Vannita is a seven-year-old second grader from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Chhnang province with her parents and two siblings. Her mother works in a laundromat, and her father sells construction equipment at a local business. She is the youngest child in the family. At school, she enjoys studying Khmer and hopes to become a dentist when she grows up. At home, she loves chicken soup and playing with her friends. Vannita was born with torticollis, a condition with a twist of the neck due to a tight and short neck muscle. In many cases, it can be resolved with physical therapy, but some cases require surgery to lengthen the muscle. Vannita finds it difficult to turn her head and neck and often feels pain in her shoulder. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Vannita receive treatment. On December 17th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to improve the position and function of her neck. Now, she needs help to fund this $572 procedure. Vannita's mother shared, "After the surgery I hope that my daughter will feel better about her appearance and be able to do more activities at school."

Ty is a 19-year-old rice farmer, who lives with his parents and a nephew in Kampong Cham province in Cambodia. Several of his older siblings live nearby. The family consumes the rice that they produce, selling the surplus at the local market, to provide other food for the family. In his free time, Ty particularly enjoys playing football with his friends and family. In April 2023, Ty collided with another motorcycle on a dark road, fracturing his right tibia. He went to a local clinic and had a metal plate inserted, to support the healing of his fracture. His leg has healed, but he still feels a chronic ache where the plate is located and is at risk of future infection. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 12th, Ty will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will cost $304. Ty and his family need your support to fund this procedure, which will enable Ty to regain the full strength and flexibility in his leg. Ty said: "I hope to play football again soon, and help my parents with the rice crop once my leg is better."

Perez is an 18-month-old baby from Uganda. He is the fourth child in his family, and all of his other siblings are currently attending school. His parents' main source of income is small-scale farming. Despite having limited income, they make a great effort to provide for their family. Since birth, Perez has been suffering from inguinal-scrotal hernia, a condition characterized by a visible bulge in a sensitive area. Perez has been experiencing pain, which has worried his mother. She brought him to our medical partner's care center Rushoroza Hospital for review and surgery was recommended. However, his parents are unable to afford the cost of treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Perez receive treatment. On March 14th, surgeons at Rushoroza Hospital will perform a hernia repair surgery to allow him to live more comfortably and prevent future fertility issues. Now, Perez's family needs help to fund this $170 procedure. Perez's mother says, “I hope my son will have a successful surgery with positive results. After complete recovery, he will live a quality and improved life. May God bless you.”

Joshua is a 21-year-old man who works as a motorbike taxi driver. His parents are small-scale farmers. Joshua is the second of seven children and has just finished form four in school. Joshua had a traffic accident last month and severely injured his leg. He was taken to the hospital where he had popliteal bypass surgery—a surgical procedure used to treat damaged leg arteries above or below the knee and used to salvage limbs that are at risk of amputation. Fasciotomy—the cutting of tissue on his leg—was also necessary. Following that procedure, Joshua had surgery for external fixation to align his leg bones because his doctor identified that he had a drop foot. Joshua has been in the hospital for over a month and is doing well, but he has open wounds where fasciotomy was performed. He now needs skin grafting to close his open wounds, replace lost skin and improve the appearance of the damaged skin. He is appealing for help so that he may quickly heal and be able to go home. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Joshua with his medical needs. Joshua needs your help funding this $1,089 procedure. Joshua says, "To this point, I thank God and everyone who took part in making all this happen. I am looking forward to getting well so that I may walk again and be able to carry out some work. Please help me.”

Mackline is a 23-year-old small-scale farmer and mother. She has two children, one from a natural birth and one delivered via a cesarean section, and is currently expecting her third child. Her husband works as a boda-boda motorcycle taxi driver, and she supports her family by engaging in small-scale farming. Among her siblings, she is the fifth born; all her siblings are married and self-employed. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Mackline has attended various antenatal clinics to help support a healthy pregnancy. However, due to Mackline's previous C-Section and a short inter-pregnancy interval–meaning the period between her two pregnancies was short and thus raises potential risks–her pregnancy is considered high risk. Doctors recommended Mackline deliver via a cesarean section again to ensure the safety of both her and her baby. Thankfully, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Mackline is scheduled to undergo a C-Section on June 6th at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $252, and Mackline needs your support. Mackline says, “I will be very grateful when my surgery is supported because, being a farmer, I cannot afford this surgery. I will resume farming after recovery to earn a living for my family.”

Lemurwa is a 15 year old student living in Kiserian, Arusha in Tanzania, with his parents and three siblings. His father works as a farmer and cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated homemaker, responsible for caring for the children and assisting with the milking of the cows. Lemurwa was diagnosed with acquired right genu valgus, a condition caused by the accumulation of excess fluoride in the bones, which results from drinking contaminated water. His right leg exhibits a more severe deformity compared to his left leg, leading to persistent swelling whenever he walks. Lemurwa has been suffering from this progressive knee deformity since the age of three, and things have only worsened over time. His condition limits his mobility and causes significant pain, making it challenging for him to walk long distances and to perform essential tasks, such as helping his family in herding cattle. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lemurwa. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 26th at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center. Treatment should restore Lemurwa's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Lemurwa says: "I hope that after this treatment I will be able to help out at home and that my leg will not be a barrier to my day-to-day life."

