Tumusiime is a teacher in Masaka, but due to the COVID-19 lockdown she is not able to work and is at home. Her husband is also a primary teacher at a school in Kampala. She shared that she has had a difficult pregnancy, but is hopeful that the twins she is expecting are healthy. They will be her firstborn children. Her twins are in a breech position and doctors have recommended she have a c-section to ensure a safe delivery for her and her babies. She now needs help raising $252 for the surgery, which is scheduled for September 15th. Tumusiime says: “I am looking forward to holding my babies and will try to take care of them well. I will be better when I am supported on my surgery and this will help in continuing with my teaching as schools are opened again.”

Kennedy is a kindergarten student from Kenya. He is five years old and likes to play and look after his family's cattle. He is the first-born in a family of two and his mother notes that he is very active and observant both at home and at school. However, his clubfoot has greatly affected his mobility as he falls often. Kennedy was born with club foot which is severely hindering his mobility, he is also experiencing pain when he walks. Fortunately our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. But his mother, a church secretary, and father, a farmer, are unable to raise the estimated bill and so are asking for your help to fund this $1,286 surgery. This surgery will enable Kennedy to wear shoes and walk with ease. “We are appealing for support so that our son can walk well like other children, continue with his education, and play with other children. Currently he is feeling pain when he walks and so surgery will be of great help to him,” shared Kennedy’s mother.

Makara is a 27-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two sons, with his wife is taking care of them at home. He likes playing football, listening to radio, and taking his wife and kids to travel when he can. In January 2020, Makara was in a motorcycle accident that caused a fracture on his right femur. He went to a one military hospital where a plate and screws were fixated on his femur to heal the fracture but it is still not well. Now, the hardware is rotated and infected. It is difficult for him to walk, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 5th, Makara will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This procedure will help him walk easily again. "I hope that I will be able to walk without pain after my operation, I want to work to make income and support my family," Makara said.

Benjamin is a 63-year-old man from Kenya. He is a quiet man who works hard and normally keeps to himself. Two weeks ago, Benjamin sustained an injury on his left hand while coming from his farm. It had rained heavily and Benjamin was rushing home. On his way, he fell on a hard surface and when he stood up, he realized that he could not lift his hand and was feeling pain on his left hand. Benjamin could not access treatment the same day because there’s no health facility near his home. The following morning, Benjamin was accompanied by his wife to a health centre. Because they were not confident of treating him, they just placed a sling on his arm and referred him to a district hospital for further care. Due to lack of finances, Benjamin and his wife returned home to look for money and after three days they were able to go to the hospital. Due to the ongoing medical practitioners strike, no one was there to help them and they finally decided to come to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center called AIC Kapsowar Hospital. The first returned home to look for money to gather for their travel and other expenses. Because of their socioeconomic status, it took them another ten days to raise USD130 through the help of their neighbors. On arrival to our partner hospital, an x-ray was done which confirmed his left humerus fracture. Treatment requires surgery and an implant to fix his fracture. Benjamin was born and raised in a small village called Kamok where most people work in farms or other small unsteady jobs. He has a family and has been blessed with eight children, five girls and three boys. Benjamin never was able to have a formal education so he doesn’t speak Kiswahili, but his local language Marakwet. His family lives in a small mud hut with grass as a roof and they get their food from their small farm, consisting mostly of millet, beans, and vegetables. Benjamin likes spending his days on his farm. He is the breadwinner of the family and now feels distressed because he can’t provide for them due to his condition. He is worried about the obstacles his family would face if his hand will not be treated and also learning that he has arthritis. Their family doesn’t have money to pay for his surgery and his wife shared that this would be "almost impossible" for them. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 18th, Benjamin will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will help him regain utility of his hand and be free from pain and any other complications arising from untreated fractures. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,016 to fund this procedure. Benjamin shared with us, “I just want not to be in pain anymore and be healthy and happy and have a good life because my family needs me the most.”

