Sein is a 39-year-old man from Burma who lives with his parents in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. He and his parents fled from their village in Burma due to the ongoing fighting in the country. Like others in the camp, their family relies on donations from a relief agency. Sometimes his mother tries to go outside the camp to work as an agricultural day laborer to earn extra money to have enough food in the camp. In 2023, after carrying cement bags over his back, Sein started to experience back pain. The pain worsened, especially when he tried to lift heavy objects. A few months later, he could no longer walk. With help from another relief agency, Sein underwent an MRI scan and doctors diagnosed him with a herniated nucleus pulposus and explained to him that the spinal disc between two of his ribs was not in the right place. It was compressing the nerve’s root causing him back pain and making it difficult for him to walk properly. The doctor recommended he receive internal fixation surgery to fix the spine disc. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Sein will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 25th and will cost $1,500. This surgery will help Sein walk and work again so he can support his family. Sein said, “I feel very stressed since I cannot walk properly and have to depend on my parents who are now getting old. My mother sometimes has to work as a day laborer to find extra money to help buy more food as we do not have enough. I hope that I can walk and work again soon so that I can look after my parents and buy them enough food like I did before.” He added, “I would like to say thank you from the bottle of my heart to all the donors and BCMF for your support.”

Kha is a seven-year-old boy from Burma who lives with his parents, grandparents, and siblings at an internally displaced person camp in Karen State. He is currently in grade three at the camp school. In his free time, he enjoys watching cartoons and playing games on his mother's phone. Since March 2024, Kha has been experiencing a sore throat with painful and swollen tonsils. This condition has caused him significant pain and difficulty in swallowing food and water, and he occasionally has fevers. Kha was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to fund a tonsillectomy for Kha. Surgeons removed his tonsils on November 12th, relieving Kha of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Kha's mother stated, "The frequent trips across the Thai-Burma border for appointments are challenging and costly. The surgery is expensive, and we cannot afford it. My son, Kha, has also missed a lot of school, and we are deeply grateful to BCMF and Watsi for assisting with his surgery. We hope to support others in the future as well." Kha said, "I want to become a doctor someday and help others that are suffering."

Sebastian is a seven-year-old boy from Bolivia. Sebastian lives 12,000 feet above sea level with his parents and his older brother. Sebastian and his older brother are best friends. Sebastian loves to play with sand and loves dinosaurs. He is in the first grade of primary school. His mom and dad are both hairdressers. Sebastian has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect and pulmonary valve stenosis, where there is a hole in the wall between the heart's upper chambers, as well as a narrowing of one of his valves. These issues prevent blood from flowing normally through his heart and body, leaving him weak and short of breath. On October 16th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood cannot leak through it. They will also widen his narrowed valve. Sebastian's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, will cover cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Sebastian's mother shared, "Sebastian always tells our family to pray so that his surgery will be successful!"

Yee is a 59-year-old mother of two from Thailand. She lives with her family and is retired due to her health condition. Her husband works as a day laborer, and her two sons work at a restaurant. In her free time, Yee enjoys meditation and listening to religious sermons. In October 2023, Yee began experiencing pain, difficulty urinating, and producing only small amounts of urine. Additionally, she feels swelling and pain in her back, which has forced her to stop working. She has been diagnosed with kidney stones, which are hard deposits of minerals that form in the kidneys and are often very painful to pass. She has been advised to undergo surgery to remove her kidney stones. If left untreated, Yee's symptoms will continue to worsen and will put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to fund Yee's kidney stone removal surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 17th. Yee said, "I wish I could have the kidney stone surgery, but I don't have the money to cover the cost. But now, I have found that Watsi and BCMF can help me. I am very grateful and will pray for Watsi donors to remain healthy and help more patients."

Tay Za is a 19-year-old young man from Myanmar. He lives with his parents and two older sisters in Karen State, Myanmar. He works as a day laborer, while his father drives a motorbike taxi to support the family. His mother takes care of their home, and one of his sisters is a teacher, while the other works as an officer. Despite their combined efforts, their monthly income is not sufficient to cover medical treatment costs. In June this year, a small iron nail hit Tay Za's left eye during a workplace accident. Tay Za went to the local clinic where the doctor told him that there is a foreign body left in his left eye and that he should go to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), for further treatment. Three days later, he went to MSH where the doctor examined his eye and scheduled him for an urgent surgery the same evening, to remove the foreign body from his eye. Tay Za was then discharged from MSH after three days. A week later at the follow up clinic, Tay Za was advised to undergo another surgery to replace the eye lens. Currently, Tay Za struggles to see long distances clearly, and his left eye has become sensitive to light, requiring him to wear sunglasses whenever he goes outside. Unfortunately, due to these symptoms, he has had to stop working since his injury, which has placed an additional strain on his family's financial situation. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Tay Za's surgical procedure. On August 15th, doctors will perform a lens replacement surgery, during which they will remove Tay Za's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, Tay Za needs help to fund this procedure. Tay Za says, "After I recover from the surgery and my symptoms, I hope to return to work and begin saving money for my future. I am truly grateful to the donors for their support in my time of need. Thank you!"

