Kosal is currently ten years old and in the fifth grade. At home, he has two older brothers. Like any boy his age, he enjoys watching TV, reading books, and playing games. When he was five years old, Kosal developed an infection in his left ear. He did not receive treatment, and eventually the infection to spread to his right ear. He has now been diagnosed with chronic otitis media, or inflammation in his middle ear, which has caused both of his eardrums to rupture. As a result, he commonly experiences fluid discharge from his ears, hearing loss, and tinnitus, or the perception of a ringing or buzzing sound in the easr. After finding out about the care that our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), could provide, Kosal and his mother traveled over three hours by taxi so that he could have surgery at CSC on August 30, 2016. There, ENT surgeons successfully performed a myringotomy procedure in Kosal's right ear to treat the infection and drain the fluid in the middle ear. On his left side, however, a cholesteatoma, or abnormal skin growth, has formed. Kosal is scheduled to undergo another procedure on January 5. Our medical partner, CSC, is requesting $842 to pay for the required mastoidectomy surgery to remove the chloesteatoma. Kosal hopes to continue school without any hearing problems. He says, "I hope that I can hear clearly because I want to become a teacher."

Leang is 26 years old and works for a company. He has two sisters and two brothers. He likes to watch Thai movies dubbed in Khmer on TV, go on Facebook, and listen to the radio. In November, Leang was riding his motorbike to work when he crashed into a post. He sustained a femoral neck fracture on his right side. He went to a Khmer traditional healer for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. It was difficult for Leang to walk, and he was in pain. When Leang learned abut our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On December 16, surgeons at CSC performed a femur fracture fixation procedure with a dynamic hip screw to treat Leang's fracture and allow him to use his hip. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I can walk better and not have any pain," says Leang.

Maria is a 50-year-old woman from Guatemala. She has had diabetes for eight years, but she only began treatment five years ago. Her diabetes has advanced, and she has been experiencing blurry vision and dizziness, which prevent her from working. She needs insulin to manage her blood sugar and prevent serious complications, such as kidney failure, high blood pressure, and cataracts. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 28. Maria is a single mother to two sons. She lives with them in an adobe house with a tin roof, and she supports her family by selling fruits and vegetables in a large market. Maria leaves for the market at 4 am every day, and she often stays until dark. Despite her hard work, she cannot afford this $1,500 treatment. This treatment will protect Maria from the effects of uncontrolled diabetes. She will receive the insulin, blood pressure medications, and education she needs to adequately manage her diabetes for years to come. Once her glucose levels normalize, she will no longer be at risk of dangerous blood sugar highs. She will have renewed energy to return to work, and her quality of life will improve.

"I hope that my son will finish his studies, have a good job, and own a house and car someday," says Jan's mother. Jan is a three-year-old boy from the Philippines who loves playing with toys. He lives with his family in a house made of plywood and half-hollow blocks. Jan's father works as a laborer, and he struggles to provide the family's basic needs. In communities served by Watsi's medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), one out of five children under the age of five is either moderately or severely acutely malnourished. As a result of his family's lack of income, Jan is moderately acutely malnourished. This means that his diet lacks adequate calories and nutrients. Without proper treatment, Jan risked delayed physical and mental development. Fortunately, he began malnutrition treatment on October 17, 2016. ICM's home-based feeding program will provide Jan with nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure that he gains weight and achieves optimum physical and mental development. His family needs help to pay for this $184 treatment. Staff members and volunteers at ICM will make weekly visits to Jan to monitor his progress in the program. In addition, they will educate his parents about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. This education will help Jan's parents provide for a healthy childhood.

Sebazungu is a 20-year-old young man and a student at his secondary school. His best subject is biology. He has seven siblings, four boys and three girls, who are all in school. His parents struggle to pay for the education of their children. One year ago, Sebazungu developed a painful swelling in his right inguinal (groin) region. His parents took him to hospital where he was diagnosed with a right inguinal scrotal hernia, a condition where part of his intestine is protruding through his inner groin area. Surgery was advised, but his parents couldn't afford to pay for his treatment. The pain has intensified in the past two months. Sebazungu is now unable to lift heavy items. He also cannot sit and concentrate in class and sometimes he misses school. $249 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Sebazungu needs. After surgery, he hopes to go back to school and attend classes on a regular basis.

Meet Soeum, a 72-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Soeum is married with four sons, three daughters, and 20 grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Three years ago, Soeum 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," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Soeum and her granddaughter travelled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Soeum sight. With $225, Soeum 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.

