watching television, have become much more difficult for him. A cataract is the clouding of the eye's lens and causes blurred vision, tearing, and light sensitivity. Lin can't see clearly, do work well, or easily go outside on his own. Lin traveled three hours with his wife to reach Children's Surgical Centre where, for $225, he will undergo treatment. During a quick and highly effective operation his cloudy lenses will be removed and replaced with clear, artificial implants. Afterwards, Lin will be able to see everything clearly again. "I hope I can see clearly again so I can easily do any work on the farm," shares Lin.

"I want to be well and cancer free," shares Eunice, a 31-year-old woman from Kenya. In September 2015 doctors from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), found that Eunice had a precancerous lesion in her cervix. They performed a biopsy procedure and it has been determined that if left untreated Eunice is at risk of developing cervical cancer. Eunice is a wife and mother of three children. She lives with her family in a single-roomed rental house in Kenya. Eunice sells fish while her husband works as a cook to support the family. Their family income is low and they are not able to meet the treatment cost. Eunice is in need of a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and reduce her risk of cancer. $800 will fund Eunice's surgery, and a four-day hospital stay to ensure a proper recovery.

Catherine is a 24-year-old woman from Kenya. "Her mother separated from her father and thus has been raising Catherine and her siblings alone," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Catherine dropped out of school after completing eight classes due to lack of school fees. She works as a house help to earn a living." "Catherine has been having hearing problems since she was a little girl of age five. She was not able to access hearing aids due to lack of funds," continues AMHF. "Catherine has difficulty communicating. She is not able to perceive sound well and often requires one to shout or repeat conversations. This affects her daily interactions with people. When Catherine came to the hospital for treatment, hearing aids were recommended, but Catherine is not able to meet the full cost." With $712, Catherine can receive the hearing aids necessary to improve her hearing capability. "If not assisted with the hearing aids, Catherine will have poor sound perception and will continue having poor communication and social interactions," explains AMHF. Catherine shares, “My wish is to get the hearing aids and be able to establish my own tailoring shop." Let's help make it possible!

“I would love to get well and go back to work,” shares Walter, a 50-year-old widower from Kenya who fractured his left upper and lower leg in a motorcycle accident last fall. “Before the accident, Walter had been a casual laborer, moving from one homestead to another in search of casual labor for sustenance,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Since the accident, he has been unable to work on people’s farms due to his painful leg. With no income and no contact with his two daughters, Walter has had to rely on friends for financial support. “He has no place to call home, he owns nothing, and relies on [a friend] for his upkeep.” Walter needs surgery—open reduction and internal fixation—to reposition and set the broken bones of his upper and lower left leg and enable proper healing. Without treatment, “the pain will persist and there [is a risk of a] bone infection in Walter's leg,” explains AMHF. $1,410 pays for the surgery that Walter needs. Funding also covers the cost of seven days of hospital care, including imaging, blood tests, pain medicine and antibiotics, and physical therapy. “It is expected that after the treatment, Walter will have easy mobility and will be relieved of the pain,” says AMHF. “He will be able to work and earn a living.” Walter looks forward to a successful operation. “I will improve my life and help others as I have been assisted,” he said.

"Daudi has congenital deformity of both feet (clubfeet)," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. Daudi is a 2-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. "Apart from the deformity of his feet, Daudi is healthy, happy, and feeds well." Clubfoot occurs when the tendons connecting the leg muscle to the foot bones are short and tight, causing the foot to twist inward. If left untreated, it will force Daudi to walk with the lateral aspect of his feet, which will affect his gait and cause him pain. Daudi will undergo a four-month process to gently stretch and manipulate the foot into the correct position, which will be held by casts in between sessions. The initial treatment of clubfoot is non-surgical. $1,160 will cover the full cost of Daudi's treatment. While his parents are concerned for his condition, they are unable to fully support the cost of the treatment as they work as farmers and vendors in their village. After treatment, "Daudi will not use the lateral aspect of his feet for walking," AMHF tells us. "I will be happy to see my son with straight feet, which will allow him to comfortably play with other children when he grows up," Daudi's mother shares.

Thuok is a 27-year-old tuk tuk driver from Cambodia. In 2008, Thuok noticed a foul smelling discharge coming out of both of his ears that caused him pain. He has experienced hearing loss, pain, and recurrent discharge since then. Thuok is married with one daughter. After work he enjoys listening to the radio and playing football with his neighbors. One of Thuok’s friends, also a tuk tuk driver, told him about our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) and urged him to get medical care at CSC's clinic. Thuok was diagnosed with bilateral cholesteatoma - small growths in Thuok’s middle ear that are causing his discharge and pain. $809 will fund surgery to remove the growths in Thuok’s ears to stop the discharge and pain, and permanently treat his condition. “I hope that my husband will stop having ear discharge and have no more pain after his operation,” says Thuok’s wife, who accompanied him to the clinic. “I am very worried about his disease and I am happy that he can get surgery done at CSC."