Erlando is a playful three-year-old boy from the Philippines who loves to giggle and watch Tik Tok videos. Erlando was born with a congenital abnormality that leads to intestinal complications. This condition requires Erlando to go through a series of corrective procedures to eliminate the abnormality and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications. Erlando's parents sew uniforms for a living and work hard to earn enough to sustain their daily needs. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Erlando's parents raise $1,279 to cover the total cost of Erlando's procedure and care. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 16th and after his recovery, Erlando will be able to live a happier and healthier life. Erlando's mother shared," This surgery will be the biggest blessing our child will ever receive given our economic situation. It will be a such a relief to see him grow up healthy."

Srey Mom is a 39-year-old drink seller. Srey Mom lives with her mother, who is a fruit seller, and her sister. Since Srey Mom was eight years old, she has had persistent ear infections. These infections caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. As a result, Srey Mom experiences recurrent ear discharge, tinnitus, and frequent infections with accompanying high fevers. For the past few years, the infections have exacerbated her loss of hearing. Antibiotics were not successful in treating this, and she is unable to communicate well with customers because she cannot hear. Srey Mom traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 13th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Srey Mom shared, "I hope my ear infections will clear up, I will hear better, and communicate with my family and neighbors."

Bancy shared with us that she has been a widow since 1990 when her husband passed on. She raised her children on her own and they are all adults now. Bancy does small-scale farming on her one-acre ancestral piece of land. Bancy looks uneasy and eager to get treatment. She's had stomach pains for the last ten years. She says the prolonged stomach upsets are making her uncomfortable and in pain. The pain has been on and off but worsened this year. She was diagnosed with Pyloric Stenosis, a condition in which the opening between the stomach and small intestine thickens. Last month before visiting Kijabe Hospital, she had a series of painful instances. She visited a national referral hospital in Nairobi where she was reviewed and an endoscopy requested. She was scheduled for surgery but the cost was too high. She opted to try our medical partner's care center Kijabe Hospital where the same surgical operation can be carried out. There she can undergo a procedure called gastric antiectomy to finally heal her condition. Bancy is appealing for financial assistance. She shared, "For the last ten years, I have had prolonged stomach pains that are so uncomfortable. I have sought several interventions but so far have not received any help. I'm hopeful this surgery is my likely solution to my decade-old problem."

Dennis is a nine-year-old student. He's the youngest of four children in his family and is in grade six at school. Sadly, his mother passed away several years ago and his father was unable to take care of him. He now lives with a neighbor, who is his guardian. He enjoys playing football and other games in school, although his condition makes it difficult. Dennis was born with clubfoot of both feet, a condition in which the feet are twisted out of shape causing difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. He experiences pain and difficulty walking, and cannot wear shoes. He is unable to play games, like football, which he enjoys. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Dennis receive treatment. On November 22nd, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center. After treatment, he will be able to walk well, wear shoes, play with friends and continue with his studies. Now, they need help raising $1,286 to fund his procedure and care. Dennis shared, "I would love to have my feet corrected so that I can walk well and play with my friends."

Soriya is a 49-year-old seller of children's cookies. She lives with her husband who is a policeman. Together they have two children: one son and one daughter. Her son is married, while her daughter still lives at home. She likes to cook, exercise, and watch Khmer movies on TV in her free time. Two years ago, Soriya had a severe ear infection. The infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Soriya experiences severe ear aches, ear discharge, and pain. She visited a private hospital and received ear drops, but her symptoms did not improve and it is difficult for her to hear and communicate. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Soriya to receive treatment. She traveled to visit CSC's care center where, on September 14th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Now, CSC is requesting $925 to fund her procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Soriya shared that she hopes that the ear infection will finally stop and her hearing will improve.

Lemayan is a young three year old boy and the last born child to his mother of five. His father has two wives and a total of seven children in their family. Lemayan's parents are livestock keepers who depend on the sale of milk for their livelihood and once in a while, they are able to sell cattle, however their income is limited. Lemayan was diagnosed with Bilateral Varus. He is having difficulty walking and has pain when he stands or walks for a short distance. His mother noticed the condition when he learned to stand and walk. It began as a slight curve, but over the years the curve has increased significantly. His condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, it has led to Lemayan not wanting to stand or walk by himself, thus forcing the mother to carry him on her back most of the time. Through a visit of doctors to their village, his parents learned that he could get treated at Watsi's medical partner's care center. Lemayan's parents cannot afford the treatment cost and are asking for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lemayan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 19th. Treatment will hopefully restore Lemayan's mobility, allow him to participate in all kinds of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Lemayan's mother says, “It was a slight curve back then when he learnt to stand but over the years the curve has increased significantly and now he is scared of walking. Please help.”

