Plork is an 18-year-old ice driver from Cambodia. He has 7 siblings - 3 brothers and 4 sisters. Plork is the youngest in the family. He lives with his parents who are farmers. In December 2020, Plork was electrocuted in an electrical accident, which burned his hand. Electrical burns occur most commonly on the hands and feet. His family took him to a provincial hospital for wound care, and he spent 3 days in the hospital. When Plork returned home, his right hand got infected and did not heal. He went and had a surgical debridement of the dead skin, which healed well. Now, however, Plork cannot use this hand and is constantly in pain. He is feeling very unwell and describes his health as poor. When Plork learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On February 5th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft to help his hand to heal properly so that he can use his hand again. Now, he needs help to fund this $787 procedure. Plork shared, "After surgery, I hope my right hand will be get better and have no more pain and wound infection. I hope I can return to work soon and support my family again."

Sophy is a 41-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have been married for 15 years and have two sons and two daughters, all of whom are in school. He mainly grows vegetables, and his wife takes them to market to sell. In his free time, he likes watching boxing matches, going to concerts, and taking care of his children. In August 2020, Sophy was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture of his left wrist. He went to a provincial hospital and was provided with a cast, but it did not properly heal his fracture. It is difficult for him to use this hand, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 13th, Sophy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will relieve his pain and help him to use his hand again. Sophy shared, "I want to do my work with no pain so that I can easily take care of my family, and I hope I can recover from this surgery quickly."

Haruna is a 10-year-old student from Tanzania. Haruna is the fourth born child in a family of five children. He is currently in Class Five, and his best subjects are mathematics and social studies. Haruna is a big lover of football, which his father says he picked at an early age. Unfortunately, a few months ago, his father has had to stop him from playing football due to the level of deformity in his legs and risk of getting a fracture. Haruna was diagnosed with genu varus. His legs bow outwards at the knee so that they do not touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking for a distance and he is no longer able to play football, the sport he loves. The procedure Haruna needs is costly for his family. Haruna's parents are small-scale farmers of maize, beans and tobacco. They are able to get their food from the harvest of maize and vegetable and some little money from selling tobacco harvest. Now, they are appealing for financial support for Haruna's cost of care. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Haruna. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 3rd. Treatment will hopefully restore Haruna's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Haruna shared, “I would like to be able to walk well and play like my friends. Please help me get this treatment."

“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.

Wat Way Di is a 23-year-old woman living in a refugee camp in Thailand with some extended family members. She was born in Burma to a family of three siblings and her father. Wat Way Di primarily relies on the food and healthcare provided by the refugee camp. Three years ago, Wat Way Di started feeling fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness. She was unable to walk far without becoming short of breath. At times she had trouble sleeping and eating. She had to stop her schooling due to her symptoms, and has been living with her relatives in the camp. She is unable to work and at times has difficulty doing basic chores around the house, like cooking dinner. She also is unable to carry water in the camp, which is vital for their water supply. She returned to Burma last year to become a midwife, but was unable to complete her classes, and is now unemployed. Wat Way Di likes to draw and, when possible, she draws different pictures. She went to the camp's clinic, and was referred to a local hospital for further evaluation. She was then found with non-rheumatic mitral stenosis, and was recommended for cardiac surgery. Mitral stenosis is when the mitral valve of the heart becomes narrow and dysfunctional, blocking blood flow into the main pumping chamber. Wat Way Di could not afford the procedure, and since then she has been on prescription medication. She currently treks to the hospital every two months to refill her prescriptions. Two years ago, Wat Way Di tried seeking treatment for her symptoms in Burma while visiting her family, but after some imaging testing she was sent home without receiving any treatment. Wat Way Di explains that it is difficult for her family to access healthcare in Burma because they must have payment in full at the time of treatment. For $1,500, Wat Way Di can have the surgery she needs. After she fully recovers, Wat Way Di anticipates being well enough to work as a midwife. "I hope that once I receive surgery I can return to my village in Burma, become a midwife, and take care of women and children," Wat Way Di says. "I believe that I can support my family through my work as a midwife."

Esupat is a very sweet two-year-old girl from Tanzania. Her mother is a housewife and her father a janitor. Esupat's legs are deformed due to a condition known as genu valgus, a condition in which the knees angle in and touch one another when the legs are straightened. Due to her condition, Esupat experiences pain when walking and her legs have become progressively bent inward. Genu valgus is a condition common to the region due to the excessive flouride in the drinking water. Esupat loves to play with her friends and her siblings, but her condition makes it difficult to keep up with other children her age. Her father heard about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) through work. AMHF determined that Esupat is in need of corrective surgery and rehabilitation in order to allow her to walk properly. For $940, doctors will perform a procedure to straighten her knees and afterwards Esupat will participate in physical therapy to learn to walk again. Without this surgery, Esupat's gait may worsen and she will be very limited in where she can walk. Esupat is expected to make a full recovery and be able to play and keep up with other children her age. "I want my child to heal and study to become a nurse when she is older," says Esupat's mom.

Joshua is a previous Watsi patient who successfully underwent sofield osteotomy surgery on January 22, 2016. The surgery was very successful, and now Joshua needs a second surgery of his left femur to allow him to bear weight on the right position. Since his first surgery, Joshua is showing great improvements. He was unable to walk before his first corrective surgery, but now Joshua is able to walk with support. He will be able to walk even better and without support after this second surgery to correct his left femur, which has severely bowed outwards, forcing Joshua to bear weight at the wrong position and causing him to feel pain. The surgery, which will cost $940, will improve Joshua’s gait and reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age. Joshua’s parents still need financial support to complete their son’s treatment. After a sofield osteotomy of the left femur, Joshua will be out of pain and have the ability to walk. “The fact that I can now hold my son’s hand and he can walk with me fills me with great joy. I hope after the second surgery, he will be able to walk on his own,” said Joshua’s mother.

