"I can't walk, and my leg is in pain," says Touch, a 37-year-old farmer who lives with her husband, son, and daughter in Cambodia. When she is not tending to her farm, she looks after her children and cooks and cleans at home, but her work and daily activities have been impacted by her pain. “Touch has been experiencing hip pain for one year, mostly at night,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “She can walk at most 100 meters before walking becomes very painful.” Touch has developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), a dislocation of the hip that is present at birth and can lead to hip osteoarthritis if not treated. DDH results from laxity of the ligaments that hold the hip joint in place and is more common in women and in babies born in breech position. Trauma to Touch’s hip from a fall when she was approximately six months old may have complicated her current condition. Symptoms of DDH include pain, differing leg lengths, and increased turn-out and reduced range of motion of the involved leg. “Touch’s right hip is painful, and her right leg is shorter than her left leg,” explains CSC. For $430, Touch will undergo hip replacement surgery to remove the deteriorated portions of the hip joint and replace them with new, artificial parts. Funding also covers the costs of two weeks of hospital care (including labs and imaging), physiotherapy, and six follow-up appointments during the first year after surgery. “After a hip replacement surgery,” says CSC, “Touch will be able to walk without pain.” "I hope I can walk without pain after surgery,” shares Touch. “When I am healed, I will go home and return to working on the farm."

Srik is a 62-year-old farmer from Cambodia who enjoys reading magazines and cleaning his home. About a month ago, Srik fell several feet off the roof of his home, dislocating his right shoulder and fracturing his hip. Since the accident, he has been unable to walk or use his right arm. When he sought treatment at the hospital near his home, they turned him away because his condition was too severe to treat. Desperate, his family turned to a traditional medicine healer but the treatment did not help. After traveling three hours with his family to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) in Phnom Penh, Srik was told he could finally get treatment for his painful condition. Doctors at CSC will perform an open reduction surgery on his right shoulder so he can move his arm again. After treating his right shoulder, Srik can return later for surgery to repair his hip fracture. "When I am healed after surgery I want to be able to use my shoulder properly and continue working again," says Srik. For $405, Srik will get surgery on his shoulder. With treatment, he'll experience less pain and be able to return to work on his farm.

“I want to be well, take care of my kids, and join in campaigns on cancer awareness,” shares Beatrice, a 34-year-old mother of two from Kenya. Last July, Beatrice was diagnosed with cancer in her left breast. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Beatrice has undergone a few sessions of chemotherapy, which have left her "experiencing fatigue and pain." This diagnosis has also seriously affected her daily life, prohibiting her from working as a shopkeeper. As a result, her children are currently living with their grandmother. Chemotherapy sessions have drained Beatrice’s family’s savings. Due to her inability to work, Beatrice now depends solely on her husband’s earnings as a mechanic. In order for Beatrice to continue receiving the treatment she needs from AIC Kijabe Hospital, she will need financial assistance. Without a mastectomy, there is risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of Beatrice’s body. For $740, Beatrice will receive the mastectomy that she needs. WK is optimistic that after the treatment, "risk of cancer spreading to other parts of Beatrice’s body will be reduced and she will be able to take care of her family again."

It was 3:00 AM on March 27, 2016 when Lowasa was born. Soon after his birth, Lowasa was rushed to the hospital after his parents saw that something was wrong with his back. At the hospital, the doctors discovered that Lowasa was born with a lesion on his lower back and diagnosed him with spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which a baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), "He is at risk of losing cerebral spinal fluid and easily contracting infections, if not treated. Lowasa is also at risk of developing hydrocephalus." These young parents are both still financially dependent on their own parents who are small scale farmers. As a result, they need financial assistance to ensure that their firstborn son receives the surgery that he requires. Lowasa needs $1200.00 for spina bifida treatment which will reduce his risk for easily contracting infections or having developmental issues. “I just hope my son will get well,” said Lowasa’s mother. A successful treatment for Lowasa will help this budding family start their new life together.

“I would like to see my son happy and with a bright future. I was not keen to notice of the defect but am happy I found a place for that to be corrected. I hope Shadrack gets help,” shares Shadrack’s mother. Her 21-month-old son was born with hypospadias, a condition that makes it difficult for him to urinate and prone to infections. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), says, "If untreated Shadrack may suffer urinary tract infections and he may also have difficulty in achieving erection during his adulthood." Shadrack's mother brought him to AMHF for a diagnosis when she noticed that his urethra was not in the usual place while changing his diaper. AMHF continues, "Upon evaluation, we confirmed that Shadrack has hypospadias. A repair is needed but with it would come need for funds – funds that the combines income of a subsistence farmer and construction site casual worker cannot afford." Shadrack’s parents did contribute $105 to their son’s surgery, however, $655 more is required. With the $655, Shadrack will undergo surgery to have his urethra repositioned so that he can urinate normally. This operation will reduce his risk of urinary tract infections and long term complications. AMHF says, "If surgical repair is done, Shadrack's member will function normally."

