Hok is a 21-year-old husband and father from Cambodia. Currently, he lives with chronic right ear pain, discharge, and hearing loss. Hok began having recurring ear infections when he was a child. This led to a perforated ear drum, and the same symptoms he still experiences today. His symptoms impact his ability to work at his factory job and enjoy one of his favorite activities: listening to the radio. He needs a myringoplasty - a procedure that involves repairing a hole in the tympanic membrane. Hok's mother, who was with him at his appointment, hopes for his quick recovery: "I hope my son's ear discharge will stop and he won't feel pain anymore. I wish this will bring him good hearing and health." For $399, Hok will be able to receive this treatment and improve his quality of life. He will receive treatment at Children's Surgical Centre where some of his other family members have been treated successfully in the past.

75-year-old Sarath spends her time doing housework and visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. The mother of three and grandmother of 15 lives with her husband in Cambodia. “One year ago Sarath developed a cataract in each eye,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “This causes her blurred vision, tearing, and she is afraid of the bright sunshine.” Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. They can ultimately result in total blindness. Due to her condition, Sarath finds herself with limited independence. She experiences difficulty seeing clearly, recognizing faces, and going outside on her own. For $225, we can fund Sarath’s vision-restoring surgery. In each eye, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial implant. The surgery takes only 40 minutes, and will fully restore Sarath’s vision.

“It is hard to recognize faces clearly, do any work, or go anywhere by myself,” shares Chantha, a 75-year-old woman from Cambodia. Two years ago, Chantha developed a cataract in her left eye, explains our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Common among elderly patients, a cataract occurs as proteins accumulate to form a filmy layer over the eye lens. Over time, this cloudy layer gradually solidifies to progressively worsen vision. At this stage of her condition, Chantha is partially blind. For $150, Chantha will receive surgery on her left eye. During this brief operation, the old, cloudy lens will be removed and replaced with a sheer implant. Married with one son, one daughter, and two grandchildren, “Chantha spends her time reading books and listening to the monks praying on the radio,” CSC shares. After this brief, simple treatment, Chantha will be able to see clearly again.

Meet Devora, a 34-year-old mother of two. Devora and her twin sister are very close, and raise their families together in Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), shares that one month ago, “Devora was in the hospital because she could not walk or talk. An ultrasound and labs revealed Devora has kidney failure. Because kidneys play such a vital role in filtering toxins from the blood, this diagnosis can be fatal. However, there are treatment options that would filter and regulate Devora’s blood artificially." $1265 will fund the dialysis, medication, and education to treat and manage her condition. WK tells us that in order to make this logistically possible they will “construct a room at her home specifically for her dialysis.” Dialysis will remove the salt, waste, and excess water from the blood. This intervention will ensure that Devora has a sterile environment where she can self-administer regular dialysis. The medical team will visit her often and provide intensive education on dialysis and treatment. WK says, “Devora will be able to live for the rest of her life while technically still in kidney failure. Her energy will increase and she will be able to get back to everyday activities.”

Meet Cristian, a one-year-old baby boy from Guatemala. “When Cristian came to us, we immediately recognized that he was suffering from acute malnutrition,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “His mother reports he has periodic diarrhea and is not growing as well as his neighbors. Indeed his height and weight are far below the average for his age, and he is lagging developmentally behind his peers.” “Where Cristian’s family lives, food security is a large issue, as many families do not have alternative options to earn higher incomes,” says WK. “Cristian’s parents strive to create the best lives possible for their children, but with a third baby on the way, Cristian’s mother worries they will not have enough money to supply them with the food they need to thrive.” The effects of Cristian’s malnutrition are persistent. “Insufficient intake due to food insecurity, and excessive output due to parasitic disease or bacterial infection prevent Cristian from absorbing the nutrients necessary to grow developmentally and physically,” explains WK. “Without intervention, this will affect Cristian’s ability to build a strong immune system, thus increasing his susceptibility to other illnesses.” For $535.00, Cristian can receive comprehensive treatment for acute malnutrition, which will allow him to avoid its permanent effects. “He will recoup the weight and height he has lost and begin to catch up developmentally to his peers. Deworming medication will remove the parasitic infection causing his diarrhea, and he will have the chance to grow to his full potential,” says WK. “He will receive nutritional support, thus allowing his brain to grow and develop normally. His mother will be given the educational tools to prevent malnutrition in her new baby and older son, as well as to continue Cristian’s treatment.” “I just want my children to have the option of a better future,” shares Cristian’s mother. “I could see my child was not growing, and I am so thankful that you have taken notice and want to help him.” WK adds: “With Watsi donor support, we believe this child will fully recover.”

“Once my foot is straight, I will go to school and study hard to become a doctor,” says Joseph. Meet Joseph, an energetic 13-year-old boy from Tanzania. Joseph is one of five and is the fourth born child in his family. “Joseph refused to go to school because other children laugh at him whenever they see him walk abnormally,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) explains. “He recently agreed to home schooling so he is now working hard to learn how to read and write.” Joseph has unilateral clubfoot. AMHF explains, “Joseph cannot walk properly because he is using the lateral aspect of his right foot for walking. He can’t wear shoes because his right foot doesn’t fit any regular shoe. If not treated, Joseph’s gait will continue to be affected and he will also be at a risk of developing early osteoarthritis.” “Joseph’s parents are small-scale farmers. They rely on growing maize, beans, potatoes and sunflower. What they earn from farming is not enough to cover their daily expenses as well as the treatment, which Joseph badly needs," AMHF continues. For $1,160, Joseph will be able to walk properly, without the fear of being teased. The cost of treatment covers everything from Joseph’s surgery and hospital stay, to his painkillers and physiotherapy. Let’s help give Joseph access to the healthcare he needs, and help him return to school.

