Sensokha is a 69-year-old retired public school teacher from Cambodia. Sensokha was married for 50 years and shared a son and daughter with her husband. Unfortunately, ten years ago her son was killed in a motorcycle robbery. In the past three months she also lost her daughter and husband to heart disease and hypertension, respectively. Now she lives alone and her neighbors help take care of her. Three months ago she was in a bicycle accident. Sensokha fell off while riding and fractured her right ankle. First she sought treatment from a local Khmer healer but their traditional methods were not effective. Later, from another clinic, she received a painkiller injection which made her feel better briefly but her condition did not improve. It is painful for her to walk and difficult to go about her life. When Sensokha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 1st, surgeons at CSC will perform internal fixation of her ankle joint with a pin. Once the fracture heals after surgery she will be able to walk again without pain. Now, Sensokha needs help to fund this $518 procedure. Sensokha says, "I hope my ankle will be better so I can do more things on my own and not be in so much pain."

Rachel is a tailor from Kenya. She is a middle-aged woman from the east of the country. Eight years ago, she noted a lump on her right breast and consulted several hospitals. She had FNA tests run and cancer was ruled out. In 2014, she had a lumpectomy but unfortunately, the lump recurred in 2018. She was biopsied in a different hospital and still did not get a cancer diagnosis. Late in 2019, she opted to come to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center Kijabe Hospital where she had several tests done, including an ultrasound and CT scan. Doctors diagnosed early-stage cancer. Rachel returned to the hospital in April and surgery is advised. If not operated on, she is at risk of cancer metastasis, which might result in an early death. Rachel is a mother of two children, ages 10 and 8 years old. She lives in a two-roomed rental house paying $34 per month. She sustains her family through her small tailoring venture in their house. Living with a disability, where she had a right femur osteomyelitis in 1982, she is not able to move with ease, and this limits her ability to earn a better living and lifestyle. She separated with her husband, making it hard for her to meet the daily cost of living. She left her two children with a neighbor to come for surgery and appeals for financial help. Without treatment, her cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $898 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Rachel. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 6th. After treatment, Rachel will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Rachel says, “Thank you for agreeing to support my surgery. I am grateful and look forward to quick recovery.”

Meet Cynthia: a calm girl who is almost turning two. Just two days ago, Cynthia arrived to our medical partner's hospital after falling from being knocked by a sheep, where she fractured her right hand. X-ray imaging revealed a closed supracondylar fracture. Cynthia was admitted for skin traction and she now requires OREF surgery to correct the fracture. This will allow her hand to heal and reduce the chances of healing badly and persistent pain. Cynthia was born and raised in a small village called Sisiya where most of the community works in farms or other small not very stable jobs. Cynthia parents don’t have a formal education. Her mother is a housewife and his father is a security guard in a building. They live in a small mud hut with grass as a roof. Her family gets its food from their small farm, which consists mostly of maize, beans and vegetables. The family doesn’t have money to pay for their daughter’s surgery and she needs $763. The family’s income per month is roughly $30. Her mother is hoping for financial support so that her daughter can undergo the surgery.

Trufehna is a farmer from Kenya with two children aged 25 and 13 respectively. She takes care of two cows for her daily upkeep. Trufehna lost her dear husband in the year 2007 after a short illness. After her husband's death, their farm was taken by his relatives hence she had to return to her parents. Since nine years ago, Trufehna began to experience troubling symptoms, including sore throat, pain and a neck selling. She was diagnosed with an euthyroid goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Trufehna receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 9th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $641, and she and her family need help raising money. Trufehna says, “Help me get treated so that I can carry on with life and support my daughters. I believe that this condition cannot shatter my hope and I will be back to my normal life.”

Alvin is a baby boy from Tanzania. Alvin is very friendly and charming, he is the only child to his single mother. His mother has a small shop from where she is able to get money to support her son. The income is not much but gets them by somehow. Alvin was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. His legs are bowed so that his knees cannot touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has a difficult time walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Alvin. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 24th. Treatment will hopefully restore Alvin's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Alvin’s mother says, “As days go by my son’s legs keep worsening and walking is becoming more difficult. Please help treat him.”

