Meas is 19 years old and in the twelfth grade. He has three brothers and one sister. He likes to play football and badminton and listen to pop songs. In September, Meas sustained a laceration in his left wrist. He injured his flexor digitorum profundus, a muscle in the forearm that flexes the fingers. Meas is unable to use his hand, and he is in pain. When Meas learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for five hours to seek treatment. On December 2, surgeons at CSC performed a tendon repair procedure on his left wrist. After recovery, he should be able to use his hand again. CSC is requesting $450 to fund his healthcare. "I hope to have a normal hand again without any pain," he says.

Kelly lives with her parents and four siblings in a bamboo house with a metal roof. Kelly's father works as a vendor, but he has difficulty providing for the family. Without proper nutrition, Kelly weighs less than other children her age. Kelly has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. She began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 21. She is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "We hope that she will recover from malnutrition and become strong and healthy," say Kelly's parents, "so that she can finish her studies."

Lesly is an 11-year-old girl from Guatemala. She is in third grade at her primary school, and she loves to draw. Lesly knows what it is like to be sick, as she suffers from a disease in which her bones break easily. She has been further challenged by strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes which make it difficult for her to see in school. Lesly complains that often she cannot see the board in her classroom or learn in class. Since Lesly's other health problems prevent her from walking on her own, Lesly's mother pushes her wheelchair to school everyday so that Lesly can continue to attend school. Her mother makes bracelets to support the household, while her father works as an agricultural day laborer. While they both work hard, her parents do not earn enough to pay for Lesly's medical care. Treatment for Lesly will consist of further evaluation from an eye specialist, custom-made glasses to correct her strabismus, as well as accompaniment and transportation throughout her treatment process. Glasses will allow Lesly to see clearly, enabling her to participate in family life, learn in school, and to continue to participate in activities such as drawing that she loves. Lesly's parents say, "We hope that she will be able to see well and learn better at school."

Dazen is am 81-year-old farmer from a village in Malawi's Central Region. When he isn't farming, Dazen likes chatting with his children and grandchildren. For the past year, Dazen has had pain due to an enlarged prostate caused from a benign condition that is easily treated surgically. He has been unable to access treatment until now, as the waitlist at the public hospital is extremely long. $726 will fund the prostate resection surgery Dazen needs to get healthy. Dazen and his family are excited for his surgery and for him to return home.

Say hello to Van, an 81-year-old woman who lives in Cambodia. Van is a mother of two and grandmother of six. Three years ago, Van developed a cataract in her left eye and began losing her vision. She is now almost completely blind in her left eye and must rely on her daughter to help her walk. Our medical partners explain, “Van feels unhappy she cannot see well enough to take care of herself and her family.” For only $150, Van can undergo a small-incision cataract surgery to improve her eyesight and prevent continued blindness. Let’s support Van on her journey toward improved health!