U Doe is a 80-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter’s family and looks after his grandson. One month ago, U Doe’s big toe became black and painful. He visited our medical partner’s hospital, where the doctor explained that his foot had lost blood supply. He believed that U Doe’s chronic smoking was the cause. For ten days, U Doe took medication and underwent physiotherapy, but his symptoms did not improve. The doctor decided to amputate his toe. Although the surgery was successful, the wound did not heal correctly––again due to low blood supply. Soon, U Doe’s foot grew painful again. On December 1, U Doe’s leg was amputated below the knee. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. "I want to free from this pain and walk again,” sys U Doe. “After completing the treatment and getting the prosthesis, I will go back to my house. I will just stay at home to take care of my grandson so that my daughter and my son-in-law can go to work again."

Than Than is a 32-year-old woman who lives in Burma with her parents and her two children. Her husband passed away three years ago, so Than Than supports the family. She sells flowers around her village. When she is out, her mother looks after her children. Six weeks ago, Than Than began to feel sick. She had been experiencing lower back pain since age 15, but the pain had grown severe. She sought treatment at the village clinic without success. A doctor at a local hospital administered an ultrasound and diagnosed her with a kidney stone. Than Than knew she needed surgery, but she could not afford healthcare. Fortunately, a friend suggested she visit our medical partner's care center, Mae Tao Clinic. She received medication and is scheduled to undergo a nephrolithotomy on January 4, 2017. During this procedure, surgeons will remove her kidney stone. Now, our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund her treatment. "I look forward to having the surgery," says Than Than. "I hope to become healthy again, so I can continue to work for my beloved family."

Immaculate is a 21-year-old woman from Uganda. She used to work as a maid, but she just finished a course at a local salon and now works as a hair dresser. While giving birth, Immaculate experienced complications and developed an uncomfortable condition in a sensitive area. This condition causes her discomfort and urinary dysfunction. On October 27, Immaculate underwent a repair surgery at our medical partner's hospital, Bwindi Community Hospital. Now, she needs help to fund this $547 procedure. "I am hoping that one day I will be able to work, save, and be able to support myself," says Immaculate. "I am so grateful to the people donating towards my care. May God bless you."

Ndegami is a 50-year-old husband and father of nine children who lives in Uganda. His banana plantation is the sole source of income for him and his family. About five years ago, Ndegami was pushing a bicycle loaded with bananas when he felt a sharp pain in his right inguinal area. Two months later, he developed a small swelling in the same area. When the swelling grew, he visited a hospital where he received medicine that decreased the size of the swelling. When he finished the medicine, the swelling became bigger, but Ndegami never returned to the hospital because of lack of money. Ndegami has an inguinal hernia, a protrusion of the intestines through a weak region in the abdominal muscles. The hernia presents as a protrusion or bulge in the abdomen or groin and makes coughing, bending at the waist, or lifting heavy objects very painful. Ndegami's hernia is large, but it goes back inside when he presses on it. He feels pain mostly when he strains. Due to the pain, he has not been able to attend to his farm for the past year. “The big swelling that pains me a lot, and I cannot do heavy work,” shares Ndegami. Ndegami's son-in-law advised him to come to Holy Family Virika Hospital for evaluation and treatment. For $249, Ndegami will undergo hernia repair surgery. During the surgery, the doctor will push the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sew together the weakened muscle with a synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue will grow into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. Funding for Ndegami also covers the costs of a three-day hospital stay, pain medicine, antibiotics, and blood tests. After surgery, Ndegami hopes to resume working on his banana plantation. Let's help make that happen!

Keyli is the youngest of three kids, and she lives with her siblings and parents in a one-room house made of tar and tin in Guatemala. Her mother works at home, cooking and cleaning, and her father works as a day laborer, only receiving a about three dollars for every day he works. This means that expensive formula is out of reach for their family—even though they realize that this is a life-saving treatment. Keyli is two weeks old and is in danger of acute malnutrition if she does not receive treatment. Her mother has been evaluated by our medical team, and cannot produce breastmilk, leaving her without any option but to give her daughter sugar water to make her stop crying. Lactation failure can lead to the child becoming starving, dehydrated, and provoke electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised and the baby is at risk of long term damage. Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying the baby with formula and the mother with health education, Keyli will receive the calories she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Keyli’s mother will prepare her for when she needs to start eating solid food, as well as help her watch for further signs of malnutrition and other illness. Keyli’s immune system will strengthen and she will grow up to be a healthy energetic baby. "I feel really sad that my daughter is going to get sick and lose weight. I want to see my daughter grow well so she can go to school and graduate as a nurse so she can help other people," Keyli's mother shared. "I appreciate the help that my daughter is going to receive from you all."

“I want to be free from breast cancer and have a healthy old age,” 58-year-old Josphine shares. She is a mother of six children, all now grown up, and lives in Kenya with her husband. In September of last year, Josphine noticed a lump in her right breast. She visited several local clinics, but was not able to get a clear diagnosis. Josphine eventually received an x-ray and biopsy this June, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. If left untreated, the cancer could spread, potentially resulting in premature death. To avoid this outcome, Josphine needs to undergo a mastectomy. However, she cannot afford to pay for the procedure on her own. She and her husband—who work as a farmer and a newspaper vendor, respectively—need all of their combined income to meet their daily needs. Although her family has managed to raise $156 for the procedure, this still falls short of the amount needed. For $740, Josphine will be able to receive her mastectomy. This sum will also cover the medications, lab tests, and six-day hospital stay Josphine will need to recover fully from the procedure. Let's help make it possible!

