“The symptoms make it difficult to focus on my studies and that upsets me. My mind wants to study, but my body will not allow it,” says Mu Eh. Meet Mu Eh, a 19-year-old woman who lives in a refugee camp in Thailand with her parents and three younger siblings. “Mu Eh was 15 years old when she first noticed the symptoms of her condition,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She has made multiple visits to health clinics and hospitals over the past four years and been prescribed several different types of medication, however her symptoms have become more severe over time.” Mu Eh has nasal poylps. Nasal polyps are soft, sac-like growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. BBP tells us they cause her pain and “make it difficult for her to breathe through her nose.” The growths also lead to “frequent headaches and her nose will sometimes swell and turn red.” Mu Eh passed grade 10 and is about to begin her post-term education. “She enjoys school and is interested in studying medicine,” BBP continues. “She occasionally misses school because of her condition and the pain makes it difficult to concentrate when she is studying.” $1500 will fund the procedure to remove the polyps along with transportation to and from the hospital. "With treatment, Mu Eh can be expected to make a full recovery and live symptom-free. She will able to return to her studies and work toward her dream of becoming a doctor.”

“My children look to me for guidance and support since I separated from their father," Ann shares. "This problem is hindering my work to support them. When I get well, I hope to start a boutique where we can work together." 42-year-old Ann is a mother of three children from a rural town in central Kenya. "Before she became unwell, she was a very active woman, selling second had clothes in a local market," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Early this year, Ann began to experience some lower abdominal pain. This pain got worse, forcing her to seek medical attention. Coming from a very poor home, and being a single mother, Ann has been unable to give a good education to her children, who can now only manage to get casual jobs like washing clothes for neighbors. Ann's abdominal pain has made it impossible for her to work to support her children. Her and her family cannot afford the treatment that Ann requires." Ann was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and allow her relief from pain. This procedure costs $790. "We expect that a total abdominal hysterectomy for Ann shall alleviate her abdominal pain," AMHF adds. "And prevent any possible bleeding that could have occurred, that could have led to anemia."

Meet Salma, a one-year old girl from Tanzania. Salma is her mother’s only child. Her father left the family when he saw that Salma has a disability. Salma has an imperforate anus, which means that the opening of her anus is blocked. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports: “Salma is currently passing stool through her vagina. To develop as a girl, teenager and a woman she needs to have this defect corrected.” For $1500, AMHF can perform a 3-stage surgery to fix Salma's condition. The surgery will allow Salma to pass stool normally, and develop without complications. “This treatment will give me the chance to improve our lives," shares Salma's mother.

50-year-old Daw Khin works as a shopkeeper in Burma while her husband works as a motorbike taxi driver. Daw Khin has three full-grown children and has taken in her 76 year old mother to provide care for her as she gets older. However, last month she began to experience abnormal bleeding and abdominal distention and was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. "Initially the symptoms were tolerable, but they have progressed to the point she feels constantly full and unable to eat. She is only able to lay on her back and standing to her feet is an exhausting effort," explains Watsi medical partner Burma Border Projects. "Daw Khin describes the discomfort and pain like she has a very large heavy baby in her abdomen. Although she’s still able to look after the shop, and do her house chores, she gets tired very easily and is consumed with worry." $1,500 is all it takes to deliver treatment and restore her health, according to our medical partner. They also tell us she looks forward to returning to work and caring for her family. "I am very worried about the mass growing inside of me and I want to be able to continue working in the future," Daw Khin says. "If I am able to return to work after surgery, I want to donate the money to a monastery in respect to Buddha and as a way to pay back the donors who support me." Let’s help Daw Khin get healthy again!

Meet Som, a 69-year-old woman from Cambodia! According to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), "Som is a nun and spends most of her days at the pagoda. She likes to listen to the monk prayers and speeches to nuns. She is excited to be able to participate in all activities of nun life." Unfortunately, "two months ago Som had a bad fall and broke her forearm as a result. She can’t pick up anything with her right arm, and requires the assistance of her son and grandchildren to do things around the house,” explains CSC. Without proper treatment, Som will continue to have limited use of her right arm, resulting in limited independence. For $405, Som will receive treatment to allow her fracture to be repaired. Som will be able to use her right arm again, and will be pain free. Let’s help Som regain her independence!

