Yar is a 18-year-old girl from Thailand. She lives with her parents, three younger sisters and three younger brothers in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Yar and her parents are all too ill to work and are homemakers, while her siblings are students. Her family relies on the monthly food allowance they receive from an organization to get by. They also grow vegetables for themselves to supplement this income. Yar completed grade nine, but felt too ill to return to school this year. In her free time, she likes to weave traditional Karen bags for her siblings and help her mother with household chores. One day in early January 2020, Yar started to experience neck pain, fevers, and chills. When she went to the refugee camp’s hospital, run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), she was diagnosed with tonsillitis and was given oral paink medication and antibiotics. During her follow-up appointment, the medic gave her more of the same medications. After her follow-up appointment, Yar felt a small growth with her tongue inside her bottom left jaw behind her front teeth. She told the medic about this at her next appointment, but it was not checked out and she received more oral medication each week until the beginning of June 2020. During this time, the mass increased in size. In June, she was referred to Umphang Hospital, which then referred her to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for surgery. IRC brought Yar to MSH, where she received a physical examination, a CT-scan, and a biopsy of the mass. The CT result indicated that the mass was benign. In July, when she went back to MSH for her follow-up appointment, the doctor removed the mass in her mouth as well as five of her lower front teeth during surgery. Since the surgery, Yar has experienced swelling where the mass was removed. Daily, she experiences an achy pain in her lower left jaw, her neck and her back. The mass has also returned and is increasing in size. IRC referred Yar to Watsi's Medical Partner Burma Children Medical Fund for assistance accessing treatment in Chiang Mai Hospital. After reviewing a CT scan to confirm her diagnosis, the doctor in Chiang Mai recommended she move forward with surgery to remove the tumor. Now, she is scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 3rd. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Yar shared, "I am scared to receive surgery but I believe that I will be recovered after that so I am happy."

Bethwel is 9-year-old shy boy in Grade 3. Bethwel was well until last week when he fell on a hard ground while playing with his friends in school and sustained an injury on his right upper limb. Bethwel was brought to Watsi's Medical Partner's hospital with complaints of pain on his right hand. On arrival, an X-ray was done which showed that Bethwel had broken his right radius ulna. He has a swollen hand and he cannot lift nor use his hand. Bethwel is the second born child of his family. His mother is a single parent and dropped out of school at grade seven. She does maize farming and life is difficult for her family due to low yields that have led to insufficient food in the family and low income. Bethwel’s mother gets help and support from her brothers but she wants to be able to be a strong woman for her kids and provide well for them. Bethwel’s mother says, “I want my son to be treated so that he is not in pain anymore and can join his friends at school.”

Tumukunde is a 27-year-old small scale farmer who grows beans and potatoes for home consumption. Tumukunde got married in 2010 and is a mother of four children. Her husband trades live animals, buying and selling of cows and goats one at a time because he doesn’t have enough capital to expand his business. Their family owns a four-room semi-permanent house. Their firstborn is 10 years old and in primary school class four, their second born is 8 years and in primary school class two. They also have a 3-year-old and 1-year-old who haven't started school yet. She developed a small swelling on her throat in 2014. She did not bother going for medical attention because she thought it was a family disease and she used local herbs to manage her goitre. In 2017/2018, her swelling increased, she started feeling severe pain, and she would find difficulty in breathing and carrying things. She could hardly carry anything on her head. She suffer headaches during rainfall and cold weather. Finally, she decided to come to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center Rushoroza Hospital to seek medical advice. If not treated through thyroidectomy, she could develop thyrotoxicosis, airway obstruction, difficulty in swallowing and may develop into thyroid carcinomas. Their family has no other sources of income despite having a lot to take care of on their shoulders and have asked for financial support to enable her surgery. Tumukunde shared, “I pray that I may be considered for the surgery because, without financial support, it’s impossible. After the surgery, I look forward to practicing extensive farming to be able to comfortably support my expanding family, and without pain, I believe I can make it.”

Fredrick is an elderly man from Kenya. Earlier this year in April, Fredrick noticed a lump in his right breast. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and his older age, he decided not to risk visiting the hospital for a checkup. He was examined in September and underwent some scans and a biopsy test, but no treatment or medication was offered to him. Later on, one of his children brought him back to the hospital for further examination. The doctor diagnosed Frederick with breast cancer requiring a mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue. Without treatment, the cancer may metastasize to other organs. Fredrick has five children whom he relies on to meet his daily needs. Only one of the five is financially stable able enough to send him some money for daily living. Fredrick and his wife practice small-scale farming to supplement this financial support. He and his family are not able to raise the required amount of money for his surgery and ask for your help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $857 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Fredrick. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 14. After treatment, Fredrick will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Fredrick shared, “I am hopeful that I will get the required treatment."

