Boneconcila is a 58-year-old woman from Uganda and a mother to two children. She works hard to provide for her children’s education, sharing that being unable to attend school when she was younger fuels her desire to help her children go through school. Boneconcila practices small-scale farming in rural southwestern Uganda to provide for her family. Six years ago, Boneconcila began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling, shortness of breath, and hoarseness in her voice. She was diagnosed with a goiter and needs to undergo surgery to heal. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Boneconcila receive treatment. On October 11th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $252 to fund this surgery. Boneconcila shared, “I hope to be treated and regain my normal voice again."

Exavier is an adorable 5-month-old baby from Haiti who has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Exavier's head circumference has increased. Without treatment, he will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Exavier at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available, and the procedure is scheduled to take place on August 26th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from his brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Exavier will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Exavier's family shares that they hope the surgery with allow him to grow, attend school, and play with the other children.

Murungi is a farmer who is married and a mother to 3 children - 2 sons who works as a nurse and another a teacher. Her daughter was a teaching but lost her job and is now married and working as a small-scale farmer. Murungi does farming together with her husband but being that they have limited land, they mostly grow food to feed their family but when need calls, they sell off some to generate an income for the family. Since ten years ago, Murungi has been experiencing severe bleeding has been diagnosed with uterine myomas. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Murungi's surgery. On September 27th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Murungi will be able to finally resume her daily activities free of pain. Murungi says: “I pray that my health gets well because 10 years is too long to live in such suffering, but I hope with your support, all will be well.”

Samuel is a nine-year-old student who lives with his parents and three siblings in Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. He is currently in third grade and enjoys studying history and science. Samuel has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four different congenital heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Fortunately, Samuel is scheduled to travel to the United States where he will undergo cardiac surgery on September 14th at Akron Children's Hospital. During the procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart and remove the blockage from his valve. A portion of the cost of Samuel's treatment is being supported by Akron Children's Hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is raising the remaining $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery prep, which includes all labs, medication, check-up and follow-up appointments, and the passports needed for HCA’s social workers to accompany Samuel and his family overseas. Samuel's mother says, "I have been very worried about my son's health for many years. I am looking forward to being able to stop worrying so much after this surgery!"

Sen is a 69-year-old widow who loves her son and four daughters immensely. Sen's husband passed away 19 years ago, now Sen lives with her daughter who is a food seller. She enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Sen developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can provide the treatment for Sen's cataract. On September 2nd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Sen says, "After surgery I hope my I can see well enough to care for myself and help my daughter with her cooking business."

Munty is a 12-year-old sixth grader, who is the eldest of three siblings. His parents are rice farmers. Munty enjoys math at school, and would like to be a math teacher when he grows up. Munty likes swimming, playing football with his friends, and watching TV. Last year he fractured his right forearm while playing with his friends after school. He had surgery, and hardware was placed in his arm at a local hospital to help repair the fracture. Munty's arm has healed, and he is looking forward to having the metal removed from his arm so he can get back to his usual activities without pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 2nd Munty will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. After this procedure, Munty will be able to regain the strength in his arm and his risk of future infections will be limited. "I hope that the metal in my arm will be removed. I want to heal quickly, so I can play with my friends again."

Maryann is a three-year-old girl and the second born in a family of three children. Maryann's sister Natalia had tonsil surgery one year ago with support from the Watsi community and almost immediately after her sister was home from the hospital, Maryann started having a frequent colds, swollen tonsils, and hotness of the body/fevers. She has been taken to various health facilities, with short relief, but her symptoms continue to reoccur. The ENT surgeon has advised that Maryann also undergo a tonsillectomy to fully heal her condition. Maryann's grandmother works at Nazareth Hospital to help support their family and Maryann’s parents are small business people making just enough to sustain them. Their family is seeking support from Watsi so that Maryann can grow up with fewer challenges and a bright, healthy future. If not treated, Maryann will continue to have recurrent swelling, colds, and fevers. Her condition could also become chronic tonsillitis, which can cause infection to the middle ear, a peritonsillar abscess, or rheumatic fever. “This condition seems to run in the family. It is hard to have such a small and second child having the same condition of tonsils. I hope Watsi can assist again so that my other grandchild can also get help. We really appreciate it," Maryann's grandmother told us.

