Samang is a 46-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She is married with two daughters and one son, and enjoys cooking food for her family and looking after her children. Samang dislocated her right elbow in July when she fell while trying to adjust a mosquito net. The only treatment she has received was from a Khmer traditional healer, and this treatment did not fix the dislocation. Samang is in pain and cannot use her right elbow. In order to seek further treatment, Samang traveled three hours with her husband to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Surgeons at CSC will perform a $450 joint stabilization surgery to relocate and secure her elbow. However, due to the seasonal and unpredictable nature of Samang's work, she cannot afford to pay for her procedure. Let's help Samang cover her surgical costs so she can regain use of her arm and return to farming and caring for her family.

13-month-old Mchandael was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, in which one of the four valves of his heart is too narrow to allow enough blood to pass through it. As a result, blood backs up into his heart, leaving him sickly and weak and causing heart failure. Mchandael lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with his mother and father; he is their first child. His mother works at a clothing store and his father sells cell phones in the street. Mchandael is a happy and curious baby who likes playing with toys and clapping to music. For $1500 in Watsi funding, in addition to a $5000 subsidy from Have a Heart Cayman Islands, Mchandael can receive the heart surgery he needs to get healthy. "We want to say thank you to everyone who is helping our son go to the hospital for his surgery," his mother shared.

Yun is an 84-year-old grandfather living with his family in Cambodia. He is married with four sons, one daughter, and five grandchildren. He enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to the monks pray in his free time. Three years ago, Yun started having blurred vision and became unable to work well or travel independently. He and his nephew traveled three hours to visit our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). He was found with a cataract in each eye and was recommended surgical treatment. Yun's doctors told him he was in need of a phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in each eye, which will replace his internal lenses and restore his vision to full clarity. In total, the procedure, supplies, drugs, and three days of inpatient care will cost $225. Yun's family needs financial assistance to complete payment. Yun will have his vision cleared after full recovery from his surgery and will be able to work independently. “I hope I will see everything clearly,” he adds, “and will be able to look after my grandchildren.” His nephew is looking forward to the relief that will come after Yun is independent again.

“We dream that our son will grow big and heathy, and be able to study when he is older,” shares Axel’s father. Two-month-old Axel is acutely malnourished because his mother cannot produce breast milk. She has been giving him water with sugar and rice. But he has still been losing weight steadily, and now weighs much less than when he was born. Recently, Axel has been crying and coughing a lot. With an immune system weakened by severe weight loss, even a simple cough or fever could be life-threatening. If Axel does not receive treatment soon, he could face the risk of seizures, permanent brain damage, and death. Axel is the youngest of four in his family. They live in a one-room house in a rural community in the mountains of Guatemala. His father works as a day laborer, making very little money when he finds work, and often having no source of income for days at a time. Axel’s mother spends her days caring for him and his siblings, cooking, and cleaning. Although Axel's life is in danger right now, treatment is simple and effective. For $1,016, he will receive formula for one year, until he is able to consume normal foods. This will help him gain weight, and develop normally both mentally and physically. His immune system will grow stronger, and his life will no longer be in danger. Furthermore, his mother and other family members will receive motivational nutrition classes in their home, so they will be able to know what foods to feed Axel so he can overcome his case of malnutrition and life a full and healthy life. Let’s help this family guide their son into a healthy childhood.

Saitoti is a four-year-old boy who lives with his parents and siblings in Tanzania. He is the fifth born of seven children to his parents, who are subsistence farmers. Saitoti was born with congenital club feet, a condition in which his feet are twisted out of shape or position. This causes him difficulty walking long distances, and his parents worry that he will not be able to attend school with his siblings as a result. Saitoti's parents did not know that it was possible to seek treatment for their son's condition, and so they never did until a pastor from their village referred them to Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). While his parents cannot afford the treatment that Saitoti requires, we can help fund the $1,160 procedure to re-position his feet. This amount includes plaster casting and surgery to straighten the feet, in addition to a four month stay at the Plaster House, a facility in Tanzania that cares for children recovering from corrective surgery. "I would like my son to be able to walk normally," says Saitoti's mother. Let's help them fund their son's surgery so he can attend school with his siblings one day!