Jessy is a manual laborer from Kenya. Jessy is a victim of the 1992 Molo tribal clashes that left him displaced and homeless. He lost all his property and together with other victims they relocated to Nairobi and settled in the poor area in Dandora. They parted ways with most of his relatives and he has been surviving on his own since then. He has been doing manual jobs to earn a living and provide for his basic needs. In the first week of February, while visiting a shopping centre in Dandora, Jessy was sustained a fracture during a hit-and-run motorcycle accident that abandoned him on the roadside. He received treatment but the fracture did not heal well, resulting in malunion. He is in pain and has difficulty walking Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 17, Jessy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him heal well and he will no longer be in pain. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Jessy says, “I cannot afford surgery because I am weak, old and I rely a lot on my neighbors. I need help to raise the money for the surgery so that I may get back to my normal life."

Dismus is a small child from Uganda. He is the second born in a family of two children and his parents are eager to see their son get treated. His father works in a local tea farm and his mother is a casual laborer who mostly washes clothes for neighbors. Dismus was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Dismus is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on July 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Dismus's procedure and care. After his recovery, Dismus will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Dismus’ father shared, “I will be grateful for any financial help offered.”

Win is a 46-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and two sons in a village in Karen State. His elder daughter is a health worker where she works at a clinic in a rural village. His two youngest sons are students. Both he and his wife are a subsidence farmers. In his free time, he sometimes helps his community with building bridges or roads as much as he can. In January 2020, Win began experiencing painful urination and other troubling symptoms. Sometimes he also feels stomach pain in his right side. Watsi donors have helped to fund a CT scan and doctors have now been able to diagnose his kidney stones, which are hard deposits of minerals that form in the kidneys and are often very painful to pass. He has been advised to undergo surgery to remove his kidney stones. If left untreated, Win's symptoms will continue to worsen and will put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Win's kidney stone removal surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 17th. Win said, "I am very excited to receive surgery soon and I cannot wait to recover from my condition."

Josphina is an elderly woman from Kenya. She is a 68-year-old joyful grandmother who was admitted to the hospital three weeks ago with a proximal tibia fracture after she was involved in a road traffic accident. Sokome was crossing the road when she was run over by a speeding motorcycle. She fractured her right leg and suffered serious wounds on her leg. She was rushed to a government hospital where a cast was applied and was admitted for daily cleaning and dressing. Sokome kept complaining of pain on her limb until she was referred to Watsi's Medical Partner's hospital and diagnosed with a grade 3 open tibia fracture after an x-ray examination. Doctors treated her with debridement and external fixation. She has progressed well, with good healing with the exception of a 2x2cm non-healing wound with soft tissue loss and exposed bone. She requires a flap to cover the wound and allow healing, and post-surgery rehabilitation when she is discharged home. Sokome is a mother of three and grandmother to twelve. She is a maize and millet farmer in a rural village. She is a widow after her husband died two months ago after suffering a longtime illness and now lives with her son in a two-roomed house with an iron sheet as its roof. Sokome requires financial support for a successful surgery. Before coming to the hospital, her family had spent much of their money treating her. They have done their best for the hospital bill for her first surgery until this time when they can’t afford another surgery for Sokome. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Josphina receive treatment. On May 15th, surgeons at their care center will perform a skin grafting and wound cover so she will be out of risk of further complications. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,169 procedure. Josphina says, “I am worried about my health and the obstacles I might face; would I be able to walk again, would I face social problems or financial challenges? My only hope is to walk again.”

Nisriya is a young beautiful and playful girl from Ethiopia. Nisriya is the second-born girl in a family of three girls. She comes from a peasant family where her father is the sole breadwinner of the family. He is a casual labourer who relies on daily wages to make ends meet. Her mother is a housewife who delivered her third child in September 2019. Nisriya was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. She had a colostomy done but it is currently giving her multiple issues. She faces stigma from society forcing her parents to hide her from the public realm. If not treated, she will be at risk of infections in the colostomy area and continue suffering discrimination. After her recovery, Nisriya will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Nisriya is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on November 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Nisriya's procedure and care. Her dad said, “It is my hope that my child will get successful surgery and I hope when she heal completely she will go to school. And I hope I will get her a good school working hard since she loves education."