Meet Regina, a mother of five children from Kenya. She lives in a three roomed iron sheet house with her husband. She has been working as a peasant farmer since 2015. Her husband works as a casual laborer in people's farms to earn a living. Some of their children are in school while the eldest is employed as a house help in Nairobi. The education of their other children is paid through government bursaries. Regina started experiencing poor vision in 2012. Finally, after visiting several hospitals, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2015. She was advised to get a surgery, but was unable to afford the cost. She requires a craniotomy to remove the tumor and have relief from the painful head migraines. $1,205 will fund the surgery she needs, as well as all post-operative care. “I want to be treated to help my husband in raising our family," Regina shared.

Yath is a 64-year-old grandmother living in Cambodia with her husband, three sons, six daughters, and ten grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Three years ago, Yath developed blurred vision, burning, and tearing in both eyes. She traveled with one of her daughters to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further evaluation. Her doctors diagnosed her with a pterygium in each eye, and recommended surgical intervention. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. The growth can cause discomfort and obstruct vision. There is a higher prevalence for pterygiums along the equator, where there is more sun exposure. Yath needs a procedure to scrape and remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface, and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. CSC tells us that for $148, Yath can have the procedure she needs. The total cost covers the procedure, supplies, and two days of inpatient care. After her pterygium excision surgery, Yath's burning and irritation will be relieved, and her vision will improve. She will also be able to visit the pagoda easily.

Evans is a four-month-old baby boy who lives in Kenya with his parents and three-year-old sister. His mother works in a hair salon, his father is a casual laborer, and Evan's sister just started school. When Evans was two-months-old, his mother began to notice that he was increasingly irritable and his head was growing at an abnormally fast rate. Seeking medical attention, they made a day-long trip to the hospital where Evans was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by a build-up of cerebral spinal fluid in the head. This puts a lot of pressure on Evans' brain, increasing his risk of delayed development, brain damage, and death. He needs surgery to drain the excess fluid from his skull. Unfortunately, Evans' parents do not make enough income to afford treatment. $685 which will cover the costs of the operation where doctors will use a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Evan's brain to his abdomen where the fluid can be better absorbed. These funds will also cover the costs of his hospital stay and post-operative care, so that he can make a full recovery. Despite all the challenges they face, Evan's parents are filled with hope that he will live a healthy, normal life. "There's no better joy than knowing that your child can finally get treated despite lack of funds," shares Evans' mother. "I am looking forward to seeing my son live a normal life."

Sushil fractured his left leg after falling from the porch at his house. After the incident, his leg was swollen and he cried due to the pain. His parents decided to seek medical help after noticing he had difficulty moving and standing. His elder brother carried him for an entire day to visit Bayalpata Hospital, a care center run by Watsi's medical partner, Possible. Sushil was diagnosed with a fracture in his left leg which has rendered him completely dependent on others for everyday activities like eating, bathing, and getting dressed. This additional care has been very difficult for his family. While his father works in India, his mother supports the family by looking after their cattle and working on the family's farm. The yield from the field can support them for five months of the year, so they must buy food from the market for the remainder of the year. $195 in funding will cover the cost to treat Sushil's fracture. After the surgery and rehabilitation, Sushil will be able to run and play like other healthy boys his age. His brother shares with us, "My family is worried about Sushil's injured leg. I hope he gets better soon."