“Three months ago, Tim developed a cataract in each eye,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), shares. “This causes him blurred vision, tearing, and some pain.” Now, he can no longer see clearly, go outside on his own, or continue working. Cataracts occur when proteins develop on the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Untreated, the cloudiness will continue to impede Tim’s vision. Because he is no longer able to work, Tim stays home with his wife and three daughters. "In his free time he does work around the home, cares for the yard, and visits the pagoda to listen to the monks pray." Tim looks forward to getting his vision back, and traveled four hours to seek treatment. Cataracts are easily treatable, but Tim can't afford treatment on his own. $225 will cover the cost of a short operation to give Tim his vision back. Doctors will remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens that will allow him to see again. Tim and his wife look forward to the change that this surgery will bring.

Phy, an 85-year-old grandmother from Cambodia, was recently diagnosed with cataracts. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Phy developed a cataract in each eye three months ago. This causes her blurred vision and tearing. It is hard for her to see clearly, go outside, or do any work.” Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. The cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. If untreated, the condition can ultimately result in total blindness. For $225, we can fund surgery to treat Phy’s cataracts. During this widely practiced operation, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lenses–replacing each with a new, artificial substitute. The grandmother of two enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. With restored vision, Phy will be free to independently pursue her hobbies once again. "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again so that I can easily help my child do some housework, take care of my grandchild at home, and [easily] walk anywhere by myself," Phy shares.

Six months ago, Cornellius was born with hydrocephalus, a congenital condition that causes excessive fluid build up in the skull, putting pressure on the brain. As a result, Cornellius' skull has been increasing in size and he has been becoming more irritable. Without treatment, he could experience developmental delays, increased risk of infections, and eventual brain damage. Our medical partner in Kenya, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that "Cornellius' parents were informed that their son had hydrocephalus, a condition that they were not familiar with, and he would need shunting." Shunting is an invasive procedure that removes fluid from the skull. AMHF adds, "Cornellius is their only son. They saved up some money so that they could bring him to a clinic and when they arrived, they were informed that Cornellius would need surgical intervention which they could not afford." "Cornellius' father is a casual teacher, and his mother stays at home and takes care of him in their small single-roomed house," AMHF shares. The support from Watsi will alleviate their distress over their son's medical bills. For $615 Cornellius' will undergo surgery to drain the excess fluid from his brain and alleviate the resulting pressure. This will prevent his head from further increasing in size and eliminate his risk of brain damage, infection, and premature death. "The joy of a new parent is to see their child healthy and thriving," Cornellius' father adds.

75-year-old Sarath spends her time doing housework and visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. The mother of three and grandmother of 15 lives with her husband in Cambodia. “One year ago Sarath developed a cataract in each eye,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “This causes her blurred vision, tearing, and she is afraid of the bright sunshine.” Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. They can ultimately result in total blindness. Due to her condition, Sarath finds herself with limited independence. She experiences difficulty seeing clearly, recognizing faces, and going outside on her own. For $225, we can fund Sarath’s vision-restoring surgery. In each eye, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial implant. The surgery takes only 40 minutes, and will fully restore Sarath’s vision.