Ponna is a 63-year-old woman with two daughters, three sons, and many grandchildren. Ponna's husband is a retired policeman and Ponna sells groceries outside their home. She enjoys looking after her grandchildren and listening to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Ponna developed a cataract in her right eye, which now makes things hard to recognize and has caused blurry vision and photophobia. When Ponna learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there with her son seeking treatment. On March 11th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Ponna said, "I hope after surgery I can see better so I can go outside by myself and do my activities more easily."

Nang is a 35-year-old garment worker from Cambodia. She is single and has six siblings. Currently, Nang lives with her elderly parents. She enjoys listening to music and the news on the radio. One year ago, Nang developed a cataract in her right eye. As a result, she is not able to see anything, work, eat or carry out any of her daily life activities independently. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Nang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours with her mother hoping for treatment. On February 16th, 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, Nang needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Nang shared, "I hope after surgery that I can see much better than before. I miss going to work, going outside by myself, and taking care of my parents, who cannot live by themselves any longer and need my support."

Isaya is a 16-year-old teenager from Tanzania. He is the firstborn child in a family of three children. Isaya never had the chance to join school due to his parent’s financial challenges. Despite not going to school, Isaya has been a very hardworking young man who helps his father look after the cattle. Isaya was born healthy and his growth has been normal, until last year when he noticed his right leg was bending inwards. He says the bend was very slight but over time it has increased significantly. Isaya has been walking over a long distance in search of green pasture for his father's cattle. However, due to his leg, Isaya can no longer go out with the cattle. Isaya was diagnosed with right genu valgus, or bowleggedness. His leg is bowed inward so that his knees 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 is in pain and discomfort after walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Isaya. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 22nd. Treatment will hopefully restore Isaya's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Isaya shared, “I am unable to carry out my daily chores because of my leg. Please help me get this treatment so that I can return home and help my parents.”

Srey is a 50-year-old farmer from Cambodia with three sons, one daughter, and one grandchild. Her husband passed away two years ago from heart disease. She shared with us that she enjoys watching Khmer dramas on TV. Five years ago, Srey developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her irritation, burning, tearing, redness, and discomfort with her appearance. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Srey learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours with her daughter seeking treatment. Srey needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for September 22nd. Srey said, "I hope the doctors can remove the pterygium so I can feel good and plant rice well again to support our needs."

Anne is a small-scale farmer from Kenya. She plants Maize for consumption. She has been blessed with five children and she is very good at taking care of her large family. Anne separated with her husband many years ago and she and her five children went to stay with her uncle. Anne has worked hard to provide for her children and ensure that they received an education. Eight years ago, Anne began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck disfigurement and difficulty swallowing. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Anne receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 19 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $673, and she and her family need help raising money. Anne says “This condition is making me weak and I can’t work like before. I want to be strong for my children so that they can receive education and get their daily needs.”

Ko is a 35-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two brothers and two sisters, and in his spare time, his favorite thing to do is watch Chinese dramas on television. One year ago, Ko developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Ko learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 5th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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. "I hope that my brother will be able to see more clearly and can return to farming at the rice field." -Ko's Brother

Gladys and her husband are farmers in Uganda, they plant maize in their one acre farm. Gladys has been blessed with nine children that are currently aged between 16 and 31 years old. The family is struggling financially due to the low socio-economic status of the area where they live. This area also experiences communal clashes. Gladys began to experience troubling symptoms 20 years ago. She was diagnosed with a goitre, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Gladys receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 16 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $705, and she and her family need help raising money. “I want this mass to be removed for two reasons; so that I can continue with my daily chores and also so that the people in my community can learn from my experience that herbalists cannot cure and should seek medical care at a hospital," shared Gladys.

Hun is a 65-year-old mother of eight from Cambodia. She has ten grandchildren, and enjoys watching Khmer dramas on television. Six months ago, Hun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Hun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On January 13th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. "I hope that I can see more clearly so I can help plant rice and other crops, and take care of the housework," she said.

Ry is a 78-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. When she has free time at home, she enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Ry developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Ry learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours ago seeking treatment. On March 17th, doctors will perform a small incision 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. "I hope that I will be able to recognize things clearly and can go outside again," Ry shared.

Leap is a 44-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has been married for 29 years and has two sons and two daughters. When she has free time, she enjoys watching television, listening to music, and cooking for her family. Three years ago, Leap had an accident and burned her right ankle with fire. Her injuries have still not healed properly, and she often has pain and swelling near her burn. When Leap learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 5th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to remove the affected burn tissue and replace it with healthy skin, allowing her to feel comfortable and walk without pain. Now, Leap needs help to fund this $474 procedure. "I hope that my skin graft surgery goes well and I will be able to walk well again," she said.

The world welcomed a new baby boy, he has not yet been named, so goes by baby of Hawa Hassan. He is a first-born child to his mother who moved to Arusha, Tanzania four years ago looking for work. She was able to find work locally and has been earning income as a housemaid for two years now. Baby of Hawa was born in the hospital and was directly referred to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center ALMC when the doctors noticed he had a birth defect. At ALMC Hospital, he was admitted to the NICU and his mother was informed that her baby needed surgery as soon as possible to correct this birth defect. His mother could not afford surgery for her son for she does not earn enough to be able to afford the treatment. His father is a shop keeper and he is also not able to afford his son’s needed surgery, they had just enough savings for their baby’s birth costs. This surgery will enable Hawa's baby to be able to pass stool normally, if not treated this condition will cause discomfort for the baby as he cannot pass stool, and he may stop feeding properly. If not treated, his condition may even result in death. Hawa shared, “Please help my son get this treatment so that he can continue to feed well, I am worried about him. He looks very sick and discomforted.”