Danilo is a 40-year-old man from Philippines. He is married and his wife owns a small food business. He previously worked as a construction worker, and now he works as a tricycle driver. In February 2022, Danilo began to notice a small lump on his navel. Over time, the lump grew in size and he visited a doctor for further examination. He underwent an abdominal ultrasound and was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and gallstones. He needs to undergo surgery to treat his condition. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and may put him at risk for health complications in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Danilo receive treatment. On January 20th, he will undergo a hernia repair and a cholecystectomy to remove his gallbladder. A portion of the cost of his procedure is covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and he needs help raising the remaining $1,146 to cover the full cost of his procedure and care. Danilo shared, "I had to decline my colleague's offer to have a part-time construction job. It was an opportunity for me to bring more money to my family, but my condition is hindering me. This free surgery didn't just ease our worries about where to find the money to pay for the hospitalization but also gives me a chance to strive more for my family. Thank you so much, Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines!"

Sharon is a 23-year-old small-scale farmer from Kenya. She is married with two children, aged four years and one year old. Sharon and her husband grow and sell vegetables and take on casual labor jobs to help supplement their income. They have a three-room house for their family. A week ago, Sharon was grazing her sheep when she tripped on a root. She was located on a hill and fell from a high distance causing her to fracture her right leg. Unable to walk or stand, some neighbors heard her call for help and rushed her to the hospital. Sharon was experiencing severe pain, swelling, and skin traction on her right lower leg. She underwent an x-ray, which showed that she had a fracture on her right femur. She also underwent skeletal traction to realign the bone and keep it in place until she could undergo surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On November 29th, Sharon will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, to mend her right femur and allow her to move again. AMH is requesting $1145 to fund this procedure. Sharon says: “It’s so unfortunate that I broke my leg at a time when my children needed me the most. I am now forced to stop breastfeeding my son, who is still young, but I am grateful as I am still alive. I need your help, and I believe that someday things will get back to normal, and I will be able to be there for my family.”

Edith is a house-helper for a family in Nairobi. She goes to work for two days a week and is paid Ksh 1,000.00 (8 US dollars) per day. As a widow, this is the income she relies on to support herself and her two kids who are high school teenagers aged 17 and 15 years old. For some time now, Edith has been experiencing abdominal bleeding and lower back pain. She has been diagnosed with an intrauterine myoma (fibroids). She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1260 to fund Edith's surgery. On November 3rd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Edith will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain but she needs help to pay for this surgery. Edith says, “I started feeling weak and drained. I thought it is the long hours I work. It gradually became hard for me to endure working for a lengthy period and I could not walk for long distances. I was losing lots of blood. I was admitted to the hospital because my haemoglobin levels were so low. I need this surgery to correct these anomalies and get back to my normal life.”

Margaret is a single mother of two children. She moved from Uganda to Kenya in search of a better livelihood. She works as a house help in Loresho area in Nairobi and lives in a one-room rental house costing about $35 a month. She has an immigrant identification card and cannot get national health insurance coverage within Kenya. Since two months ago, Margaret has been experiencing lower abdominal pains. She visited a nearby health facility and was treated for typhoid and ulcers. The pain did not end and she could feel a painful lump on her abdomen. She was forced to go back for a checkup and advised to visit Kijabe Hospital for a cancer review. Early this month a biopsy was ordered and results revealed a vaginal mass and squamous cell carcinoma. She urgently needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1260 to fund Margaret's surgery. On September 22nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Margaret will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Margaret says, “This news is tough but I am determined to battle the cancer.”

Josias is a three-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives with his parents and older brother. He is a happy and playful toddler who loves to smile and play! Josias has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Josias has been experiencing developmental delays. He cannot walk or talk yet. Without treatment, Josias will continue experiencing severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Josias at Hospital Bernard Mevs to treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 20th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Josias's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Josias will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Josias's family has shared that they hope this surgery will allow him to be more independent.

Abegaelle is a five-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives in the capital city of Port-au-Prince with her parents and older brother. Some of her favorite activities include going to preschool and attending church with her family. Abegaelle was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, which means a hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. As a result, blood leaks through, leaving her weak and short of breath. The care she needs is not available in Haiti, but fortunately, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is helping Abegaelle receive treatment. She will travel to the Dominican Republic to undergo surgery on July 26th, during which surgeons will insert a catheter to plug the hole in her heart and restore a healthy blood flow. Abegaelle's family is raising $1,500 to cover the costs of her surgery prep, which includes all labs, medication, check-up and follow-up appointments, and the passports needed for HCA's social workers to accompany Abegaelle and her family overseas. Abegaelle's mother shared, "Our family is all very thankful that Abegaelle will have this chance to have her heart fixed!"

Munty is a 12-year-old sixth grader, who is the eldest of three siblings. His parents are rice farmers. Munty enjoys math at school, and would like to be a math teacher when he grows up. Munty likes swimming, playing football with his friends, and watching TV. Last year he fractured his right forearm while playing with his friends after school. He had surgery, and hardware was placed in his arm at a local hospital to help repair the fracture. Munty's arm has healed, and he is looking forward to having the metal removed from his arm so he can get back to his usual activities without pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 2nd Munty will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. After this procedure, Munty will be able to regain the strength in his arm and his risk of future infections will be limited. "I hope that the metal in my arm will be removed. I want to heal quickly, so I can play with my friends again."

Said is a talkative, friendly and playful 4-year-old boy who loves to play football and to watch movies. Said's family consists of three other siblings, his mother, who is a housewife, and his father, who is a day laborer getting work whenever he can. Because of a medical condition, Said's legs bow outward and his knees don't touch, which caused difficulty walking. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $880 to fund a procedure that will take place on April 22nd to restore Said's mobility. This treatment will enable him to participate in a variety of activities as he grows and also decrease his risk for future complications. Said’s mother says, “The economy is not good and finding work is getting hard. The little money I get goes to food. If you can help my son have this treatment, I would be very grateful.”

Meet Honest, a 24 year old, small scale farmer, living with his wife and two year old child. His wife works with Honest as a farmer, and together, they own a two room mud house. Honest developed an itchy spot on his back in February 2020. As time went on, the spot developed a small swelling that was painless. Honest resorted to using herbs, hoping that the swelling would disappear. However, in 2021, the swelling became painful, and progressively increased in size. Honest visited several medical facilities, and was advised to have the mass tested. When Honest finally visited our medical partner's care center Rushoroza Hospital, physicians there found that the mass wasn't cancerous, but it does need to be removed, as it is painful and growing. Honest has even stopped farming, as a result of his condition and pain. On September 10th, surgeons at Rushoroza Hospital will excise the mass. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $145 to fund this procedure. Honest says: “At some point, I thought I was bewitched, but I finally hope and believe that I will get well through surgery. I hope to resume farming and continue taking good care of my family.”

Sok Pha is a 54-year-old tailor living with her husband, a security guard, in Cambodia. She has three daughters and three grandchildren. At home, Sok Pha likes to listen to music and to watch movies on TV. Ten years ago, Sok Pha developed a non-cancerous growth in her left eye, causing tearing, irritation, and burning in her eye. This growth is a result of excessive sun damage, which caused cells to grow abnormally over the pupil in her left eye. Sok Pha has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Sok Pha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours to seek treatment. Sok Pha needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal cells, and to place a conjunctival graft on the surface of the cornea, to prevent a recurrence of this condition. Children's Surgical Centre is seeking $225, which will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Her procedure is scheduled for May 9th. Sok Pha says: "I hope after surgery I can see better so I can continue working as a tailor."