Allan is a father of three from the Philippines. He is an on-call housekeeper but does not earn enough to support his children who are all studying. During his free time, Allan enjoys playing basketball. Nine years ago, Allan began to experience troubling symptoms, including bloating, back pain, and persistent fatigue. Allan has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Initially, he was afraid of undergoing surgery, but he was encouraged by others who had undergone the procedure and by the fact that he could no longer tolerate the pain. Due to his condition, Allan has lost his regular job and has been unable to work because of the severe pain, which has impacted his ability to provide for his family. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Allan is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on October 29th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Allan's surgery and care. Allan shared: "Thank you very much to Watsi and the donors. If it will not be for your help, I will not be able to undergo surgery. This is a huge help for me and my family. Thank you."

Esther is a 64-year-old dedicated farmer from Kenya, working alongside her husband to provide for their family through subsistence farming. They are proud parents to four adult children, all of whom also work as farmers. Earlier this month, while on her way to visit a friend, Esther had an unfortunate accident. She slipped on the road and fell, injuring her right leg and causing her intense pain. Unable to walk on her own, she urgently needed help getting to a local hospital for immediate care. There, doctors confirmed that she had broken some bones. The next day, Esther returned to the hospital because her pain had not improved. Her leg was swollen, and further examinations showed abrasions on her right knee, intensifying her discomfort. Esther is in urgent need of surgery on her ankle to aid her healing and help her regain the ability to move independently. Right now, she is in significant pain, struggling to sleep, walk, or manage her daily responsibilities at home. In addition to her recent injuries, Esther is also managing diabetes and had eye surgery in October 2023. The ongoing medical expenses have put a heavy burden on her family, leaving them feeling overwhelmed by the financial strain of her health needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Esther receive treatment. On September 19th, she will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will relieve her of her pain and improve her mobility. Now, Esther needs help to fund this $1,094 procedure. Esther says, "I look forward to my recovery. I haven't been able to sleep well because I need to keep my leg elevated all the time."

Dar is a six-year-old girl from Thailand. She lives with her parents and attends pre-school at a Thai public school. Her father works at a cattle farm, and her mother is a homemaker. Dar enjoys playing with her cats and toys and spending time on the phone during her free time. Dar has been diagnosed with a congenital cataract in her left eye. She experiences blurred vision in her left eye, which makes her rely on her right eye for reading and seeing. Additionally, there is a noticeable misalignment in her left eye. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Dar receive treatment. On August 6th, doctors will perform a lens replacement surgery during which they will remove Dar's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Dar's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Dar’s mother says, “I feel very grateful to Watsi. We could not afford my daughter’s surgery, which made me feel sad and worried for her. Now, she is about to get her surgery soon. I am very happy. After recovery, I hope she thrives in school and pursues her education successfully."

Placida is a 24-year-old woman from Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. She is the second-born in a family of eight children. Five of her siblings are currently in school, while three have completed their secondary education. Placida and her siblings lost their father in 2017 when her siblings were still young, and her mother has been struggling to pay for her siblings’ school fees. They live on a small piece of land where they grow maize and potatoes, and they also have three mango trees. Placida sells groceries in a center near her home, to support her mother in providing for the family. Placida had gone to the market to purchase vegetables for her stall when the motorcycle she was riding on her way home got into an accident. The rider lost control, swerved, and crashed into a ditch along the road. She reports that she remained conscious, but suffered a deep cut to her left Achilles tendon. She was immediately brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, with the help of the good Samaritans. She was immediately taken into the operating room for immediate closure of the wound. An X-ray performed later, showed that she sustained fractures on her shin and calf bones. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 1st, Placida will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). This treatment will treat her condition, preventing further complications. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $861 to fund this procedure. Placida says, "I am in a great deal of pain and unable to move around. I am reaching out for your support to help me get this surgery, so I can walk independently and regain the ability to perform my daily activities once I fully recover."

Clara is a small-scale farmer, farming maize, rice, and legumes. Like many farmers this year, Clara complained of a small yield from this harvest season. She is 65 years old and a single mother of five children. With no support from their father since their separation, she struggled to take care of her children. Clara shares her home with her daughter and grandchildren. Earlier this year in March, Clara went to inspect her rice farm together with her sister. Her sister couldn’t help but notice that Clara was unusually quiet and looked weak. As they went about their inspection, Clara screamed in agony whilst holding her abdomen and collapsed to the ground. She was rushed to a mission hospital in Dedza where she was admitted for three days. On June 3rd, Clara visited Nkhoma Hospital on clinic day after three months of continuous illness. Clara faints, vomits, and does not eat enough. Clara was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor and the recommended procedure is a laparotomy and wedge resection of the tumor. This surgery will improve Clara’s current health status greatly. The tumor will be removed and should no longer experience pain. Her surgery is scheduled for July 3rd. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $709 for treatment. This will cover the costs of medications, surgery, care supplies, and hospital stay. Clara says, "For me, being able to eat and not have fainting spells and abdominal pains will be a huge blessing in my life. I look forward to good health after the surgery is successful.”

