This is Rachael, a 39-year-old woman from Kenya who lives with her three children and elderly mother. From a humble background, Rachael works as a casual laborer doing laundry or farm work for neighbors. Rachel has been experiencing almost continuous abdominal bleeding and pain, but didn't visit a doctor because she couldn't afford treatment. Rachael has uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths of the uterus. The bleeding has caused Rachael to become anemic, which means her body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. She has had to receive emergency blood transfusions as a result, but to permanently cure her, she needs a hysterectomy. When asked how she feels Rachael says, “I feel very desperate because my mother is old and I have left my children in her care. I hope Watsi will come to my aid so that I can be well again and have the strength to work for my children.” For $790 Rachael will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy, which means that her uterus and cervix will be surgically removed. This procedure will relieve her of the bleeding and pain and also treat her anemia. After Rachael recovers she will be able to go back to work, take care of her children, and lead a healthy life.

About a month ago, while Vichet was working, a very heavy object dropped on his wrist, breaking his ulna. It is very difficult for him to carry and hold objects and he relies heavily on his sister for support. “I’m sad because I cannot work and help support my family,” Vichet says. We can fund a successful treatment for $405. “With this treatment, Vichet will regain use of his wrist and hand without pain,” reports our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. Let’s help Vichet!

Meet San, a 30-year-old mother originally from Burma! San moved from Burma to Thailand for better education and work opportunities when she was a child. She is extremely hardworking and resilient. San was recently diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. While San and her husband do their best to support their family, they are unable to cover San’s medical expenses. San first began experiencing gynecological problems ten years ago when she gave birth to her son. Since then, she has had to stop working in a food stall because she experiences constant back and abdominal pain. San’s doctors add, “She has been trying to conceive a second child for over three years, however with her current condition it is proving very difficult.” San is eager to get better, so that she can be free of pain, feel more confident in contributing to the family income, and grow her family. For $865, San will receive surgery to remove an ovarian cyst and treat her chronic pain. Together, we can ensure that San can pay for the medical care she needs!

Meet Deonisi, a smiling four-year-old boy from Tanzania! “Deonisi is the first born in the family and he is very protective of his little brother,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “Deonisi likes to play with his little brother. Lately he has been enjoying playing with the Lego blocks as well as coloring some pictures.” Deonisi has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a disorder that affects his gait. His doctors tell us that he "walks with difficulty and will have an increased risk of developing early osteoarthirtis if not treated." Deonisi’s parents are small scale farmers that earn mainly seasonal income; while they work hard to try to cover their daily needs, they need help to cover the cost of Deonisi’s medical care. Deonisi's father says, "We hope that Deonisi's deformity can be corrected so that he can walk normally and Lord willing when he grows up he will be responsible and helpful to us and other people as well."

Gasper loves to read, write, and color pictures with his friends. He was also born with bilateral clubfoot, a deformity that causes the bones in his feet to grow incorrectly, causing extreme pain and difficulty walking. Gasper loves playing with his siblings and classmates, but, if his condition goes untreated, he won't be able to move about as easily and is at risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Gasper's parents work hard to support their son and his siblings, providing them with the food and support they need to go to school. Though Gasper's father earns money as a carpenter and his mother sells tea and snacks at a local café, they do not have enough money to pay for Gasper's medical care. "My dream is to become a business man when I grow up," Gasper says. For $1,160, we can fund Gasper's surgery and help make that dream a reality! Once funded, Gasper will undergo surgery to repair his congenital deformity and allow his bones to develop normally. Gasper will be able to walk without pain and difficulty, and continue to thrive in school and whatever else he dreams of doing!

Dipendra is 12. He studies in class six at his local public school and his favorite class is Nepali language. Whenever he has time, Dipendra enjoys playing football with his friends. "Dipendra tried to break a mud vessel as a part of a ceremony in his village when he developed a sharp pain in the left elbow," our medical partner, Possible, writes. "The elbow is swollen as well. Dipendra can not move his arm. He cannot put clothes on and cannot go to the school. He cannot sleep properly." Dipendra's family does not own enough land to support their entire family, so Dipendra's father travels to India to work as a laborer. They need our support to pay for the $205 cast Dipendra needs to regain function in his injured elbow and allow him to return to school.

"I want to become a journalist after I have finished school," Ceclia says. 16-year-old Cecilia is a high school student and the last born in a family of eight. As her parents are elderly, Cecilia's older siblings have taken up the responsibility of her care. Cecilia loves football and unfortunately broke her left hand while playing at an inter school competition. Our medical partner, the African Mission Healthcare Foundation, report a fracture of the left distal radius. She currently can't use her hand at all, and is experiencing pain. She needs an ORIF surgery, which stands for Open Reduction Internal Fixation. This involves the implementation of implants to guide the healing process of a bone, as well as the open reduction, or setting, of the bone itself. The doctors say, "If the surgery is not done, Cecilia will continue experiencing pain and the she might develop an infection or non-union." Cecilia's loving siblings, who pool their resources to pay for her education and upkeep, are not able to cover this operation, which costs $890. Let's help Cecilia's siblings care for her and get her the operation she needs so she can use her hand again, get back to school, and follow her dream to become a journalist!