“I wish to become a tailor one day,” shares Asha, a shy, 17-year-old girl from Tanzania. Asha, the third-born of five children, lives with her parents and siblings. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), states that due to bilateral genu valgus, Asha is unable “to walk without knocking her knees together.” Although she used to enjoy school, this condition causes her to feel embarrassed and restricts her ability to attend school. Bilateral genu valgus, also called “knock-knee,” is a condition in which the knees and legs turn inward, preventing the feet from touching. While this is a common issue in early childhood and typically resolves itself naturally, Asha’s condition has persisted. Particularly in Tanzania, where levels of fluoride in drinking water are extremely high, this diagnosis is frequent. AMHF shares, “As time went by, Asha’s legs continued to bow inwards—she went to school until her legs became visibly bent and she could no longer walk without knocking her knees.” Asha’s condition limits her mobility and poses challenges in her day-to-day life. According to AMHF, “She walks with difficulty and most of the time feels pain in her knees.” Without treatment, “Asha will be at high risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age.” Hopeful to correct the issue, Asha’s parents “started looking for ways to treat their daughter,” AMHF explains. Unfortunately, their small combined income earned from small-scale farming is not enough to cover the cost of Asha’s proposed treatment. With $940 in funding, Asha will receive an operation to correct her legs. After surgery and three days of hospital care, Asha will be taken to The Plaster House—a surgical rehabilitation centre frequented by Watsi patients—where she will receive three months of specialist support. While at The Plaster House, Asha will spend two weeks working with a physiotherapist to help facilitate her recovery. Following her surgery, AMHF predicts, “Asha will have straight legs and regain the ability to walk without knocking her knees. This will bring back her self-confidence and allow her to live a better life.”

Meet Khin, a 38-year old wife and mother of three children. While initially from Burma, Khin currently resides in Thailand where she sews sports clothing at a local factory to support her family. Recently, Khin has experienced increasing pain in her abdomen due to a uterine myoma. Since last February, Khin has experienced discomfort due to her condition. According to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), "Her abdomen is swollen, and she also has sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Sometimes the pain is so bad she cannot even stand." Her symptoms have ultimately brought Khin to stop working her job at the factory. A uterine myoma is a benign tumor that develops within the uterus. Myomas can multiply and grow if left untreated, leading to increased pressure on the surrounding internal organs. In cases such as Khin’s, the tumors can grow large enough to inflict nerve damage, contributing towards back leg pain. With $1500, Khin will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix. This treatment will ensure that the myoma cannot redevelop later on, allowing Khin to resume her everyday activities without pain. After recovery, BBP informs us that Khin is already looking ahead to new opportunities. "Khin wants to have her own shop where she can sell Burmese noodles and curry,” BBP adds.

Meet Khu Soe, a one-year-old boy from Burma! Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, shares, “Khu Soe lives with his parents in a village in rural Burma. His father is a subsistence farmer and does not receive an income. His mother stays at home and looks after Khu Soe and the house, and is currently pregnant with [their] second child.” Khu Soe’s doctors tell us, “Khu Soe suffers from a cystic hygroma, which is a fluid filled growth located underneath his armpit. The hygroma causes him bouts of fever, pain, fatigue, and difficulty breathing." His parents’ determination to treat their son’s medical condition knows no bounds; our partner explains, “they have taken him to numerous clinics and hospitals over the last nine months trying to get him treatment, to only be turned away due to a lack of resources and specialized staff to treat his condition. His parents are noticeably worried and say it’s difficult to watch their son suffer while the mass continues to grow.” Burma Border Projects is confident they can help Khu Soe. His doctors explain, “With treatment, the mass will be removed and Khu Soe will no longer experience bouts of pain and fever. He will have more energy to play and experience life like a normal baby.” The team says the “treatment will allow Khu Soe's parents to focus their attention on the needs of their newborn baby.” For $1,500 we can fund treatment to remove Khu Soe’s burdensome growth and ensure that he will be a healthy big brother! Khu Soe’s parents are excited their son will soon be healthy. They say, “Despite the many challenges we have overcome in order to get Khu Soe treatment, we remain very positive and hopeful.”

Meet Koeun, an 80-year-old grandmother in Cambodia. Though she has stopped working, Koeun likes to keep busy by planting crops around her house and doing housework. According to our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), Koeun “is a grandmother to 19 little children and she misses being able to see them and spend time with them.” Kouen has recently developed a mature cataract in her right eye, which has caused her to become partially blind. CSC shares that Koeun's cataracts "make it very difficult for her to go anywhere or see anyone/anything." Moreover, "going outside during the day is almost out of the question for Koeun because the sunlight makes her almost blind." Koeun's cataract coupled with her advanced age make it difficult for her to do much for herself. Her "horrible vision" has prevented her from doing the things she loves. Our medical partner shares that one of Kouen's daughters "sacrificed her time and brought her mother on a four hour trip" to seek care. For $150 we can provide Koeun with the cataract surgery she needs to restore vision to her right eye. Let's help Koeun improve her eyesight so she can regain her independence and see her 19 grandchildren.