On May 28th 2019, Min was playing tag with his friend in front of his house, when he decided to climb up a tree. Unfortunately, the tree was slippery due to the rainy season, and Min slipped and fell out of the tree. At first, he was able to stand on his right leg, but he was not able to walk. When Min’s mother heard the news, she immediately came to see him. In the morning, his mother and grandmother rented a car and brought him to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). The staff at MTC then sent him to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for an X-ray, which indicated that his left femur was broken. After they received the results of his X-ray, MTC referred Min to Watsi partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for help in accessing the treatment he needed. On May 31st, Min underwent surgery to place a metal rod into his leg. He was discharged from the hospital on June 5th. Within the past two months, Min returned to MSH for three follow-up visits. At his most recent follow-up, he was told his prognosis was good, and he was scheduled for surgery to remove the metal rod on January 2nd, 2020. “I feel normal again,” he said. “I’m no longer in pain. I can walk, sit, and take a shower by myself again. Before, I couldn’t do anything. I could only lay on my back and watch as people around me had to do everything. After my second surgery I want to work with my older brother in the factory.”

Chhorn is a 36-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Chhorn was married 18 years ago and together that have three daughters and one son. Chhorn's husband is also a farmer. Chhorn enjoys taking care of her grandchild, cooking, and watching Thai movies on TV. In October 2018, Chhorn slipped and fell causing her hip pain. She sought treatment at a Khmer traditional healer but it did not help with the pain. Four months after the accident she went to a provincial hospital and had an x-ray that showed a fracture of the left hip. After that Chhorn went home and took pain relievers because she had no money for the surgery to treat her hip. Her neighbor told her to come to Watsi's Medical Partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), so she traveled five hours to reach us. Chhorn presented at CSC unable to walk without crutches, with limited range of motion, and in pain. Fortunately, at CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chhorn of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for October 1st, and Chhorn needs help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. Chhorn said, "my condition makes me feel very bad because I can not walk well and I'm in pain. I hope this hip replacement operation will help me."

Neth is an 11-year-old second grade student from Cambodia. She lives with her mother, grandmother, and one younger brother. Neth's mother works in a factory and her grandmother is a merchant. Five years ago, Neth had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. Now Neth experiences difficulty hearing, ear discharge, tinnitus, and fevers. She cannot hear well at school and is embarrassed by the ear discharge. Neth traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 2nd, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care at the hospital. Her mother says, "I hope my kid's ear will improve and she will not have discharge anymore."

Edga is a quiet boy from Kenya. He is the firstborn in a family of two and he likes to play football with other children. Edga lives with his grandmother because his mother unfortunately died five years ago. Edga was born with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. He also has clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes him difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Edga traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Edga's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk well like other children and continue with his education. “My request is for my grandson to receive help and undergo surgery so that he can resume his studies and walk well like other children,” shared Edga’s grandmother.

Htun is a 15-year-old student from Thailand. He lives with his aunt, uncle, three cousins, and a cousin-in-law in a town in Tak Province. Htun is in eighth grade and goes to a Burmese migrant school. Htun has two older brothers who work in a factory in Bangkok. They support Htun occasionally by sending money to Htun's aunt. His aunt, his older pregnant cousin, and his cousin-in-law are homemakers. His two other cousins are students at a Thai school, while his uncle is a farmer who grows rice and corn. Htun's uncle earns a living as a farmer and delivery driver. In his free time, Htun likes to draw cartoons and play cane ball with his friends. On June 8th 2020, Htun was driving back home on his motorbike after visiting his friend. While driving home it began to rain and he fell, landing on his left wrist. Currently, Htun cannot move his wrist and it is swollen and painful. Although he took pain medication, it has not helped him. At night, he feels uncomfortable and cannot sleep well because of the pain. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Htun will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for July 3 and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Htun will be able to move his wrist and will no longer be in pain. Htun and his family need your help to fund the cost of this surgery. Htun shared, “I am very sad and worry that my hand will not be normal after surgery. In the future, I want to become a famous can ball player."

Angel is a 6-year-old student from Kenya. Our medical partner shared that they met Angel’s mother in the hospital corridors crying, she looked depressed and they drew in closer to inquire for more information. She showed our team her invoice and explained that she cannot raise the estimated bill. Angel is 6yrs old, the second and last born in her family. She is a nursery school pupil and likes the company of small kids. Their family hails from Gilgil in Nakuru county. Angel's mother is a single parent and she is a waitress at a small hotel. They live in a one-roomed rental house. Angel has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Angel traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,347 to fund Angel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily and hopefully enjoy a full, active life. “Any kind of support to make my daughter walk well is highly appreciated,” Angel’s mother told us.

In is a 36-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has five brothers, one sister, and he is the oldest in his family. He is now married with one young child. In's wife is also a rice farmer with him. He likes to play any sports, especially baseball, and listen to music during his free time. In February 2020, In was in a tractor accident that caused paralysis of his left shoulder and left hemothorax. He 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. He is unable to move his left arm which prevents him from working in the rice field. In traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 29th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, He will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. "I hope that after surgery I can move my arm better without any pain, I want to return to the rice field to support my family," In said.

Yetebarek is a 12-month-old cute boy from Ethiopia, the first born to his parents. He loves to play with other kids and play with water. His mother was forced to marry at age 16, by abduction in a traditional way. She was in grade 5 at the time, and is now 20 years of age. After her wedding she was forced to drop out of school and then started work as a cleaner in a government office. Now after she gave birth to Yetebarek, she is not working any more. Yetebarek's dad is a shoe shiner, with limited income to support his family well. Yetebarek was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Yetebarek is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 7th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Yetebarek's mom said, “I lay all my hope on God.”