“I will be happy when I am able to run as fast as my friends,” shares Lujeri. 10-year-old Lujeri lives in Tanzania, where he is the third-born in a family of six children. Lujeri is in the second grade, and his favorite classes are reading, mathematics and Swahili. He also likes to play football with his fellow pupils. When he was six years old, Lujeri’s lower limbs slowly started bowing inwards, forcing him to knock his knees when walking. His condition, known as genu valgum or “knock-knees,” kept getting worse to the point where Lujeri can no longer run fast. He also sometimes feels pain in his knees. Lujeri needs surgery to help him walk properly again and to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age. However, what his parents earn as small-scale farmers and herders is not enough to cover the cost of this surgery on top of daily expenses for their six children. But there is hope for Lujeri. For $940, we can sponsor the operation that will correct both of his knees. This sum will also provide Lujeri with the two weeks of physical therapy and the three-month stay at a recovery center, Plaster House, he will need to recuperate safely. Let’s make Lujeri’s dream of running and playing with his friends into a reality.

23-month-old Kervens was born with two holes in his heart: one between the two upper chambers, the other between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Because of the nature of his condition, the only way to know whether surgery is possible for Kervens is to first do a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter probe is inserted into his heart in order to take detailed measurements. The results of this test will determine whether he is operable, and if he is, his doctors will then go on to arrange surgery. This procedure is not available in Haiti, so he must travel to the Dominican Republic to undergo the test. Kervens is a very calm and happy child who likes to be carried and to meet new people. Kervens lives in northern Haiti with his mother, aunt, and an older sister. His mother is currently unemployed and looking for work, and so the cost of the diagnostic test that her son urgently needs is beyond her financial means. "My family is all praying that the test will go well and Kervens will be able to have his surgery," Kervens’ mother shares.

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!

This is Rachael, a 39-year-old woman from Kenya who lives with her three children and elderly mother. From a humble background, Rachael works as a casual laborer doing laundry or farm work for neighbors. Rachel has been experiencing almost continuous abdominal bleeding and pain, but didn't visit a doctor because she couldn't afford treatment. Rachael has uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths of the uterus. The bleeding has caused Rachael to become anemic, which means her body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. She has had to receive emergency blood transfusions as a result, but to permanently cure her, she needs a hysterectomy. When asked how she feels Rachael says, “I feel very desperate because my mother is old and I have left my children in her care. I hope Watsi will come to my aid so that I can be well again and have the strength to work for my children.” For $790 Rachael will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy, which means that her uterus and cervix will be surgically removed. This procedure will relieve her of the bleeding and pain and also treat her anemia. After Rachael recovers she will be able to go back to work, take care of her children, and lead a healthy life.

“Helena makes everyone at home smile because of her activeness and cheerfulness," her mother says. "We want her to continue to be cheerful when she grows up and not look at herself as different from everyone else." Helena has congenital deformity of both feet called clubfoot. This condition will cause her to use the sides of her feet when she starts to walk; leading to a pain and early osteoarthritis if not treated now. "Helena is a happy five-month-old baby girl," her doctors write. "She is very friendly and likes to be carried around. She is the fourth born in the family and her parents are small scale farmers. They earn their money from selling maize and beans. With two children going to school, what they are earning is not enough to cover the cost of their basic needs as well as the cost for treating clubfoot. They need financial support so that their little daughter can walk like the rest of the children." Let's fund Helena's care so she can grow up walking!

"Molly is a wife and mother of two children, a hardworking dressmaker, married to a roofing contractor and a farmer who grows maize, beans and sugar cane to supplement his family's needs," Lwala tells us about this 21-year-old woman from Kenya. "She likes eating Osuga (a green leafy vegetable) because they are very nutritious." Osuga is an especially good thing to be eating right now -- Molly is expecting! She's pretty tired as can be expected but is doing the best she can to carry on with daily activities. "Molly feels lower abdominal pain and backache which do not allow her to continue with her dress making," Lwala notes in particular. $290 would ensure that Lwala would be able to provide Molly the essential care she needs to welcome her newborn successfully. Money is tight for the family and things like prenatal care, a safe delivery, and postnatal care are not really high on their list of priorities. "I hope to continue with my tailoring after a safe and successful delivery, to get enough money to educate my children and to sustain our family," Molly says. She also hopes her baby-to-be becomes a pilot one day. Let's give Molly a much-needed hand right now and make sure Lwala is able to take good care of her right now.