Aye is a 41-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, her husband, and 11-year-old son. She used to work as a tailor but has been unemployed since her symptoms started in 2021. Her mother is retired and her husband works as a motorbike taxi driver, making him the sole provider for the family. Aye was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backward. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, she experiences rapid breathing, fatigue when walking, trembling when doing something, and difficulty sleeping at night. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Aye. The treatment is scheduled to take place on March 13th at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital. After the surgery, Aye is expected to have a better quality of life. Aye said, "I enjoy gardening planting different types of vegetables around my house. I hope to go back and work in the same job sewing clothes again once I am recovered."

Antonio is a 60-year-old man from Philippines, married with three children. He works as a driver at a local government unit and earns about $173 a month. Last year, Antonio began having troubling symptoms, including pain in the abdominal area that radiated through his lower back. He went to the hospital for consultation and was diagnosed with chronic calculous cholecystitis, which is an ongoing swelling and inflammation of the gall bladder. Antonio has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen, putting him at risk for further health complications in the future and threaten his ability to earn an income. On April 29th, Antonio is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy through our partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Antonio needs help in raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Antonio says, "I am very grateful to be a beneficiary of Watsi. This will help me recover from my condition without being in monetary debt. Thank you very much for this opportunity."

Norlan is a 35-year-old father from the Philippines. Norlan did not finish his education, but as a father he is committed to making sure his two children finish school so they will not have to experience the hardships he experienced. He also dreams of going abroad to make sure his children will live a better life. Norlan currently works as a tricycle driver and earns $14 a day, which is mostly dedicated to the family's daily needs. Two years ago, Norlan began to experience troubling symptoms, including irritation, pain, and bowel obstruction. His condition affected his work and therefore the family's income. Norlan needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Norlan receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on February 3rd at WSFP's care center. A portion of the cost of his treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Norlan's procedure and care. "I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity because my income is not enough for the surgery and hospitalization," says Norlan. "We have nothing else to rely on so I am grateful to this organization and grateful to the people behind this."

Enzo is a 7-month-old infant from Haiti. He lives with his parents and his older brother. He has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure, resulting in increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Enzo will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Enzo at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on February 27th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Enzo's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Enzo will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. The family is hoping this surgery will be successful so that he will be able to grow up healthy.

Sandi is a young monk from Burma. He lives alongside his fellow novices and monks in a monastery. As a novice, Sandi does not have a personal income, but his family support him and the monastery provides him with food and shelter. In his free time, Sandi enjoys listening to the Dhamma. In February 2022, Sandi began experiencing blurred vision in both eyes. A CT scan revealed a cystic lesion in his brain, indicating a fluid-filled tumor, craniopharyngioma. Sandi experiences significant blurred vision in both eyes, occasional headaches and dizziness, and pain at the nape of his neck. Due to his poor vision, he cannot read books and cannot walk without assistance. Sandi sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on January 10th. Our partner is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Sandi said, "I want to express my gratitude to BCMF and donors for helping me. I would love to request continued assistance throughout my entire treatment. My desire is to fully recover my vision. Once I recover, I aspire to dedicate myself to studying and trying to become a monk."

Phorp is a 21-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives at home with his parents and 18-year-old brother. His family also works as rice farmers in Siem Reap province. At home, in his free time, Phorp loves to play volleyball. In August, Phorp was in a motorbike accident and fell on his left shoulder. He sustained multiple injuries, including lacerations and paralysis of his left arm due to nerve damage. He visited the local provincial hospital for stitches for the lacerations, but he did not receive care for the nerve damage. Phorp has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. There has been no improvement in his arm over the last several months. Currently, he cannot use his hand and, consequently, cannot work outside in the rice paddies with his family. Fortunately, Phorp traveled to our medical partner's care center for treatment. This is the only center in the country where this treatment is available. On November 3rd, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he should be able to use his arm once again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Phorp contributed $100 to his care. Phorp said, "After surgery, I hope that I can lift my shoulder and arm and be able to work."

Blessing is a beautiful 10-year-old girl. She is very active and helps her parents, a farmer and a pastor, with household chores. She is the second born in a family of three, and a grade 4 pupil in primary school and aspires to become a doctor. One day, while alone in the house, Blessing accidentally fell on a boiling tea kettle and sustained burns on her right elbow. She was taken to the nearest hospital, where first aid was administered, and later discharged home. Currently, her right arm has sustained a contracture from the burn. She cannot raise or stretch her hand. Blessing works at home mostly in doing household chores which she likes, but the condition has greatly affected her ability and her self-esteem. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Blessing receive treatment. On November 28th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery, which will allow Blessing to fully use her hand again. Her self-esteem will also improve, and she can continue with her education and chores without interruption. However, we need help to fund this $840 procedure. “I am looking forward to seeing my daughter's hand fully healed and transformed. May God continue to bless you as you do God's work of helping needy patients,” Blessing's mother told us.