Rita is four years old and in kindergarten. She is the only child in her family. Rita likes to play with toys and paint pictures. Rita has a type of congenital strabismus in both eyes called exotropia. This condition causes her eyes to turn outward. When Rita's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On October 31, doctors performed a corrective eye surgery. After recovery, Rita's vision will improve. Now, she needs help to fund this $264 procedure. "I hope that my daughter feels beautiful," says Rita's mother. "I won't have to worry about her feeling shy around others. In the future, she wants to be a doctor."

Rathanak is a four-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has three older brothers, and he likes to play games and draw pictures. Rathanak was born with ptosis in his left eye, which causes his eyelid to droop. When his parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On November 1, CSC surgeons performed an eyelid correction procedure. Rathanak's family needs help to fund this $266 procedure. After recovery, his vision will improve.

Ly Hour is nine years old and in the first grade. He has three younger brothers and one younger sister. Ly Hour was born with ptosis in his right eye, which causes his eyelid to droop. When his parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On November 1, CSC surgeons performed an eyelid correction procedure. Ly Hour's family needs help to fund this $266 procedure. After recovery, his vision will improve.

Kim Chheang is a 17-year-old construction worker. She likes to listen to classical music in her free time. Kim Chheang was born with ptosis in her right eye, which causes her eyelid to droop. She has difficulty opening her right eye and seeing. Her condition makes her feel shy. When Kim Chheang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On November 1, CSC surgeons performed an eyelid correction procedure. She needs help to fund this $266 procedure. After recovery, her vision will improve. "I hope that my right eyelid will be normal like my left, so that I can look better and not be shy around my friends," says Kim Chheang. "I want to feel good and confident so that I can continue my work and go places."

One-year-old Loyce lives with her mother, three siblings, and grandparents in a small village in Uganda. "When she is feeling good, Loyce enjoys playing with recycled items and making noise with them," shares our medical partner, the Kellermann Foundation. "Her mother is happiest when her children have enough to eat and are healthy. She dreams of someday owning a small shop selling household items." Loyce's mother carried Loyce and walked for 11 miles to the nearest hospital, seeking care for her daughter who is acutely malnourished. "Her mother is divorced and works as a farm laborer. She receives no help from the children’s’ father for their care," the Kellermann Foundation continues. Because her family cannot afford adequate food, Loyce experiences moderate oedema (fluid retention in the body), changes to her hair, and skin lesions. In addition, her development has been stunted. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, shares that due to her symptoms, “Loyce is not yet crawling, standing, or even beginning to talk." $375 will cover the cost of the medical intervention Loyce needs to treat her malnutrition. This includes a hospital stay, fluid, and nutrition education so Loyce can continue to recover after treatment. With immediate attention, Loyce will return to normal development patterns and may be able to avoid the long-term effects of malnutrition. “I am thankful for all the donors making a healthy life possible for Loyce," her mother adds.

Twesige, a 20-month-old boy, lives in Uganda with his parents and four siblings. Seven months ago, Twesige developed a swelling in his right scrotal area that has since been diagnosed as an inguinal hernia, or a protrusion of intestinal tissue through a weakness in the lower abdominal wall. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “Twesige’s mother is a housewife and his father is a casual laborer working in a tea plantation.” However, his mother must focus all of her attention on her son rather than on her duties at home when Twesige experiences pain from his hernia. Twesige’s mother first took him to an herbal clinic to obtain treatment, but the medicine he was given did not help. He has a poor appetite and the swelling increases in size and hardens when he cries. “If not treated soon,” says AMHF, “Twesige could suffer intestinal blockage, or strangulation.” Twesige's father’s income is not enough to support the entire family and cover the procedure that Twesige requires. For $220, we can help Twesige receive hernia repair surgery to replace the herniated tissue in the abdominal cavity and seal the opening in the abdominal wall. “After his surgery his mother hopes both she and her son will get peace," says AMHF. "Her son will grow up with good health."

Sethi is a 36-year-old refugee from Congo who currently lives in Kenya. He came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), seeking answers to debilitating symptoms such as headaches, vision impairment, and difficulty walking. When Sethi left Congo, he was separated from his six children and has not been able to locate them. He left all of his possessions behind and has had to move in with a distant relative who supports his own wife and two children by selling second-hand clothes. “[Sethi’s relative] has not been able to go to work consistently, as he has to take care of Sethi and his wife, who is expecting,” says AMHF. AMHF diagnosed Sethi with a brain tumor. Fortunately, the tumor is benign. However, “Sethi has been experiencing painful migraines,” AMHF tells us. “His vision has been partially impaired, and he has to walk with the assistance of someone else.” To remove the tumor, doctors plan to perform two surgical procedures during a single operation. In one procedure—a craniotomy—doctors will remove a portion of his skull to access the tumor. In the second procedure—transsphenoidal surgery—doctors will insert surgical instruments through his nose and into the sphenoid sinus cavity at the base of his brain. “If not treated,” continues AMHF, “Sethi will continue suffering from painful migraines with a possibility of being permanently blind. The brain tumor may also ultimately result in death.” $1,205 pays for surgery for Sethi as well as six days of hospital care—two days in intensive care and four days in the general ward—after surgery. Funding also covers the costs of medicine, blood work, and pathology. Sethi is providing $306 to pay for additional costs associated with his care. “After the surgery and recovery,” says AMHF, “Sethi will no longer suffer migraines, and he may regain his vision.” “Sethi hopes to get well to trace his family and help other people who might also be in need like himself,” shares Sethi’s relative.

