Richard is a ten-month-old baby boy from Haiti. His father is a motorcycle driver and his mother is a vendor. Richard was born with a heart condition called ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus, where a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart and a second hole exists between two major blood vessels next to his heart. Blood leaks through these holes, leaving him weak and unable to gain weight. Richard will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment and will undergo heart surgery on May 3rd. During the procedure, surgeons will close the two holes so blood can no longer leak. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5000.00 to pay for the surgery. However, Richard's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery preparations and travel. Our partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and doctors' appointments. It also supports securing passports and travel documents for the social workers who will accompany Richard's family overseas. Richard's mother says, "Our family is praying that the surgery goes well so that our son will grow strong and healthy."

Charlene is an 11-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and several other relatives in a small village near the capital. Charlene's parents are both market vendors. Charlene has a heart condition called ventricular septal defect where a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Charlene will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 3rd, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5000.00 to pay for the surgery. Charlene's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery preparations. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing passports for the social workers who will accompany Charlene's family overseas. Charlene's mother shared, "Our family is hopeful that after this surgery our daughter will have more energy and will be healthier."

Srey Mey lives in Kampong Cham province with her parents and older sister. Both of her parents work in nearby rice fields. Srey Mey enjoys science class and hopes to be a nurse when she's older. She studies with her friends and likes listening to pop music in her free time. Since she was little, Srey Mey's parents noticed stiffness in the right side of her neck. A local clinic diagnosed her with torticollis, a twisting of the neck that causes the head to tilt at an odd angle. The family has hoped she would grow out of it, but her condition has not changed. She has a limited range of motion and often feels embarrassed. Fortunately, a friend in their village told Srey Mey's family about the Children's Surgical Centre. Srey Mey and her mom traveled two and a half hours for treatment. Doctors recommend a tendon surgery to restore the range of motion in her neck. Surgery will resolve her head tilt and improve her quality of life. Srey Mey shared, "I hope I can move my neck normally and not worry about this anymore."

Pulikeliya is a farmer and earns a living selling produce such as tomatoes, vegetables, and green maize corn. Fourteen years ago, Pulikeliya noticed a swelling on the left side of her neck which grew bigger over time. The swelling extended to the central and right sides of her neck. She is in pain and discomfort and has difficulty breathing, affecting her work and daily activities. At Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), surgeons confirmed a diagnosis of toxic multinodular goiter with hyperthyroidism. She had high thyroid function tests and was put on medication to treat an overactive thyroid. Once the symptoms were managed, doctors recommended that Pulikeliya undergo a total thyroidectomy, the removal of both the right and left thyroid glands. Her surgery is scheduled for April 2nd and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,015 to fund the procedure. Pulikeliya expects to get better after a surgical operation and hopes to fully resume her business and start carrying items on her head again. Pulikeliya said, “PIH and donors, thank you for your support. I can’t wait to carry items on my head again after surgery.”

Fanny is a widow and sells food items for a living. She likes singing and enjoys eating and cooking for her family. A year ago, she noted swelling in her abdomen. After several hospital visits, Fanny was a diagnosed with hiatal hernia causing heartburn, pain, discomfort, and palpitations. These symptoms prevented her from performing her daily tasks. Fanny was advised to visit our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), where doctors recommended the need for a surgical intervention called Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (LNF). This procedure will treat Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), where stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. This was causing her hiatal hernia condition. If left untreated, it may lead to severe GERD, lung problems, cutting off blood flow to the stomach, and other health complications. Fanny is scheduled for surgery on April 3rd and needs $1,244 for the procedure. Fanny looks forward to a successful surgery that would enable her to be healthier and stronger, allowing her to work and perform her daily tasks. Fanny said, “It feels like I am dreaming that surgery will be done on me. I am looking forward to that day when my problems will be over.”

Sarin is a 53-year-old single woman who lives in Phnom Penh province and is the primary caregiver for her elderly parents. She has five living siblings (sadly, two of her siblings died young) who help to support her and her parents. Most of her day is taken up with caring for her parents, cooking, and cleaning. In the evenings, Sarin likes to practice dhamma - a form of Buddhist meditation - as well as listen to the village monks pray on the local radio station. For many years, Sarin had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. If untreated, a cholesteatoma can cause erosion of the three small bones located in the middle ear, resulting in nerve deterioration, imbalance, vertigo, and deafness. It can also affect and erode, through the enzymes it produces, the thin bone structure that isolates the top of the ear from the brain, risking further infection with serious complications. Sarin's cholesteatoma has caused her many problems. She suffers ear discharge, headaches, and a gradual loss of hearing. It is difficult for her to communicate with her family and other villagers, and she is embarrassed that she cannot hear well. She visited several hospitals seeking care but could not afford to pay for surgery. One of the hospitals suggested she visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Sarin traveled to CSC and, after examination, learned that she will be able to receive treatment. On October 17, the ENT surgeons at CSC will remove the cholesteatoma by performing a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. CSC is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sarin said: "I hopeful that this operation will improve my hearing and prevent a brain infection."