Martina is a 42-year-old single mother who lives in Guatemala with her four children. To support her family, Martina cleans houses and wash clothes. Martina is 11 weeks pregnant and is currently experiencing serious bleeding and pain. According to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), "Martina has had a history of miscarriage, starting 21 years ago, when she had her first one that devastated her. She has had one more miscarriage and a still birth since then, with the most recent miscarriage happening six months ago." She was referred to Hospital de Chimeltenango by her local midwife to seek treatment for a first trimester hemorrhage. With funding of $977, Martina will receive interpretation, accompaniment, and transportation to the hospital that she needs to make sure her life is not in danger. This treatment will be life-saving to Martina, helping her to spend time with her children and provide for them. Martina shares, "I want to prevent the baby from dying. Thanks for the help that you are giving me, now I can go to the hospital and the doctors can examine me."

Seven-year-old Cherata lives with her mother and 11 siblings in Kenya, about 10 hours from the nearest hospital. Her father has ten cows only and struggles to raise 36 children (from other marriages). Cherata's mother works as a cook to support her 12 children. In July 2014, Cherata got burnt and was treated at a different health facility. She had post burn contractures and was taken back to the hospital. She was referred to Kijabe, a Watsi partner hospital, for contracture release in November 2015 and was then scheduled for the contracture release surgery. Cherata is in need of Watsi support if she is to access treatment and get well. Transport to come to Kijabe was a problem, but a well wisher funded their transportation costs. Cherata has contractures - severe tightening of the skin - on her right arm and knee. She has not been able to attend school since she was burnt by open fire. She is also not able to walk for long distances or to comfortably use her hands. If not treated, Cherata will not be able to use her hand efficiently nor her legs. This might affect her education as she may not be able to attend school. $1,125 will fund the treatment she needs, plus all post-operative care. It is Cherata's mother's wish to "have my child treated and attend school like other children.”

Meet Wendy, a 22-month-old infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us: “Wendy is the only child. She lives with her parents in a one-room cinderblock house with a tin roof. She is a little girl who always plays with her favorite doll. Wendy's mother works in a community day care center, and her father washes cars.” Wendy was diagnosed with acute malnutrition and is below average height and weight for her age. WK reports, ”She currently is not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result her physical growth is stunted, and we worry her mental growth will be stunted as well.” As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Wendy needs to address her nutritional deficit and improve her low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Wendy of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for her parents. With these combined efforts, Wendy will recoup her weight and height and strengthen her immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future. “I thought my child was growing well, but I hope that she can develop better with this program. We hope that she will be an overall good person and a professional,” shares Wendy's mother.

34-year-old Odilla has had rheumatoid arthritis for eleven years. She normally relies on anti-inflammatories and painkillers to keep her swelling down and her discomfort at bay. After her partner left her recently, Odilla lost one of her family’s key income sources, and now spends what little money she comes by on her ten-year-old son’s basic needs. “Odilla does not have the money to provide her son with an education as well as buy herself medication, so she has not been taking her medication,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. Without her medication, “Odilla gets severe flare-ups in her hands and her left knee every couple weeks,” says Wuqu’ Kawoq. “When that happens, her knee gets red, swollen and infected, and makes it hard for her to walk around the rural mountainous community in Guatemala that she lives in.” Her arthritis also makes her hand so inflamed that “she has a hard time weaving textiles, which is her primary form of income.” But with our help, Odilla will not longer have to choose between her son’s well-being and her own. For $367, our medical partner will provide Odilla with a four-month supply of the anti-inflammatory and painkiller medications she needs in order to keep her arthritis under control. This sum will also pay for lab tests so doctors can monitor her progression. “I want to see my son grow, and be able to educate him in a better way,” shares Odilla. “I also want my pain to go away."

Vorn is a 64-year-old woman from Cambodia who enjoys watching Khmer movies on TV. She also loves cooking for her seven children and two grandchildren. A farmer by trade, Vorn needs to walk and move around quite a bit for her job. However, walking has been very challenging for her lately. “Vorn fell down five months ago and fractured her left femoral neck,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). The femoral neck is located towards the top of the femur, or thigh bone, and is the weakest part of the bone. When it is damaged, it can cause problems for the hip joint that connects with the upper femur. As a result, “walking long distances outside is not possible,” explains CSC. Vorn is in pain, and she is no longer able to bring in as much income for her family as she used to. Fortunately, we can help Vorn get the treatment she needs to get back to work. $392 will provide her with a hemiarthroplasty, CSC says, “a surgical procedure that replaces one half (the ball portion) of the hip joint with a prosthesis.” After she undergoes this surgery, “Vorn will be able to regain the ability to walk without pain.” Vorn is excited about this prospect. “I hope I can walk again and work more to support my family,” she tells us.