Julius is a 16-year-old teenager from Kenya. He is known as a friendly boy from Matungu village in Kakamega County. Julius is in grade 8 at Lung'anyiro Primary School. His mother passed away while giving birth to him, so he has been raised by his grandmother, who is a farmer. Julius has clubfoot of his left foot. He had a healthy birth, but at the age of four, his grandmother noticed a sudden bend in his left foot. He began to limp and tiptoe while walking. They took him to a nearby hospital, but due to financial constraints, they couldn't continue with the follow-up treatment. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Julius traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 18. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Julius's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk well and continue with his studies uninterrupted. He dreams of becoming a doctor in the future so he can help other children. His current situation fuels his ambition to make a difference in the lives of others. "I am looking forward to healing quickly, putting on shoes, walking, running, and playing football like my friends," Julius said.

Min lives with his family in Tak Province, Thailand. His father is a construction day laborer and his mother is a homemaker. In his free time, Min likes to play with his siblings, read stories, and watch movies on his phone. In the middle of 2022, Min fractured his right leg when a car hit the electric bicycle he and his friend were riding. After his family borrowed money, he had a steel rod inserted into his fractured bone during surgery at Mae Sot Hospital. During his last follow-up appointment in October 2023, the doctor said Min would need to have the rod removed. Unable to pay for it, Min's parents did not bring Min back to the hospital. In May 2024, Min started to experience pain in his right leg when he walked. His mother brought him back to the hospital, where the doctor said Min would need to have the rod removed. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund, can help. On June 14th, Min will undergo hardware removal surgery that will relieve him of discomfort and pain. Now, Min needs $1,500 to fund this procedure. Min's mother said, "I feel very sad when my son is in pain and I really want him to have surgery to remove the rod but I can't help him. Now that I know there will be an organization and donors who will help pay for my son's treatment, I am very happy."

Shedrack is a 6-year-old boy from Tanzania who recently joined a kindergarten class. He enjoys going to school and playing with toy cars with his best friend. Shedrack is presently facing challenges due to an accident he had when he was just seven months old. While playing, he accidentally got too close to an open fire and crawled over it, resulting in burns to his right hand from pieces of firewood. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he received a dressing for his wounds. It took two months for the burns to heal, but it was not until later that his mother realized his fingers were not fully functional due to the burn injury. The scar tissue that had developed made it difficult for Shedrack to use his right hand fingers, rendering him unable to hold a pencil at school. Despite this limitation, he still enjoys playtime with toys, using his left hand only. Shedrack’s mother desired to get treatment for her son, but financial constraints prevented them from seeking surgical intervention. Shedrack's family encountered a doctor affiliated with our medical partner's care center Kafika House, who directed them to seek assistance at the facility. Upon evaluation, Shedrack was diagnosed with burn scar contractures on his right hand, necessitating corrective surgery to address the defects caused by the fire accident. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Shedrack receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On March 7th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve his hand’s functionality. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Shedrack’s mother says: “I hope he starts his treatment and that his hand won’t be a barrier as he continues with school.”

Eyphril is a one-year-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives in a mining village in central Bolivia with her parents and older sister. Eyphril's father is a truck driver and her mother is a house cleaner. Eyphril was born with cor triatriatum, a rare heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart are subdivided by membranes into three chambers. These chambers prevent blood from flowing normally through her heart, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 17th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will remove the membranes from her heart so that blood can flow normally. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to fund this procedure. Eyphril's mother shares, "Our family is praying for all of the doctors, nurses, and everyone else who is helping our daughter to become healthy."

Sorphea is a 51-year-old middle school teacher from Cambodia. She is a mother of three. Sorphea's husband serves in the army and her eldest daughter helps support the family by working in a nearby garment factory. Sorphea enjoys listening to music and watching Cambodian dramas at home. Thirty years ago, Sorphea had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Sorphea experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, frequent headaches, and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to hear her students and family. Because of this condition, she has taken numerous sick days from her work at the school. Sorphea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 14th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, the surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure to cover medications, supplies, and in-patient care. Sorphea shared, "I hope I can improve my hearing and get back to my job so I can help my students and support my family."

Romeo is a physically active father from the Philippines. Romeo currently lives with his wife since all their children already have their own families. They rely on Romeo's monthly pension which is just enough for their daily needs. Their children chip in for their expenses too but as a father, Romeo wants them to use the money for their own families instead of giving it to him and his wife. Romeo loves to play chess, jog, and play tennis. However, his symptoms now physically limit him. Last November, Romeo won a consolation prize of a sack of rice at a community raffle. When he lifted it, he felt pain but ignored it thinking about how happy his wife will be upon bringing home the prize. Since then, Romeo has dealt with inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him to feel weak and because of his condition, he cannot do physical activities like he used to. Fortunately, on February 16th, Romeo will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Romeo's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,103 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Romeo shared: "My pension will never be enough to pay for a surgery to treat me. So thank you very much for helping me even though I am already old."

Jomhel is a 27-year-old from the Philippines. His mother, Melissa, is a solo parent seeking assistance for Jomhel who has intellectual disability. The family relies on Melissa's income through laundry and ironing services for her relatives and neighbors. They live with Melissa's father, aged 75, who is also taking medications and aging. Her sister gives her extra money allotted for the medicines and other needs of their father. Two years ago, Jomhel began to experience troubling symptoms, including bleeding, pain, and difficulty sitting and standing. He was diagnosed with thrombosed hemorrhoids and needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Jomhel receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on January 12th at WSFP's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove his hemorrhoids so he can live pain free. A portion of the cost of his treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Jomhel's procedure and care. Melissa shared: "Being a solo parent facing financial constraints, I do not have enough money for Jomhel's consultation, let alone a major surgery. This is a big help not just for me but also for my son and I am very grateful to all of you."