“My daughter’s condition has caused me much stress and worry. I am really worried that the mass will grow and cover my baby’s eye and give her long-term problems. I really want my daughter to be completely healthy and have a better life than we have,” says Wan Nam’s mother. Wan Nam, a seven-month-old girl from Thailand, has a benign tumor below her left eye. After receiving a CT scan, Wan Nam’s doctors decided that she would need surgery to have the bump removed. "Although it doesn’t currently cause her any physical discomfort it could grow larger and further obstruct her development," they explain. Wan Nam’s “father works as a construction laborer and her mother is a full-time care giver," continues our medical partner. The family, though, is unable to afford treatment. For $1500, we can pay to remove Wan Nam’s mass. “She will be able to grow up as a normal, healthy baby and her parents will be able to stop worrying about her condition," her doctors say.

Meet Rong, a 24-year-old from Cambodia. “Rong has a meningoencephalocele (MEC) that has affected his face and is eyesight,” explain our partners at Children’s Surgical Centre. “He is at high risk for complications stemming from his MEC.” An MEC is a collection of brain tissue that pushes outside the cranium. Rong enjoys listening to Khmer pop songs and watching Khmer movies on TV. Though he lives alone, Rong depends on his parents to support him because it is difficult for him to find work due employers’ concerns about his appearance. Rong has shared that the responses to his appearance make him feel sad and shy. For $390 we can fund MEC surgery and recovery for Rong, which will ensure he no longer has brain tissue pushing out of his cranium. In addition to mitigating the risk of further complications, Rong’s face will no longer be the source of stigma. Let’s help Rong live confidently and healthfully, and to pursue work free from worry about his appearance!

Meet Leap, a 54-year-old mother from Cambodia! Two months ago Leap fractured her right hip, making walking without pain nearly impossible. Her doctors at Children’s Surgical Centre explain, “Leap has been walking with a broken femoral neck for the last two months. She can no longer work, and her husband must support her.” They continue, “It is difficult for her to stand up and she can't walk more than a few feet without resting.” Confined to a wheelchair, Leap wishes she could care for her two children and not have to solely rely on her husband. $430 will cover the cost of a hip replacement and allow Leap to be able to walk and work without pain. Let’s help Leap pay for the medical care she needs!

This is Venence. He's two-years-old, lives in Tanzania, and is the first-born child to his father and mother. Venence's dad is an electrician and his mother is a homemaker. Recently Venence burned himself with a pot of hot water while trying to reach a window in his home. "He was rushed to the hospital and his wounds were treated," AMHF tells us. "After a long time the wounds healed, but he developed wrist, elbow and axilla contractures. He now struggles to use his arm." Clinicians have recommended a skin graft and contracture release surgery for Venence. The total cost, $870, is not something his family can cover at this time; this weighs heavily on them. “We just want Venence to be able to use his arm again," Venence's father says. Having two functional arms will allow him to be independent." Let's fund Venence's surgery, get him fully functional, and get him over this difficult period of time.

"Baraka is a very talkative little boy," writes our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "He is in kindergarten and likes to draw and color some pictures. He also likes to run around with other children as well as playing with cars." Six-year-old Baraka lives with his parents and two older siblings in Tanzania. His parents work in a restaurant in their hometown to support their family. Baraka's father is a chef at the restaurant while his mother works as a restaurant attendant. Baraka has clubfoot in both of his feet, which means they are turned inwards on each other. This affects the way that he walks and keeps him from being active or even walking long distances without experiencing pain. The AMHF team has recommended corrective surgery to make it possible for Baraka to be active. The procedure costs $1160, an expense which is out of his family's reach. “Baraka is so charming and full of life," says Baraka's mother. "We hope to see him able to walk properly and perform various activities without constraints on his feet." Watsi donors - let's help this vibrant young boy experience the pleasure of an active childhood.

Bishwas is an eight-year-old boy living in Nepal. He lives with his parents, grandmother, uncles, and siblings. His family farms, but they only get enough yield to feed the family for three months. Bishwas enjoys sports, and he says that his favorite sport is cricket! Bishwas burned his head years ago and the skin is still so damaged that his hair is unable to grow back in. For $1,415, we can help Bishwas receive plastic surgery to repair his damaged skin, reduce the risk of future complications, and allow the hair to grow back on the injured part of his head. Let's help Bishwas get back to his favorite game of cricket, in good health!