Asasira is 16 years old and from Uganda. He has six siblings: five sisters and one brother, who are all in school. Asasira developed swellings in his scrotum in 2009. The swellings are painful and the pain worsens when he carries heavy items. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with bilateral hydrocele and was advised to have surgery. After his father married a second wife, Asasira's family has struggled, with his mother making little and seasonal income. She does not have the means to pay for the surgery that Asasira needs. Due to the pain, Asasira has stopped running at school, the activity that he likes most. If not treated, Asasira may suffer intestinal obstruction, incarceration and strangulation. The hydrocele repair surgery will cost $215, during which the hydrocele sac on his scrotum will be drained. After surgery he hopes to get well soon so that he can resume running and concentrate in class. He came in 3rd in a class of 40 students, and in the future he wants to be a medical doctor or a journalist.

Meet Ratha, a 27-year-old woman from Cambodia who works in a factory and has three sisters. Ratha enjoys staying at home, watching movies on TV, and listening to pop songs. Ratha traveled three hours with her brother to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Ratha fell off a moto on February 29th and fractured her left forearm. She is in pain and can't hold anything. The only treatment she has received has been Khmer traditional medicine, which was ineffective. An x-ray at CSC shows a distal radius fracture. Surgeons at CSC will perform an ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) procedure to treat the fracture. This will realign the bones into their normal position. Let's help Ratha get back on track and fund this treatment!

“This bleeding is making me worried," Philis shares. "If it continues I feel like I am going to die. Please help me so that I can be safe. I have to be okay and be there for my family." Philis is a 51-year-old mother of five living in Kenya. She was healthy until she began experiencing heavy bleeding and abdominal pain few weeks ago. Philis went to the hospital at the first signs of her symptoms and was given medicine but the bleeding persisted. Philis was then referred to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), where she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and anemia. "If not treated, Philis will continue to bleed which could lead to severe anemia with other cardiovascular complications," AMHF shares. For $790, Philis will receive a hysterectomy to remove her uterus and the fibroids causing pain, excessive bleeding, and anemia. This surgery will allow Philis to get back on her feet and regain her energy to work as a small scale farmer, and also a mother to five loving children.

36-year-old Musiimenta lives in Uganda with her five children. “Musiimenta used to work in people’s gardens, where she would earn a small living, but now, depends on her husband’s small income as a casual laborer,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “Her children are still young and cannot help her a lot.” “Musiimenta suffers from uterine fibroids causing chronic lower abdominal pain,” AMHF explains. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus. AMHF adds, “This makes it hard for Musiimenta to sleep. She can no longer do anything.” Musiimenta is unable to afford the necessary surgery to remove her uterus. Upon hearing about Watsi’s program at a nearby hospital, she decided to seek medical attention once again. $165 funds Musiimenta’s hysterectomy and four days at the hospital. “We expect that the surgery will remove the fibroids and Musiimenta will no longer be in pain,” AMHF continues. “She will be able to work again.” “I have lived with pain for so long,” shares Musiimenta. “I hope to be well soon.”

“About five years ago Kamugisha noticed a swelling in his right inguinal [or groin] area,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares. “He went to hospital where he was diagnosed with a hernia but he couldn’t afford to pay for surgery.” Kamugisha is a 50-year-old farmer from Uganda. His hernia, which he developed five years ago, causes intermittent painful swelling, as well as back pain. He feels weak and is unable to dig or lift heavy objects. Kamugisha is the father of five children. He earns money by selling bananas from his farm. However, because of his condition he is currently unable to push his bananas on a bicycle to the market, and was forced to hire someone to help him. Kamugisha is especially eager to receive treatment because if he were able to transport the bananas himself, Kamugisha would have more income to pay for the schooling of his two youngest children. $220 will provide Kamugisha with the surgery and hospital stay he needs for the proper treatment of his hernia. After surgery Kamugisha hopes to recover and resume work on his farm so that he can provide more for his family. “Thank you for the help,” shares Kamugisha.