Rim is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has five brothers and three sisters. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and watch the news. Three years ago, Rim developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, itchiness, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Rim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 25, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope I can see everything clearly so I can learn about Buddha and look after my grandchildren."

Bikensley is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers, in a river valley in central Haiti. He enjoys going to preschool and church. Bikensley has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These prevent blood from circulating adequately to the lungs, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 9, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole with a patch, and remove the blockage near his valve. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Bikensley's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His father says, "We are happy that our son can have this surgery so that he will be able to walk to and from school next year."

Mary is a milk vendor from Kenya. She is a mother of four. The family lives in their ancestral home in Kitale, Western Kenya. Mary has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Mary. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 26. After treatment, Mary will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Mary says, “I am confident that soon I will be treated and heal. I want to be there for my children."

Htar is an eight-year-old girl who has a blood disorder called thalassemia. Due to her poor health, she has had to drop out of school. She lives with her parents, an older brother, and a younger sister in Hpa-An, Karen State, Burma. Her parents and oldest brother work as subsistence farmers on their rice field, while her sister goes to school. Up until she was six years old, Htar did not show any symptoms of having thalassemia. Gradually, she grew pale, was constantly tired, and developed a stomachache. When her mother noticed her symptoms, she brought her to a clinic in Hpa-An, where she was given blood transfusions twice a month without any explanation about her diagnosis. Htar mother finally took Htar to Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center, where she was referred to Mae Sot Hospital and the doctor informed the family that Htar would require surgery for her condition. If not, she might need blood transfusions very often, and her condition would not improve. She is scheduled to undergo a splenectomy on February 23 at our medical partner's care center. Now, the family needs help raising $1,500 to pay for surgery.

Nwet (BB) is a 23-day-old boy from Burma. He lives with his family in a village in Karen State. When he was born, the nurses noticed a protrusion on the back of his skull, a neurological condition called encephalocele. The protrusion is very sensitive. Nwet (BB) was born with encephalocele, a type of neural type defect characterized by sac-like protrusions of nervous tissue through openings in the skull. Both incomplete bone fusion in the skull and incomplete closure of the neural tube contribute to this condition. If left untreated, the lump will continue to grow, heightening the risks of developmental delays and permanent neurological impairment. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of corrective cranial surgery for Nwet (BB), which is scheduled to take place on January 15. Surgeons will remove the protrusion and correct the skull defect, hopefully eliminating the risk of future neurological complications and allowing Nwet (BB) to develop along a healthy trajectory. Nwet Yee, his mother says, "I am worry for my son but I cannot do anything for him. I hope that the surgery will make him well and become a normal person like other children."

Reginal is a young man from Haiti. He lives on an island off the west coast of Haiti with his parents and younger brothers and sisters. He helps his family raise animals and grow crops around their house. Reginal has a cardiac condition called severe aortic regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart has been severely damaged by rheumatic fever, and can no longer adequately pump blood to the rest of his body. Reginal will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On December 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will replace his damaged valve with an artificial implant. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $65,000 to pay for surgery. Reginal's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Reginal's family overseas. He says, "I will pray for everyone who is helping me to have this surgery!"

Simon is a 60-year-old husband and father of four from Tanzania who also cares for four other children. Both Simon and his wife are subsistence farmers, and they are working very hard to put their children in school. Simon started to experience pain in his knees after an accident that he had back in the 80s when he was hit by a cow on both of his knees. While the pain was initially only occasional and could be palliated by painkillers, the pain has recently become much worse. Simon has been to several hospitals where they have told him that he needs surgery. On June 23, Simon will undergo total knee replacement surgery. His medical insurance is covering a portion of the cost, subsidizing $1,887. On top of that, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $822 to help fund the rest of the treatment. Simon says, "I am glad I have found help. I have had this pain for so long, I will be so glad if I will no longer be in pain so that I may work hard for my children."

Carlos is a 14-year old student who lives in an orphanage on the southern coast of Haiti. Carlos is currently in the eighth grade and would like to become a doctor or an engineer when he grows up. Carlos suffers from mitral and aortic regurgitation, both of which resulted from the rheumatic fever that he contracted several years ago. Due to his conditions, blood backs up into his heart and does not properly circulate throughout his body, leaving Carlos weak, short of breath, and at risk of heart failure. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to cover the cost of Carlos's air transportation to the Cayman Islands, where he is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 5. Once there, he will receive the care that he needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. Carlos says, "I am very happy that I can have this chance to heal my heart, and would like to say thank you to everyone."

17-year-old Harun is a secondary school student who lives in central Kenya. He is the oldest of three children in his family. His father is a farmer, and his mother stays at home. The family had been living in a rental house until they built a two-room house with the help of well-wishers and their extended family. Harun has bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which both of his feet are twisted out of position due to short tendons in his feet and ankles. As a result, Harun cannot walk for long distances. His condition was neglected because his parents feared huge medical bills that they could not afford. Treatment for clubfoot is surgery to release the tendons in the involved foot and ankle. Doctors then move the foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. After the casts are removed, some patients wear a brace for a year or more to maintain the proper position of the foot. Harun's surgeons plan to start treatment on his left foot on August 21 and treat his right foot at a later date. "We cannot afford the bill as stipulated, and we request your help," shares Harun's father. Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,224 to pay for Harun's surgery, six-day hospital stay, lab tests, medicine, and surgical supplies. Hardworking and focused both at school and at home, Harun aspires to become a doctor when he grows up. Let's help fund his surgery!

Shelda is a nine-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and older brother. She enjoys going to school, playing with her friends, and singing in church. Several years ago, Shelda contracted rheumatic fever, which caused damage to her heart. She developed a condition called mitral and aortic regurgitation, where blood backs up into her heart and does not properly circulate through her body. This condition causes Shelda to experience shortness of breath, painful breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the legs. If left untreated, her condition could become fatal. Seeking treatment through our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, Shelda is scheduled to undergo heart surgery to correct her condition on July 11. Although Shelda's [transportation](https://watsi.org/profile/a87ad56dd3f0-shelda) to our medical partner's care center has already been funded by Watsi, she is still in need of $1,500 to cover the cost of her heart surgery prep. The organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is also subsidizing Shelda's surgery, donating $22,000 to cover the rest of her medical bills. "I am excited for the day when Shelda can do everything she wants without getting tired and needing to rest," says Shelda's mother.

Ean is a 70-year-old rice and crop farmer from Cambodia. She is married with four sons and eight grandchildren. She enjoys watching the news on TV and going to the pagoda on holidays to listen to monks pray. About a year ago, Ean developed a cataract in each eye. This causes her blurred vision, irritation, burning, cloudy lenses, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any type of work, or go anywhere on her own. On February 28, doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform cataract surgery in both her eyes. After the surgery, Ean will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund the surgery.

Truphena is a three-month-old girl from Kenya. The youngest of four children, she is the much-loved baby of the family. Truphena's mother, a cook, and father, a motorcycle taxi driver, are eager to see their daughter well again. When Truphena was born, she was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium that can increase pressure on the brain, causing mental and physical health problems. She was in pain and crying often. Her parents took her to the hospital for a brain scan, which confirmed the necessity of surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to fund Truphena's operation. She is scheduled for treatment on May 4 at our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital. “I am overjoyed to know there is a place my daughter can get treated,” Truphena's mother says.