Meet Layoni, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Health Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Layoni was born to a large, loving family. His parents are both small scale farmers and tend a few livestock to support their five children. "Layoni was born with multiple deformities; Spina bifida, hydrocephalus and bilateral clubfoot," AMHF tells us. His neural tube defects were addressed with surgery when he was young, and he is doing much better because he received the medical treatment he needed at the time. "He likes to crawl and sit together with other children drawing on the ground," shares AMHF. He is getting eager to stand and walk, but with clubfeet, a musculoskeletal malformation where the feet are twisted out of shape, his feet and ankles are unable to support weight. With $1160, Layoni will receive surgery, stretching, and casting to reshape and strengthen his muscles. AMHF will provide a surgeon and hospital respite for his recovery, so that Layoni will be able to run around and play with other children. "I hope my grandson will one day be able to walk," Layoni's grandmother shared in their pre-operative interview with AMHF. With our help, Layoni will be able to walk normally.

42-year-old Naing is a veteran of the Burmese army who lost his right leg in combat 15 years ago. He is married with five daughters, one of whom works in the city, and two of whom are still in school. "Naing began to experience painful urination, back pain, and a tender abdomen eight months ago. He did not try to access healthcare in Burma because he knew that it would be too expensive for his family," explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Naing has been diagnosed with bladder stones which require surgery to remove. BBP explains, "Currently, he has back pain and painful urination. He can still work as a day labourer sometimes but it is hard for him to work when he is in more pain. He said now he has blood in his urine and he has stopped working. His family and friends are worried about his condition." Naing was discharged from the army with no disability pay or retirement benefits and does not have enough savings to cover his surgery. For $1,500, we can pay for surgery to remove the stones, including transportation to the hospital and all expenses while he recovers from the procedure. Niang shares, "I want to have surgery and recover soon. I would like to work as a barber ... since it would pay better than my present work."

Meet Hadija, a two year old girl and previous Watsi patient from Tanzania! "Hadija was born with open myelomeningocele as well as bilateral congenital clubfoot," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). In February of 2014, Hadija successfully underwent a myelomeningocele closure to fix her incomplete spinal canal. She has been going to physiotherapy since the surgical wound healed, and is now in need of surgery to correct her clubfoot. Hadija's clubfoot has caused her feet to turn inward and resulted in very high arches. Since beginning physiotherapy, she has feeling in her legs and is able to move them around. With the treatment, Hadija's mother is hopeful that her daughter will be able to walk normally and wear shoes. $1,160 covers the cost of Hadija's surgery, the casts she will have to wear, as well as her four month hospital stay. Because of Hadija's need for close care, her mother left her job while her father continues to work. His earnings are not sufficient to cover their cost of living along with Hadija's high treatment costs. "My daughter has come a long way," Hadija's mother tells us. "I hope that one day she will be able to walk."

Paulina is 48 years old, and works to support her family in Kenya. She is a widow and has three children. "Her two younger children are still in school and Paulina prays that they will be able to complete their education and get good jobs,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “Five months ago, Paulina discovered a lump in her left breast,” reports AMHF. After seeing a specialist in Nairobi, a biopsy confirmed that the lump is cancerous. Doctors have recommended a mastectomy to remove her entire left breast, but Paulina worries about the costs. “Paulina does any odd jobs she gets to be able to feed and provide for her family,” AMHF tells us. After her husband passed away, she became the sole provider for her family and her children’s education. It took her a long time to save enough money to afford the initial scans to diagnose the cancer and she cannot save more to pay for the operation. For $740, Paulina will receive surgery and follow-up chemotherapy to ensure that the cancer is completely removed. These funds will cover all the costs of the operation, the chemotherapy, and her hospital stay. Paulina is looking forward to the opportunity to regain her health. “All she knew was that cancer kills and that she did not want to die,” explains AMHF. “After counseling and elaboration of the treatment process from the doctor, hope shows in her eyes.”

Meet Nancy, a 21-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. Nancy lives with her parents and two brothers. “Nancy loves to play with her brothers, and they are the ones that care for her when their parents are working,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us. “Her mother makes textiles to earn some money, while her father works as a day laborer on a farm near their house.” Nancy is suffering from acute malnutrition. Her weight and height are far below the average for her age, and she is at risk of long-term negative effects from malnutrition. “If left untreated, Nancy will start to miss developmental milestones,” says WK. “She currently has low energy, and her body is struggling to grow and develop normally. Her immune system is weak, and she is at risk for infections, such as pneumonia.” Nancy is also at risk of longer-term health issues if the condition is left untreated. “She will be at higher risk for chronic illness such as diabetes and hypertension,” says WK. “Even her children in the future may be affected, as malnutrition in childhood is linked to higher rates of complicated pregnancy and having children whom also suffer from malnutrition.” With $535 in funding, Nancy will receive supplemental nutrition to remedy her condition. Her mother will also receive nutritional education to help her care for Nancy in the future. “This education will have long lasting effects, giving Nancy’s mother the tools she needs to continue providing nutrition to Nancy and her other siblings even after treatment is complete,” says WK. “This intervention will prevent Nancy for suffering from the long term effects of malnutrition. Her immune system will strengthen allowing her to better combat infections and illness throughout her life.” “I want her to grow up and become a great professional, who perhaps works in our municipality,” shares Nancy’s mother. With your help, Nancy will have the support she needs to recover her strength and continue growing with her family.