Yi is a 55-year-old farmer from Cambodia who has one daughter and two sons. She spends her time cooking food and cleaning her house. About one month ago, Yi began experiencing discharge from her left ear. This is caused by chronic otitis media-- inflammation of the middle ear-- which perforated her left tympanic membrane and lead to ear discharge, pain, and hearing loss. Yi is unhappy that she feels so much pain and cannot hear others easily. Sometimes she is even unable to farm because of the pain. Yi traveled four hours with her daughter to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. For $399, doctors will perform a left ear myringoplasty surgery to close the perforation in Yi's tympanic membrane. This will also cover the costs of her hospital stay after the surgery so that she can properly heal. After Yi recovers, she will no longer experience the discharge and pain, and her hearing will gradually improve so she can return to her family and work life.

Wilmer was referred to Watsi's medical partner in Guatemala, Wuqu' Kawoq, by a government-run health care center where they cannot afford to buy formula for patients. Wilmer has not had any breastmilk for five days now, since his mother has been unable to produce milk. Wilmer has lost a significant amount of weight, and is now a pound smaller than he was when he was born less than three weeks ago. His grandmother has been giving him sugar water with anise to try to calm him down, since he cries almost constantly. Without treatment, Wilmer will not survive, and will face risks of permanent brain damage, seizures, and diarrhea if he does not receive treatment soon. Wilmer is the only child to a single mother that has special needs. Since his mother cannot care for herself, Wilmer's grandmother takes care of him. Wilmer's family has few resources, and they depend on Wilmer's grandfather to provide for the family. Many days they do not even have money to buy tortillas to eat, let alone one tin of formula that costs more than their monthly income. The treatment that Wilmer requires is simple and will save his life. For $1,016, Wilmer will receive milk formula and micronutrient supplementation to nourish his body. This will allow him to grow normally, gain weight, and avoid permanent brain damage. "I dream that my grandson will be able to grow and one day can study and pursue a profession," said Wilmer's grandmother.

Meet Naing, a 42-year-old former soldier in the Burmese army who lost his right leg in combat 15 years ago. He was released from duty and returned to his home in Karen State, Burma. His family consists of his wife and five daughters, and he is a patient with our medical partner, Burma Border Projects. Naing works occasionally doing a variety of odd jobs including weaving bamboo roofs, crafting bamboo products and supporting his family from income from a snack stall at his home. The income is sufficient for the family’s basic expenses but there isn’t enough for savings or health care. Naing began to experience pain some months ago. He was diagnosed with a bladder stone and Watsi and other entities supported surgery to remove the stone. However, at that time he was also diagnosed with kidney stones which now require further surgery. $1,500 funds surgery that will remove Naing's kidney stones. The cost of the treatment includes surgery and a post-operative visit. Let's help Naing get back to normal and fund this treatment.

Chandra is an eight-year-old boy from Nepal and a patient with our medical partner, Possible. “Two years ago, Chandra's father abandoned his family and settled in India. Soon after, his mother left him behind with her relatives and decided to start her life afresh,” explains Possible. Chandra’s grandmother and aunt now take care of him. Chandra, a fourth grade boy, loves to play outdoors. Unfortunately, one day when he was somersaulting, he broke his hand. There was no one home who could take him to the hospital, and he had to wait two weeks before he was able to visit Possible. Due to his circumstances, Chandra needs our financial support. For $579, we can fund treatment that will heal Chandra's fracture. The cost of the treatment includes medicine, anesthetics, the surgery, as well as follow-up treatment from community health workers. After about a month, Chandra will be able to resume his daily activities. Chandra's aunt shared: “This child has been through so much, yet he continues to smile. I love that about him.”

"Shortly after Christmas 2015 when Elizabeth was only a few months old, she began vomiting whenever she ingested anything," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Doctors in their native Kenya told Elizabeth's parents that their daughter has congenital hydrocephalus and needs surgery to get better. Elizabeth's hydrocephalus causes an excess of cranial fluid to build up in her skull and put pressure on her brain. This makes Elizabeth dizzy, irritable, and sick. AMHF says, "Elizabeth is exposed to the risk of having delayed development, which could result to brain damage and eventually death." Elizabeth's parents are reassured that their daughter's condition is treatable but they cannot afford the cost of her care. AMHF shares, "Her father repairs motorbikes to efficiently supply for the family needs while her mother is a housewife. All they would ever want is to see their first born daughter healthy and doing well." For $615, Elizabeth will undergo surgery to have a shunt placed in her head to release the excess fluid. This operation will relieve the pressure on her brain and eliminate her risk of irritability, nausea, and more serious long term complications. Her mother shares: "I want to see Elizabeth live to tell it all, please help her get treated."

Four-year-old Clarens lives in Haiti with his mother and grandmother. He was born with cerebral palsy and cannot yet walk on his own. However, he is slowly learning to walk with braces and crutches. “He is a very intelligent child and has already learned to read and write well,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). HCA continues that in addition to cerebral palsy, Clarens has heart disease. “Clarens was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, in which one of the valves of his heart is too small to allow blood to adequately pass through. As a result, oxygen does not reach his body in sufficient quantities, leaving him sickly and weak.” Heart surgery can correct Clarens' condition. Health City Caymen Islands has raised $5,000 to cover the cost of his surgery, and another $1,500 from Watsi donors will pay for Clarens' surgery preparation, transportation, and travel funds so he can receive the surgery he needs. “Following surgery, normal blood flow should be restored to Clarens's heart and he should not have any further cardiac symptoms,” HCA says. "I am so happy that this surgery will be possible for Clarens, and I thank God and everyone who is helping to fix my son's heart," says Clarens’ mother.