Kenn is a 26-year-old food handler from Philippines. He lives with his partner and has an income of $200 a month which is just enough to provide for their daily needs. In addition to his needed treatment, Kenn is worried because he already holds debts from a previous hospitalization. In March 2022, Kenn began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe stomachache, back pain, and vomiting. He was brought to the nearest hospital to receive urgent care. After a series of tests, he was diagnosed to have a gallstone. Unfortunately, he cannot afford his surgery and had it delayed. Consequently, his symptoms worsened as he experienced chest pain and yellow skin discoloration. He went back to his surgeon to be checked and was diagnosed with Chronic Calculous Cholecystitis. Kenn must undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder to heal. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Kenn is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on March 3rd. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the requesting $1,128 to cover the cost of Kenn's surgery and care. Kenn shared, "The treatment cost is very expensive and we can't afford it. Thankfully, Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines have good hearts and are willing to help me. I'm so grateful for their generosity. May the Lord continue to bless them."

Veasna is a student in the fifth grade and has many friends, even though he describes himself as shy. In addition to his friends, Veasna loves spending time with his mom and older brother. Sadly, his dad passed away in a motorbike accident before Veasna was born. Veasna has strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. He is having trouble reading, which is his favorite subject at school. Left untreated, he could face permanent vision problems, including double vision and issues with depth perception. Veasna's family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align his eyes. Now, Veasna's family needs help to raise $331 to fund this procedure. His mom said, "I hope Veasna can have surgery and not be shy about his eyes."

Vicky is a friendly 38-year-old mother to four boys aged between 2 and 12 years old. She lives in a three-room semi-permanent house with her family. Her husband is a small-scale maize farmer who works tirelessly to support his family. Vicky has a big anterior neck swelling that moves when swallowing. The swelling has been there for ten years now and has been gradually increasing in size, with pain that aggravates her when she lifts heavy things. Vicky states that she first developed goiter when she was a form two student. It was removed in 2007 in a Ugandan hospital, but reappeared three years later. Vicky began to experience troubling symptoms, including being unable to eat, drink, or sleep comfortably. She had an especially difficult time when she was expecting her children. Neighbors always help her with home chores as her children are still young and her health condition limits her physical capacity. Sometimes she has elevated blood pressure that causes angina. At our medical partner's hospital, she was diagnosed with Multinodular Thyroid Cyst. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Vicky receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 21st at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $936, and she and her family need help raising the funds. Vicky says, ”I am so stressed with what I am going through. I would love to work together with my husband in order to provide for our family, but my health status cannot allow me. Please help me because I am optimistic that I will get well someday and be able to help.”

Hnin is a determined 5-year-old girl from Burma. In her free time, she likes to draw pictures. Hnin lives with her grandmother and brother in Mon State. She goes to kindergarten, her brother goes to primary school, and her grandmother is a washerwoman. Hnin's parents, who work as day laborers in Thailand, also send them money every month to help support basic needs. Hnin was born with club foot of her left leg. With the help of Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), she underwent casting at Mawlawmyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MCLH) to straighten her foot. Hnin's family was told to bring her back when she was five years old as she would need another surgery to fully correct her clubfoot. Currently, Hnin still has a cast on her left leg. When she walks, she walks on the side of her left foot. Because of this, she cannot play on the playground or keep up with her friends. Without treatment, Hnin's condition will continue to cause her discomfort and will further limit her movement. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of surgery for Hnin, which is scheduled to take place on November 18th. This procedure will elongate her Achilles tendon, allowing increased motion at the ankle joint. Hnin said, “My left leg is so heavy with the cast, but I am not scared to have the operation on my leg. I want to have surgery."

Justine is a 26-year-old businesswoman from Uganda. She owns a small food-selling outlet in her shopping center. With low sales, it is a challenge for her to raise enough money for rent and expand her business. Her husband operates a motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) with little income as well. Justine and her husband are currently expecting a second child. Unfortunately, Justine lost her firstborn child during delivery and she hopes to deliver a healthy baby with this pregnancy. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband. For this pregnancy, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section because of the short time between pregnancies and the scar from the last pregnancy. She needs to deliver via a Caesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child but is unable to raise the funds needed on her own. She appeals for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Justine undergo a Caesarean section on February 7th. This procedure will cost $252, and Justine needs your support. Justine says, “I hope to deliver a live and healthier baby and I will be glad thus able to resume my business of selling foodstuff.”

Sorim is a 12-year-old student in grade five. He has two younger siblings - a one-month-old brother, and an eight-year-old sister. His parents are rice farmers in Kampong Chhnang province. In school, he enjoys Khmer literature and would like to be a doctor when he grows up. Sorim's favorite meal is fried eggs and chicken soup. At home, he enjoys playing with toys with friends, reading books, and swimming in the lake near his house. When he was six months old, the middle and ring fingers of his right hand were burned in a cooking fire. He did not receive any care, as his parents had no money for treatment. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his burn. Now he cannot extend his fingers and it is difficult for him to carry things or hold a pencil to write in school. When Sorim's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 21st, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to help him to use his hand again. Now, their family needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Sorim said: "My friends make fun of my hand, and it makes me feel bad. I hope I can use my fingers after surgery and I won't have any pain."