"I am unhappy that I have ear pain, and it is hard for me to talk with other people,” shares Hin, a 52-year-old farmer who lives with her husband and six children in Cambodia. “For two months, Hin's right ear has had discharge, pain, and hearing loss caused by trauma with a cotton Q-tip,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “Her tympanic membrane was perforated.” The tympanic membrane—commonly known as the eardrum—is a thin membrane that separates the external ear structures from the middle and inner ear. It plays a major role in hearing by transmitting sound waves from the air to the middle ear, where the waves are converted to nerve impulses that travel to the brain. The eardrum also protects the middle ear from foreign objects, water, and bacteria. A tear in the eardrum can lead to hearing loss—as Hin as experiencing—and poses an increased risk for infection. For $399, Hin will undergo a myringoplasty to repair the tear in her eardrum. Funding also pays for up to two days of hospital care and three follow-up appointments in the first month after the surgery. “After a myringoplasty on the right side,” says CSC, “Hin's ear drainage will stop, and her hearing will improve. She will not feel pain from her ear anymore.” Hin’s husband looks forward to a successful surgery for his wife. “I hope after the operation is done, my wife's ear discharge will stop, and she can have good hearing and health,” he says.

Chhoeun is a 36-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married with one son and she sells fruit to support her family. In addition to looking after her son and working around her home, Chhoeun enjoys listening to news and music. “Chhoeun fell on January 2016 and fractured her left elbow," explains our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). After receiving Khmer traditional medicine treatment, Chhoeun feels that her condition has not improved. She complains of elbow stiffness and has difficulty flexing her arm and moving her hand. Chhoeun heard about CSC from a friend, and travelled four hours to the clinic with her mom. For $405, Chhoeun can have the necessary surgical procedure to treat her elbow fracture and restore mobility to her arm and hand. “I hope after surgery I can move my hand properly,” says Chhoeun. “When I am healed I will go home and continue selling fruit.”

Asiimwe is a 41-year-old man from Uganda who is married and has three children, two of whom are in school. “He is a primary school teacher,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Asiimwe first noticed a small swelling in his left inguinal (lower abdominal) area in 1992,” AMHF states. “The swelling was on and off and not painful,” but in 2015 he began to feel pain associated with the swelling and with pressure on the sensitive area. “In November 2015 he visited a clinic,” reports AMHF, “where he was put in a scan and was diagnosed with hernia,” or a protrusion of intestinal tissue through a weakness in the abdominal wall. “Asiimwe was advised to go for surgery as soon as possible but he didn’t have the money.” Currently, Asiimwe has a hard time standing for long durations while teaching due to the pain he feels in his left groin area. “Sometimes he teaches while seated, which is unprofessional,” says AMHF. In addition to its effects on his teaching, Asiimwe’s hernia could result in intestinal incarceration, obstruction, or strangulation if left untreated. “As a primary school teacher, he earns a small salary which he uses to support his family, pay for the education of two of his siblings and support his parents,” says AMHF. Asiimwe needs our help to fund his $220 hernia repair surgery, during which doctors will mend the opening in the abdominal wall and push the herniated tissue back inside the abdominal cavity. “I’ve lived with hernia for a long time,” says Asiimwe. “I am requesting for your help.” According to AMHF, “After surgery he hopes to recover well and continue teaching without feeling the pain and without worrying about the possibility of losing his job.”

Webby is a sweet boy from Zambia who was born with hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition which causes fluid buildup in the brain and leads to blindness and eventually death if not treated immediately. The team at CURE International describe Webby as "a smiley, interactive baby boy who is even starting to babble and crawl." Webby's mother earns a small income by selling fritters on the side of the road. She wants her son to grow up healthy, but she does not have the resources to access medical care for him. Fortunately, CURE International, with the support of Watsi donors, can provide Webby with life-saving surgery at no cost to his family.

Dorothy was warming herself standing next to an open flame, as many Malawians do in the cooler winter months, when her skirt caught fire and burned much of her lower body. Now, Dorothy has post-burn scar contractures on her abdomen. She often complains of pain, and she has problems walking or running when her damaged skin needs to extend to accommodate the movement. Dorothy needs a $1000 contracture release and reconstruction surgery to relieve her pain and restore her mobility. As farmers, Dorothy's parents cannot afford the cost of her care, but they desperately want their daughter to receive treatment. After missing the started date of school after her injury, Dorothy is currently enrolled in her first year, and everyone hopes she will be able to continue. This surgery is the first step toward making that possible.