Amare is a brave, social young boy who is smart and good at communicating. He hails from Ethiopia and loves to play with his friends. He shared that he loves innovating new things - like making a tuk tuk and a mobile toy with metal wire and wood. Amare loves to study and read books. He also loves to help his mom at home with cleaning and making stew and coffee. Amare is the third child of his parents. His mom lost ten children, both in her womb and after they were born. She was heartbroken when she conceived Amare as she thought that he wouldn’t grow up. When Amare's mother gave birth to him, she was traveling by foot to a marketplace and she gave birth on the road. She shared that she saw he had a wound and was scared that he would die. She took him to Sekota hospital. The doctor told her that the disease was curable by surgery and that he would live with care. He referred them to another hospital and she brought Amare there when he was a seven month-old baby. She was informed that he was too young for the complex procedure. She brought him again when he was two years-old. She got the same response, to come back when he is older. Then, Amare's mother lost hope in modern medicine. She told us that she started to go to church and apply holy water to her baby. But his condition stayed with him. She got sad and, in her words, "left it all to God". Both mom and dad are traditional farmers. They harvest once in a year because they get rain only in one season. They couldn’t use irrigation since there was no river near their field. They travel for thirty minutes to get underground spring water for drinking and cooking. They have one cow for their milk consumption. For these reasons, they can’t afford the medical bills for their son. Amare was born with a congenital anomaly called bladder exstrophy. That is an abnormally open bladder from the front. His bladder is open to the air, which results in leaking urine directly to his abdomen. He has suffered from pain from the irritation of the bladder, infection & smell from the continuous urinary leakage. Mom is very much worried and concerned because of his condition. His required treatment is called a mainz pouch procedure which is diverting his urination to another opening & making a pouch bladder from bowel. His surgery is scheduled for March 7th. His family needs help raising the $1,500 to fund the surgery. Amare said, “My friends from school and the neighborhood say I smell. I felt bad about it and tried to stay away from my friends. I like playing with my friends but nowadays what I prefer is to study at home alone. Or to be with my mother and help her with work.” Amare's mom said, “My neighbors talk, so when there is holiday party at home I let him stay at the outside kitchen. If there is clean cloth, he [can] change and mingle in the party but mostly he stays away. Amare said to me ‘If I couldn’t get treatment and heal while you are alive I will never heal and survive.' Because I don’t have any hope with my siblings and relatives. This hurt me a lot. I feel like I don’t have power to heal him or to provide him medical treatment."

Matias is the second child of two farmers from a small village not far from La Paz. When he was first born, he was taken to the doctor due to low appetite and difficulty breastfeeding, and was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart. Matias needs to undergo surgery and our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance (ICA), is helping him to access treatment. Doctors will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so blood can no longer leak through it. His surgery is scheduled for February 22nd and ICA is helping to raise $1,500 to support his care. Matias' mother said: "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping our son to have this surgery to save his life!"

Kelita is a single mother with four children, aged 18,14,12, and 8. Kelita shared that she separated from her husband in 2017 because she would not adhere to cultural chieftaincy rules that wives are supposed to follow. Kelita refused to stop going to church; hence her family broke apart, and her husband married another woman. He does not provide support for his children so Kelita works hard to support her family on her own. Kelita sells cooked green maize in the nearest markets, earning about $37.00 per month. She and her four children live in a three-room house without water or electricity. Kelita does extra work in people’s gardens for her family's support and shared that she enjoys eating nsima (ugali) with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. Kelita was well until 2011, when, after the delivery of her third child, she noted a fast-growing swelling on her neck. She did not seek medical care as there was no pain. As time passed, the swelling grew, but was not painful. In 2021, Kelita started experiencing neck heaviness and breathlessness, frequent coughs, and pains when carrying heavy items on her head. This affected her daily activities and business since she could no longer carry a basket of maize on her head. Kelita stopped her cooking business and relied on doing piece work in people’s gardens to support her family. However, even this is difficult now, as bending has become a challenge. In November 2021, Kelita visited her nearest hospital and was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital, where an ultrasound scan revealed a bilateral complex mass in her thyroid. Kelita was sent for thyroid function tests but since she did not have the money required for the tests, she returned home to try traditional medicine, to no avail. In July, Kelita met a Partners in Hope (PIH) beneficiary who guided her to visit PIH for potential support from Watsi. On August 14th, Kelita met the surgeon at PIH. After the required tests were completed, a diagnosis of goiter was confirmed. Kelita was told she needed to have a surgical intervention called thyroidectomy, the removal of part or all of the thyroid gland. Due to her financial challenges, Kelita was referred to Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, for support. Kelita could smile much bigger after hearing about the planned surgery and committed to a co-pay $27.64 from her savings. Kelita hopes to be well again after the surgical operation. Kelita looks forward to the peace of mind that will enable her to support her children as a single parent. “I need my peace of mind for me to resume my business and be able to carry items on my head again. Kindly help me,” Kelita says.

Phoun is a rice farmer who is married, and lives with his wife and their youngest daughter. Their other daughter lives nearby, and they have five energetic grandchildren. When at home, Phoun enjoys repairing things around the house, assisting his wife with household chores, and reading books from the local pagoda. More than six months ago, Phoun developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him photophobia (difficulty seeing in bright light), and blurry vision. He is unable to read books, and feels lonely because he cannot see the paths when he walks outside. When Phoun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Phoun said: "My left eye feels blurry and lately I feel worse and cannot go to plant rice. I hope the operation helps me see better to work outside again."