Dora is a teenager studying in class six and her best subjects are English and Swahili. Once she completes her studies, Dora has dreams to become a teacher. At home, she is the seventh oldest of her mother's eleven children. Dora's father has three wives, so Dora has twenty siblings total. Dora likes helping her mother with home chores, such as washing dishes and keeping their home clean. Dora's parents are small scale farmers of maize and vegetable, and they also have a few cattle that they depend on for milk. Dora was diagnosed with left genu valgus, a condition typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, her left leg is bowed so that her knees touch, thus making walking difficult. Dora has to walk forty minutes one way to and from school everyday, so this condition poses a significant barrier to Dora continuing her education and pursuing her aspirations. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Dora. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 15th. Treatment will hopefully restore Dora's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Dora shares her current condition, "When I walk to school my leg pains so much there are days I am unable to put weight on the leg especially when it’s cold. Please help me."

Gladys is a 47-year-old hardworking woman and a mother to three children. Gladys is separated from her husband and now lives with two of her children in a small rented room. In January, Gladys began experiencing troubling symptoms including neck swelling, headaches, and difficulty swallowing. She was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Gladys receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 9th at AMH's care center, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Now, she needs help to fund this $657 procedure. Gladys shared, "if this condition is treated, I can continue with my work. I am requesting help so that I can be treated and be okay to take care of my children."

Yorn is an 81-year-old retired farmer. He has three sons and three daughters. He also has several young grandchildren who visit him often. He lives with his wife and his youngest daughter, who is also a farmer. Since retiring, he spends most of his time taking care of his grandchildren, and traveling with his wife and daughter to local pagodas. Eight years ago, Yorn developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and irritation. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Yorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there with his daughter seeking treatment. On May 14th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Yorn shared, "I hope that after my surgery my daughter will not have to do so much work to help me. I hope I can take good care of my grandchildren, and take better care of myself. I want to go with my wife to travel to pagodas."

Chorn is a 46-year-old guard in his village in Cambodia. He's married with one daughter, three sons, and four beautiful grandchildren. Chorn lives with his wife who is a grocery seller. In his free time, Chorn enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Chorn developed a cataract in his left eye causing him blurry vision and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for an hour with his wife seeking treatment. On May 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Chorn shared, "I hope after surgery I can see well again so I can go to work and help my wife sell groceries at home."

Duncan is a 28-year-old man from Kenya. He is currently unemployed. Both of his parents are elderly and are farmers. Because of his current condition, he lives with his relatives who help him visit the hospital regularly for checkups. Duncan currently has tinnitus in his right ear, which causes him to have reduced hearing. His symptoms began in early 2010 after a road traffic accident, which also caused him a spine injury. He is currently still waiting to receive spine surgery. A few weeks after the accident, Duncan started having ear drainage, and visited a local hospital in his hometown for treatment. His ear eventually recovered, but the pain and infection reappeared two years later in 2012. Gradually, Duncan became unable to hear voices well, and currently he is not able to hear using the right ear. Doctors have recommended that he get a hearing aid to restore his hearing to its normal levels and improve his quality of life. However, Duncan cannot afford the cost of the hearing aids. His National Health Insurance Fund coverage cannot cover the cost of both his spine surgery and this treatment for his hearing loss. He currently relies on well-wishers to pay for his medical bills. Duncan appeals for financial support. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Duncan receive his hearing aids on March 31st. This will cost $748, and he needs help raising money. Duncan shared, “I am losing my hearing at a tender age, my mobility is also threatened and I am unable to afford the increasing cost of medical care. I need support to get this treatment so that I may hear well again. Thank you for your support.”

Peter is a third grade student from Kenya. Peter is very active and playful like many kids his age. He is the seventh son in a family of eight children. Peter's father repairs household items including basins and jerricans, and his mother is a casual laborer who washes clothes for a living. Their family currently lives together in a two-room mud house. About 10 weeks ago, Peter fell from a tall tree and he sustained a femur shaft fracture and hip dislocation. He currently walks and gets around using crutches, and there is the risk that he may not able to walk on his own again unless he receives surgical intervention. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 17th, Peter will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund his surgery. Peter's father shared, “[Peter] has been unable to go to school since the accident. He can’t walk without the help of crutches and if he doesn’t go for surgery he might be unable to walk normally.”