Angelica is a newborn baby girl from rural Guatemala. She was born one month prematurely. She was small and weak when she was born, and acquired an infection in her eyes and now her lungs. When she came to see us at the clinic, she was very sick, but now she is doing much better after receiving hospital care. Unfortunately, her mother had to receive antibiotics that are unsafe for breastfeeding. Since her mother had to stop breastfeeding while taking the medications, she lost her ability to make milk and now Angelica is acutely malnourished. Her mother says her heart breaks because she is unable to give her daughter enough milk to make her stop crying. Angelica lives with her parents and her older siblings in a humble one-room wood house with a tin roof. Her mother is worried because she can see her daughter losing weight, and she does not have enough milk to feed her. Since she spends so much time caring for Angelica and her father works as a day laborer in the coffee fields, barely making enough money to support basic living costs, they cannot afford the extremely expensive formula Angelica needs to survive. Although Angelica's life is in danger now, the treatment she needs to be a healthy and happy baby is simple. She will receive formula with the protein, calories, and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. Her immune system will grow stronger with the formula, and she will no longer cry from hunger. This treatment will not only save Angelica's life, but will mean she is no longer at risk for seizures, diarrhea, and long-term developmental delays due to her lack of milk. "My desire is that my daughter gets better and can grow healthily," her mother said. "I want to see her get big so that she can go to the school and study and be a person like you all that helps the people that need it."

"I hope to become a secondary school teacher when I grow up," says 15-year-old Sara. Sara just completed her primary education in Tanzania, and did very well. Her favorite subject is science. "Sara was born with congenital clubfoot," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). This condition caused both of her feet to grow inward and with very high arches. Now, "she is using the lateral aspect of her feet for walking, which has badly affected her gait," AMHF tells us. "Sara will most likely develop early osteoarthritis if not treated." Sara needs surgery to correctly realign her feet. However, working as small scale farmers, Sara's parents are unable to pay for this treatment. They rely on growing and selling maize and sunflower seeds -- barely enough to support Sara and her three younger siblings, let alone additional medical expenses. $1,160 will fund Sara's medical treatment - an operation in which doctors will surgically release the overly tight tendons in her feet that are causing them to turn inward. Then her foot and ankle joints can be re-aligned, and casts will hold them in place while they heal. Sara will also receive inpatient care for about four months to ensure that these casts are properly cared for. After fully recovering from her operation, "Sara will no longer have to use the lateral aspect of her feet for walking," says AMHF, "that will improve her gait and reduce the risk of developing early osteoarthritis. She will then be able to continue her secondary education and work towards her future goals."

Robert, an 11-month boy from Haiti, was born with a heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot. This heart condition is characterized by four heart defects that combine to prevent oxygen from effectively circulating throughout the body. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), shares that as a result, Robert has difficulty breathing and remains sickly. Robert, who lives in Port-au-Prince with his mother and father, "is a quiet and happy baby and likes to play with toys and listen to music," HCA details. "His mother stays at home with him, and his father works as a vendor in the local market." Most children who are diagnosed early with tetralogy of Fallot can live relatively normal lives if they receive appropriate treatment. Health City Cayman Islands has also committed to subsidizing Robert’s surgery with $3,500. An additional $1,500 will allow Robert the surgery he needs to become healthy. HCA details: “During surgery, a shunt will be placed, allowing Robert’s blood to receive more oxygen while his heart continues to grow and develop. In about two years, he will require a second surgery to completely repair his cardiac defect.” “I have been very worried about Robert and I am so glad that there is a surgery that can help him be safe and healthy," Robert's mother shares. "Thank you, everyone!”