Faith, the only child in her family, was doing well all along until she turned three years. She started to have difficulty hearing and her mother had to shout for her to hear. Her mother at first thought Faith was just being naughty. As years progressed, Faith's hearing became limited. She was unable to go to school as she struggles to hear what the teacher says. Her mother tried to have her ears cleaned from a nearby dispensary. With the condition's persistence, she had tests run in a different hospital and was diagnosed with hearing loss. The cost of the hearing aids was high for Faith's mother. They were advised to seek care in Kijabe by a friend with hopes of subsidized charges. Faith’s mother cannot raise the funds needed and so appeals for help. Faith's mother does casual tasks such as laundry in the neighborhood and she was abandoned by her father before she was born. They are only able to aise 15,000 Kenyan Shillings which cannot fully cover the cost of the hearing aids. “If I get the hearing aids I will go to school again,” says Faith with a bright smile.

Aziza is a pupil from Tanzania. Aziza is a twelve-year-old girl who hopes to become a teacher in future. The class five pupil enjoys learning mathematics and Swahili. However, she struggles with her left land due to secondary burn contractures. When she was three years old, Aziza fell on an open fire when playing with her two siblings. She suffered wrist burns and after a hospital stay, she was discharged to continue with dressing at home. Unfortunately, she healed with contractures on her left wrist. One of her aunts referred her to our facility whereupon review, contracture release was advised. The aunt is afraid that she might not receive surgery as they do not have sufficient money. Aziza's mother passed away three years ago. Aziza currently lives with her aunt who does laundry labourer to provide for the family. Their income is limited to meet just basic needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Aziza receive treatment. On October 17th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to allow Aziza fully utilize her hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Aziza’s aunt says, “Aziza already has a lot of challenges we would be happy and life would be easier for her if she could get her hand treated and be able to use both of her hands in her daily activities.”

Veronicah is a farmer from Kenya. Veronicah is a peasant farmer in her small piece of ancestral land where she lives with her parents and teenage child. Veronicah has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Veronicah. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 2nd. After treatment, Veronicah will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. “I keep hearing the doctor’s voice over and over-“breast cancer” “breast cancer. I just do not know what to do,” says Veronicah.

Shin is a 15-year-old novice monk from Burma. He lives and studies with his brother in Aung Damar Zinyone Learning Centre Monastery in Insein Township, Yangon Division. His father is a government officer for the ministry of religious affairs and culture and his mother is a shopkeeper and sells rice and curry. Although his parents send them pocket money, they cannot always do so. Instead, Shin and his brother are supported by the monks, and he collects donations of food from the community with the other monks, during morning alms collections. In his free time Shin like to play football with his friends. Sometimes, he likes to read books and study to learn new things. Shin was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Shin has difficulty breathing, is unable to sleep at night and sometimes he has a fever during the night. He cannot walk long distances and he has difficulty walking up stairs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Shin. The treatment is scheduled to take place on August 21 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “When I grow up, I want to become a monk to help those in need as well as children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school,” said Shin. “This has been my dream since I was a child.”

Michael is a motorcycle taxi operator from Kenya. He is a hardworking and entrepreneurial man. In July, Micheal was involved in an accident with another motorbike. He was brought to the hospital, where it was confirmed that he had sustained a fracture of the left femur. He is not able to walk and is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 25, Michael will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure. “I cannot afford the cost of surgery. I will be eternally grateful if you can find a way to help,” Michael says.

John is a young man from Kenya. In June, he was hit by a motorbike and sustained injuries on his right leg. He is in chronic pain and cannot walk on his own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 2, John will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure.

Precious is a baby from Kenya. She has a left inguinal hernia. Fortunately, on May 24, she will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Precious's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably.