Sambo is an 11-year-old boy from Cambodia who lives with his mom and older brother in rural Kampong Speu province. At school, Sambo enjoys Khmer and math. He loves it when his mom makes omelets or fried chicken, and in his free time, he likes to play with the other children in the village. When Sambo was six years old, his mother noticed his spine was curved and one shoulder was higher than the other. They travelled to the capital, Phnom Penh, for medical consultation. Sambo was diagnosed with scoliosis and instructed to wear a back brace. Since that time, he has worn the brace on and off, but struggles with discomfort and difficulty breathing when wearing the brace. Unfortunately, the curve of the spine has worsened, making it difficult for him to sit for long periods in school and play sports with his friends. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Sambo receive treatment. On June 12th, surgeons will perform an orthopedic surgery to improve the alignment of his spine. Surgeons will implant a metal "growing rod" into his spine, which will help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund his surgery, implant, and post-op care, including physiotherapy. Once recovered, his quality of life will significantly improve, and he can live an active life. Sambo shared, "I hope I can feel better from surgery and go back to school."

Nay is a two-year-old boy from Burma living with his parents in Tak Province, Thailand. When he was one year old, his family moved to Bago Division, Burma, to live with his grandparents. However, in October 2024, they returned to Mae Sot District after armed conflict between an ethnic group and the Burmese military destroyed their home. Since then, Nay’s mother has stayed home to care for him after he began experiencing health concerns. His father works as a day laborer at construction sites. Nay loves playing with his toys, spending time with his mother and aunt, and watching videos on his mother’s phone. In April 2024, Nay began crying frequently, and his mother noticed occasional swelling in his groin area. She brought him to a local clinic, where he was given pain medication and told that the swelling might require surgery, though a clear diagnosis was not provided. His symptoms continued, and he now experiences swelling and pain in his groin, vomiting after meals, and general fatigue. Fortunately, Nay was seen by the doctors at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. On April 11th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund his surgery. After treatment, Nay is expected to experience relief from pain and be able to play and grow in comfort. Nay’s mother shared, “As I am not working, my husband is the only breadwinner, and his work is irregular. I have been very stressed as we are facing financial difficulties, and I am worried about my son’s recovery process.” She also expressed her gratitude, adding, “Thank you to your organization and all donors for supporting my son’s treatment cost. May God bless you all."

Burke is a 13-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He has a passion for taekwondo and a love for riding his bicycle. He enjoys seeing his mother happy and takes pride in helping his siblings. His favorite subject is English, and he is known for his kindness, sociability, and ability to initiate conversations, making him well-liked among his peers. Burke’s mother is a single parent to three children. She works hard as a bread vendor, baking and selling bread, and washing clothes for neighbors to support her family. Burke was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Burke is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Burke's mother said, "I pray that God will help him. I don't know what to expect. If he receives surgery and heals, I will be very happy and grateful."

Hay, a 26-year-old man from Burma, lives with his wife, his cousin, her husband, and their two children. Currently unemployed, he and his family are receiving assistance from his sister-in-law and also borrow money from their neighbor. In his free time Hay likes to listen to music. Hay has been experiencing pain in the left side of his lower back when he engages in physical work at home. He has been diagnosed with kidney stones, and doctors at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakron Chiang Mai Hospital, advised him to undergo a procedure to remove them. Previously, he was the sole income earner in their household, but he lost his job due to the condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 17th and, once completed, it will alleviate his pain, allowing him to go back to work. Hay said, “I am very stressed right now. I feel like I am a burden to my cousin, and we do not even have money to come back home to see my son. I really hope that after the treatment, I can find some work around here to make money to go home.”

Blute is a three-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and seven siblings. The entire family works on a farm. In his free time, Blute enjoys playing with his siblings and toys. Three months ago, Blute accidentally hit his head on the floor and began experiencing slight swelling on his head accompanied by weakness in his body. Blute was diagnosed with hydrocephalus which has caused fluid to build up in his brain. He has already received surgery where the doctor inserted a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain the fluid from his head. However, during his follow-up appointment on January 14th, 2024, he received an MRI and the doctor explained that the shunt was not working and the fluid was not draining properly. Doctors recommend that Blute undergo surgery to remove and replace the shunt. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, he is at risk of developing severe, potentially fatal medical complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the insertion of a VP shunt for Blute which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17th, and, once completed, will greatly improve Blute's quality of life. Blute's father said, "I am worried for my son but more than that I can't do anything to help him. I believe that the doctor would do the best to help my son and I hope that everything will be going well. Thank you to all the donors for your continued support."

Michelle, 37 years old, is a single mother from the Philippines. She lives with her mother as Michelle is hearing and speech impaired. The family relies mostly on government assistance and occasional support from other family members to cover food and utility expenses. About a year ago, a lump formed on the side of Michelle's face. Concerned, they took her for a check-up where the doctor recommended a biopsy and ultrasound. Unfortunately, they were unable to proceed with these tests due to financial constraints. Michelle was referred to our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, where she was told she needed a parotidectomy, a surgery to remove partial or all of the parotid gland. She is scheduled for surgery on December 19th and our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Michelle's treatment, diagnostics, and care. Michelle's mother shared, "We are very grateful and we appreciate the organizations and individuals dedicated to helping those in need. The amount for this operation is a handful, especially for us who mostly rely on help from others. Thank you very much for helping us."

Zin is a 27-year-old man from Burma who lives with his parents, sister and two cousins. His parents are retired, and his sister cares for them, while his two cousins attend kindergarten. The family raises pigs for income and when he feels healthy, Zin enjoys helping his parents on the farm and playing football. The family mostly lives off Zin’s brothers’ earnings, with one working as a day laborer and the other selling betel nuts. Zin is presently facing challenges due to his heart condition. He regularly experiences leg pain, difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, and fatigue, preventing him from working on the farm and being active. Zin requires the replacement of two heart valves and the repair of another. These valves are essential for regulating blood flow and preventing long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this complex heart surgery scheduled for November 13th in Thailand. Once completed, Zin will be able to live more comfortably and return to his active life. His brother, who brought him to Thailand and is acting as his caregiver, said, “Thank you to the donors and the BCMF team for helping us. If your team would not help us, we would have not been able to afford this treatment.”

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."

Jhon is a 13-year-old seventh-grade student who lives with his parents and older sister in a central Bolivian city. His father is a strawberry farmer, while his mother works as a house keeper. Jhon enjoys his math and science classes, finding inspiration in these subjects. However, he faces a significant challenge due to a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, which creates a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. This condition causes blood to leak through the hole, leaving him weak and often short of breath, but Jhon remains determined to pursue his education and dreams. On August 14th, Jhon will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Jhon's family needs help to fund the $1,500 costs of cardiac care and surgery. Jhon says, "I can't wait to play sports with my friends once my heart is healed."

Lydiah is an 18-year-old from Kenya. In February 2022, Lydiah's schooling and aspirations for becoming a doctor had to be put on hold when she began to experience excruciating pain in her right leg and hip. The pain progressed to the point where she could no longer bear weight on her leg, forcing her to leave school. When she was unable to find help in her province, Lydiah moved to live with her aunt in Nairobi. Despite visits to various dispensaries, and attempts to secure medical care, including painkillers, Lydiah's condition did not improve. She and her aunt tried visiting hospitals, but could not afford to pay for the necessary scans. In November 2023, Lydiah developed a swelling on her hip joint. Financial limitations prevented her from accessing care, leaving her in persistent agony. In June 2024, when her condition deteriorated further, Lydia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Lydiah was diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the right thigh bone and was recommended to undergo sequestrectomy surgery. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. The recommended surgery will remove the bone that has died, as a result of the infection. Again, finances have been a challenge, and Lydiah has remained in pain. Currently, Lydiah suffers from a painful, swollen thigh with a draining sinus, intensified by the cold season. Compounding her challenges, Lydiah is the only child of her mother who has been grappling with mental health issues since her husband's passing in 2015. Her aunt is her only hope since she is the one who has been taking care of her since she fell ill. Lydiah’s aunt is a casual beauty laborer, who weaves hair extensions for women, and whose income is precarious. Lydiah’s aunt is also a single mother to three children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the $1,400 needed for Lydiah's surgery, scheduled for July 16th. They hope this intervention will not only alleviate her suffering, but also pave the way for her to pursue her dreams. Lydiah said: “I know that I am advanced in years, but I am willing to continue from Form 2, where I left off, and proceed to pursue my career as a doctor.”

Soe is a 55-year-old man from Burma. He fled to Thailand last year where he lives with his daughter, her husband, and their four kids. In Burma, he was a farmer on his own farm but because of the conflict, he stopped working outside on the field. His son-in-law works at his father’s shop while his daughter is a homemaker and his grandchildren are students. In October 2023, Soe started experiencing a small swelling on his upper left eyelid. Currently, Soe cannot open his eye as usual and cannot see far. As he is also experiencing pain in his eye whenever it is windy, he is spending most of his time inside. Unfortunately, his eyes also hurts when looking at his phone, so he is mostly sitting without doing anything. He was diagnosed with sebaceous carcinoma of right eye. Doctors recommend enucleation, the removal of the eye, to treat this condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 17th at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Once completed, Soe will hopefully live more comfortably. Soe expressed his feelings, “I want to thank the donors. I really hope that they have a good job and that they and their families are healthy.”

Kay Thaw is a 29-year-old day laborer from Burma. He lives with his parents, five younger brothers, two younger sisters, a brother-in-law, and a nephew in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) Camp, in Karen State, Burma. Kay Thaw and his family fled to the IDP camp a year ago due to the conflict happening around their village at that time. The combined income of Kay Thaw's family is not enough to cover their daily needs. They borrow money from neighbors and also receive food donations in the IDP camp. During his free time, Kay Thaw likes to play football and cane ball. He also enjoys reading religious books. Currently, Kay Thaw has blurred vision in both of his eyes. Often, his eyes become red, inflamed, itchy, and watery. He cannot see other people’s faces and has difficulty seeing at night. Kay Thaw was diagnosed with juvenile cataract in both eyes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Kay Thaw. On May 17th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Kay Thaw's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Kay Thaw said, “I hope my vision goes back to normal so that I can see and work well. I am totally blind at night. I cannot see other people's faces even when they are beside me. I cannot read the prayers when I go to church. I am worried about my eyes. I cannot afford to pay for my treatment. Without your help, I do not know what I can do."