Agai is a nine-month-old baby boy and the youngest child of his mother's five children. Agai's father lives in a remote village where most people are Maasai and keep livestock for a living. His parents sell milk and cattle to support the family. Agai has clubfoot of his left foot, a condition in which his foot is twisted out of shape. His condition may cause him difficulty walking and even wearing shoes in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Agai receive treatment. On March 1st, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center. A successful treatment will ensure that he is able to walk easily when he gets older. Now, he and his family need help raising $935 to fund Agai's procedure and care. Agai’s mother shared, "when my stepdaughter told me there is a place where my son can have his foot corrected it was hard to believe. But after seeing other children with a similar condition, I realized it is not just my son."

EdithMary is primary school teacher and a married mother of five. She and her husband are teachers and they both have been laid off from work due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Their family owns a three-room house for shelter. Three of her children have completed higher-level learning institutions and her youngest recently completed primary school class seven. They have always managed to pay school fees for their children through manageable loans along with the little they earn. For three years, EdithMary has been experiencing severe lower abdominal pains and severe backache so she can no longer bend down comfortably. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $319 to fund EdithMary's surgery. On March 4th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, EdithMary will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Edithmary says, "My condition has always affected my performance in class and has always kept on worsening over time. I pray and hope that I may get better again through surgery so that I may continue teaching and live an improved life."

Patience is a baby and the last born in a family of two children. Her mother is not employed and relies on her sisters to help provide for them. Currently Patience and her mother are living at her Aunt’s place in Kibera, Kenya as she undergoes treatment before moving back to upcountry. Patience has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Patience was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. She was then referred to another facility where she was admitted in the nursery and stayed there for a while without the treatment she needed. Her mother decided to take her to another facility in Nairobi, where she was able to have surgery for spina bifida. She recovered fully and was discharged home. While at home, Patience started experiencing fevers more often which raised concern for her mother. Her mother shared it with a friend who referred her to our medical partner's care center BethanyKids Hospital for treatment. Upon arrival, Patience was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. She is now scheduled for a surgery. Without treatment, Patience will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Patience that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 2nd and will drain the excess fluid from Patience's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Patience will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Patience’s mother says, “I never knew that her condition would be this big that it needs urgent intervention. We put our trust in God and hope that she will be well.”

Yan is a 63-year-old grandmother. She is married, and she and her husband have two sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Yan lives with her husband and their oldest daughter. Her daughter makes a living selling groceries to the local villagers. When she is not looking after her grandchildren, Yan likes to watch the news on television. About two years ago, Yan developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She sees shadows instead of faces and is afraid to walk outside because she might fall. When Yan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping for treatment. On December 10th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Yan shared, "I hope I will see better after my surgery. I want to do more around our house and cook for my grandchildren."

Benson is a twin two-year-old. His mom shared that Benson is a playful boy but a little shy and quiet compared to his twin brother who is more social and more talkative. Benson’s mother makes a living doing other people’s laundry while his father is a public transport driver commonly known as a “daladala” driver in Tanzania. Their income is not enough to provide for the family's needs and still cover Benson’s needed treatment cost. They are asking for help to support his medical care. Benson was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. He and his brother were born healthy babies and their growth has been on track until they learned to walk. Benson’s mother started to notice that his legs were not straight as he started to crawl. He took a long time to learn to stand and walk compared to his twin. When he got on his feet and walked, his mother noticed that his legs were bowed outwards. Benson's mother had never taken him to any hospital for help or treatment, she thought he would eventually grow out of it but that has not been the case. His condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, his legs keep bowing outwards, making walking more difficult. One of Benson’s father’s friends advised his parents to seek treatment for him. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Benson. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 7th. Treatment will hopefully restore Benson's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Benson’s mother says, “I would love to see Benson walking normally like his brother but the treatment cost is too high for us.”