"I am always thinking about my condition and really worry about it," shares 46-year-old Aye. "I can't eat and sleep well. I want to get better soon and want to help my family." Aye lives in Burma with her husband, who works as a day laborer. Aye currently lives with a leiomyoma - or benign mass - on her cervix. This causes her pain, bleeding, and discomfort. “Aye and her husband didn't have enough income [to pay for Aye's treatment] so they tried to go and work in Bangkok to be able to support their two sons, and they left their two sons with their grandmother,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). BBP continues, “Aye couldn't work anymore because of the pain so she came back to Burma. She said she doesn't have medical card and the cost of the treatment is so expensive for her in Bangkok. She then heard about a local clinic through her friend and made a trip there. The midwife there examined her and told her that she has a mass in her uterus that need to be removed.” Surgery to remove Aye's mass will cost $1,500. With this procedure, BBP says, “Aye should be able to go work to her work and can help her family. She should be able to generate income and support her two sons.”

Htun is a 52-year-old mother of five children who lives with her family in Burma, and works hard around the family's farm, tending to the home and her loved ones. Several years ago while Htun was lifting something heavy, she felt a mass protrude from her vagina. She tells our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), that she "visited a local midwife, but the midwife did not know what her condition was. Htun did not receive any assistance from the midwife so she returned home and tried to use traditional medicine without any success." She has since been diagnosed with uterine prolapse, a condition that causes her uterus to protrude from her vagina, often times causing bleeding and pain. Htun is self conscious of her condition and says: "I don't want to go outside the house because when I am walking my uterus slips and protrudes." Even with this discomfort, she continues working around the house. Her husband grows and sells fruits and vegetables, and her daughter works in a factory. Despite that, "the combined income of the family is not always enough to cover the food costs," let alone her medical expenses. $1,500 will cover the cost of surgery to repair Htun's condition. After the surgery, "she will no longer feel embarrassed and will be able to resume other activities. Additionally, she will no longer have back pain or pain associated with the prolapse." "I want to be able to walk outside without being afraid," Htun adds.

Meet Martin, a ten-year-old boy from Kenya. Martin lives with his older brother and his mother, who works as a hairdresser to support the family. “Martin sits quietly as I speak to him,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “He is calm and gives brief responses to any questions I ask. Martin is in class four and loves athletics. He says that is his passion, one that makes him a victor in his school.” Martin has an undescended right testicle, which did not drop into the scrotum as is usual in baby boys soon after birth. “Aside from dealing with all the changes taking place in his body physically, Martin has been affected psychologically,” says AMHF. “He has undescended testis and fully aware of it, making him feel different from other boys including his thirteen-year-old brother.” Without treatment, Martin has a higher risk of developing testicular cancer and a hernia as he grows. He is also at risk of infertility. For $540, Martin will undergo a single orchidopexy to move the testicle to its correct place. “I have noticed Martin develop a quiet demeanor recently,” shares Martin’s mother. “I am not sure if it is after discovering he is different from his brother or what brought the drastic change. I have no means to fund his surgery, I am so grateful for Watsi’s financial assistance.”

Meet 53-year-old Jane from Kenya, the first born in a family of eight children. Jane has uterine fibroids, or noncancerous growths within the uterine tissue. “For a period of about four years now, Jane has had backaches and increased bleeding,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “This condition has made Jane stop working, and it is hard for her to participate in social activities.” “If not operated on, Jane will continue to suffer pain and have bleeding, which could lead to anemia and other complications,” explains AMHF. With $790 in funding, Jane can receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and resolve her painful symptoms. This cost includes surgical supplies, medical staff fees, hospital supplies, medication, and laboratory work. AMHF says, “We expect that after a total abdominal hysterectomy, Jane will be well again. She will be free from the pain, bleeding, and risk of anemia, and will be able to work again.” Jane is eager to regain her health and move forward with her life. She shares, “My hope now is to get relief from the pain and bleeding so I can regain my normal life.”