Htet Pel is a 50-year-old man who lives with his family in Mae Tha Lar Village, Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, Burma. His main income comes from working as a lottery ticket seller, and he also works as a daily laborer. Ten years ago, Htet Pel severely burned his left hand when he was refilling an oil lamp with diesel near an open fire. His injuries healed, but scars developed. Eventually, the thickness of the scars made his fingers rigid and limited the movement of his fingers, until he could no longer grip anything. Htet Pel will undergo contracture release surgery to treat his condition and help him use his hands again. The procedure is scheduled for January 15 and will cost $1,500. He says, "After surgery, if my hand gets better I will work more to increase my family’s income."

Seng is a grandfather of twelve from Cambodia. He has three daughters, four sons, and twelve grandchildren. He is a retired rice farmer. He likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Seng developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurry vision, and photophobia. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Seng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On December 10, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $398 procedure. His daughter says, "I worry about my father's failing vision and about him going outside on his own."

Kevin is a motorcycle taxi operator from Kenya. He is the oldest in a family of five children. In October, Kevin fractured his left hand. Now, he is not able to use his hand and is in pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 1, Kevin will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will allow his hand to heal well, and Kevin will be able to go back to operating the motorcycle taxi. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $640 to fund this procedure. Kevin says, “I pray that I will be treated and resume my work. I will be grateful for the support."

Esther is a baby from Haiti. She lives with her mother and father in Port-au-Prince. She is their first child. Esther has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Esther will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 6, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Esther's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Esther's family overseas. Her mother says, "We are very glad for this surgery so that our daughter can gain weight and have more energy."

Nar is a four-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and two aunts in Mawlamyine City in Mon State. Just before she turned two, her mother noticed a small lump on her neck. The mass became larger as she grew. Her mother took her to several hospitals for possible treatment. At our medical partner's care center, her doctor recommended a surgery to remove the benign tumor. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on August 27. Her family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care.

Joshua is a baby from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of three kids. Unfortunately, Joshua’s father died when his mother was seven months pregnant with him. His mother has no savings and works as a farmer to support her children. Joshua has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Joshua has been experiencing vomiting and regular fevers. Without treatment, Joshua will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Joshua that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 17 and will drain the excess fluid from Joshua's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Joshua will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Joshua’s mother says, “Please help my son.”

James is a 32-year-old man from Kenya. He works as a luggage carrier in a city market and barely earns enough to support himself. After undergoing an MRI, James was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, a pituitary macroadenoma. If not treated, this tumor may threaten his life due to increased pressure in his brain. He will also be at risk of vision loss, frequent headaches, and loss of normal pituitary functions. Fortunately, James visited our medical partner's care center and is scheduled for a craniotomy to remove the tumor on July 23. Now, he needs help raising $1,495 to fund treatment. James says, “I hope that soon I will be treated and regain my health. I feel quite weak and am not able to engage in any work."

Sarah is a student from Kenya. Her parents are farmers. They plant maize in a small farm. Two years ago, Sarah began to experience troubling symptoms, including weight gain, dizziness, and a neck swelling. She was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sarah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 12 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $641, and she and her family need help raising money. Sarah says, “I want to be treated so that I can join my friends in school. I also look forward to good results after full recovery."

Yabsira is a child from Ethiopia. He and his parents are from Sodo. His father supports the family as a farmer. Yabsira was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Yabsira is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.

Smaha is a young student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in Cap Haitien, a city on the northern coast of Haiti. She attends kindergarten, and likes coloring and doing art projects. Smaha has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sickly and short of breath. On April 8, she will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, Surgeons will use stitches to close off the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Smaha's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. Her mother says, "We are very happy that Smaha can have this surgery, and would like to say thank you to everyone!"

Fred is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife, and they have three grown children, who help run the family farm. To help supplement the family income, Fred raises chickens. In his free time, he likes to sit and talk with his wife. Since November 2017, Fred has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Fred's surgery. On March 13, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Fred and his family were thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded, and he is looking forward to going back to his normal activities pain-free He says, "Thank you Watsi."

Lov is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sisters and four brothers. She likes to clean and relax at home. In infancy, Lov had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Lov experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and recurrent infection. It is difficult for her to hear, and she has painful infections often. Lov traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 12, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my ear heals and I can go home and spend time with my family."