Meet Fidelis, an 18-year-old student who lives with his single mother and two younger siblings in Kenya. “I play football in my free time, and also work hard in class to achieve my dream career of becoming an electrical engineer," Fidelis tells us. Fidelis is very bright, but experiences low self esteem because he has hypospadius, a medical condition in which his urethral opening is along the shaft of his penis. This causes him difficulty when passing urine. Fidelis needs a hypospadius repair -- a relatively simple, 90 minute procedure to fix the opening. The surgery will cost $655. His mother works on farms as a casual laborer, and her $3 daily income is barely enough to provide the necessities for her family. She is therefore not able to save for her son’s surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation explains: “If the surgery is not done soon, the condition is likely to affect Fidelis psycho-socially. He will also have difficulty fathering children in future.” Let's help Fidelis and fund his treatment!

“I pray for my hand to heal. I am in pain most of the time and I can’t do anything with my right hand. I want go back to school,” says Shangwe. Meet Shangwe, a six-year-old boy from Tanzania who has a burn wound on his right arm after accidentally catching his sleeve on fire. “Shangwe’s mother covered her son’s head with a kanga which came all the way to his knees,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), describes. “As he was seated in the kitchen watching his mother preparing tea, he decided to help his mother push in a piece of burning wood. When Shangwe bent down to push in the piece of wood, the kanga and his sleeve caught fire. By the time he got help, he had already sustained severe burns.” If left untreated, he may develop a contracture, permanently shortening the muscles that were burned. Shangwe is the sixth of seven children in his family. “Despite his condition, he is a happy boy,” reports AMHF. Shangwe’s parents are cattle farmers. “The little that Shangwe’s parents get from livestock keeping is not enough to cover their basic needs as well as pay for the surgery Shangwe needs,” continues AMHF. For $780, we can fund a skin graft for Shangwe so he can return to being a happy, healthy child. “The wound on Shangwe’s arm will heal, preventing him from developing a contracture which would have hindered him from doing daily activities,” AMHF concludes.

Say hello to Teresia! She is 72-years-old, lives in Kenya, and has a grown-up son. "Teresia had been healthy and doing well until she slipped and sustained fracture of the tibia. Due to her condition, Teresia has been unable to move around and everything has to be done for her," explains our medical partner, the African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). She's also not able to help her son by farming. "If not treated, Teresia will remain in severe pain: the fracture may have delayed healing," AMHF continues. "She will not be able to walk again and this will mean that Teresia will remain dependent on others for the rest of her life." “My mother does not like to bother people," her son says, "she likes to be independent! I hope she gets well so that she can take care of her self and be independent." Teresia saw a doctor who recommended surgery, but she cannot afford the $1,125 cost. She doesn’t have anyone to turn to, as her son doesn’t make enough money to support his own family. Let's work together to raise the money Teresia needs to reduce her pain and help regain her independence!

“Siboti is unable to walk properly. She limps when walking and feels pain after walking a long distance,” explains African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), our medical partner in Tanzania. “If not treated, Siboti will be at high risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age.” Siboti has been diagnosed with club foot. “Siboti is a quiet but friendly eight-year-old girl. She was about to complete class one, but she failed to continue with her education because of pain in her right foot that she feels every night after walking the long distance to school,” describes AMHF. “She enjoyed attending school, especially learning how to read and write, plus learning simple math.” To support their four children, Siboti’s mother sells onions and green bananas at an open market in their village and her father sells second-hand shoes. “They try their best to take their children to school and provide all the basic needs. They need financial assistance so that their daughter can get proper medical care,” AMHF says. For $1,160, we can fund a surgical procedure to correct Siboti’s club foot. “Siboti will be able to walk properly without feeling pain in her right foot, allowing her to continue with her education,” says AMHF. “We love all our children and would like to see Siboti able to resume her classes so that in the future she can get a nice job, live a better life, and support us if possible,” says Siboti’s mother. Let’s help Siboti and her family!

“It is so sad to see my little son in pain. I’ll be very glad when I see him recover from treatment," says the father of Caleb, a five-day-old boy from Kenya. Caleb has spina bifida, also known as a neural tube defect, that caused an open cyst on his back. If untreated Caleb is likely to develop an infection, tethered cord, or kyphoscoliosis, which is an irregular curvature of the spine. Caleb’s parents have not been able to raise funds for Caleb’s surgery and are worried about their only child. With $805 our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, will be able to provide Caleb with spina bifida closure surgery. This will help prevent infection and any possibility of tethered cord or kyphoscoliosis development. Together, we can help Caleb grow up healthy!

Keo is an 11-year-old girl from Cambodia who lives with her two brothers and sister. "She is in the fifth grade," our medical partners at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) tell us, "and her favorite subject is math." "Keo has enlarged tonsils and chronic tonsillitis or re-occurring infections in her throat," CSC continues. “This makes it difficult for her to breathe and swallow which disrupts her sleep. Keo is sad that she is always sleepy in class and can't focus on her studies." For $201, Keo will be able to pay for surgery to reduce the inflammation in her tonsils. Let's fund her treatment and help her breathe easily again.