Dylan is a bright 12-year-old student who enjoys reading and playing football. He is the only child in his family and his mother is a single mom who works for the county government part-time. In 2015, Dylan's left foot began to bend slightly. As Dylan has grown, the leg has worsened, affecting his mobility. When playing with friends and running around during football, he often falls. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 6th, Dylan is scheduled to undergo angular deformity correction surgery. After the surgery, he will be able to walk well and play again without any difficulty. Now, AMH is requesting $1,224 to fund Dylan's surgery. Dylan's mother shared,“ I am appealing for support to help my son undergo surgery, thank you so much."

John is a 16-year-old and a bright seventh grade student. He is the youngest of two children and lives with his grandmother. He's also found a mentor in his church pastor who offers guidance and counseling. His family relies on their local church for food and living expenses. John was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping John to receive treatment. John is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 30th at AMH's care center. Now, AMH is requesting $735 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. John’s grandmother shared, “My grandson has had a traumatizing childhood which left him with poor self-esteem. Finding out about this condition made the situation worse, and his low self-esteem is more visible. I am hopeful that through getting this surgery, his self-esteem will improve and slowly but surely my grandson will be happy again.”

Meet Fidelis, a 5-year-old beautiful girl. Her mother told us that she likes playing and singing, “Fidelis likes singing in church and reciting bible memory verses." Fidelis's mother is a single mum working as a vendor selling vegetables within their home area. Fidelis was born with clubfoot deformity, she has tried many treatments at a government hospital and at Cure Hospital. Her condition has continued to recur and has greatly affected her mobility. Her mother is concerned and worried for her as Fidelis is not able to walk, run with her friends, and sometimes stays lonely at home because her friends focus on her disability. Fidelis has clubfoot of of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. Fortunately, Fidelis traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on April 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Fidelis's clubfoot repair. After treatment, the hope is that Fidelis will finally be able to wear shoes well, run, walk, and play with her friends at home and at school. Her mother also hopes her self-esteem will improve. “I would like my daughter to undergo surgery so she can walk well without any hardship and continue with her education uninterrupted,” Fidelis’s mother told us.

Htun is a 50-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his wife, son, and two daughters in Thailand. Htun and his wife work as agricultural day laborers, but Htun had to stop working after he injured his eye. Currently, Htun can only perceive light with both of his eyes, but he cannot clearly see objects. Although he is not in pain, he needs someone to assist him when he walks or eats. He also cannot work nor do any household chores as a result of losing his vision. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Htun. On March 2nd, doctors will perform the lens replacement surgery, and they will remove Htun's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After his surgery, Htun will be able to see clearly and get back to all that he needs to do in the day. Htun said, “I am sad and depressed that I cannot see nor do anything. I feel sorry that my wife has had to accompany me everywhere and do every little thing for me such as helping me eat and go to the bathroom. I want to regain my vision quickly and I want to go back to work.”

Than is a 42-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, three daughters, three sons, son-in-law and granddaughter. Than and her family moved from Burma to Thailand ten years ago in search of better job opportunities. Her husband, her oldest daughter, one son, and her son-in-law work as day labourers on their employer’s farm, growing and harvesting tapioca, corn, and cabbage. Her two other sons go to school, while her youngest daughter and her granddaughter are too young to go to school. Than and her second oldest daughter are homemakers. On November 7th, 2020, Than discovered that she had an incisional hernia. Currently, Than experiences abdominal pain throughout the week and has to take pain medication to decrease her pain. She feels uncomfortable when she sits, and when she is in pain, she has to walk or lie down for the pain to ease. Fortunately, on January 28th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Than's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 28th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and go about her daily activities normally. Than shared, “I was so happy when I learned that I was to go to Mae Tao Clinic [and later Mae Sot Hospital] for treatment. My children are also happy that I will receive treatment with help from donors.”

Jane is a 70-year-old kiosk owner from Kenya. She is a former civil servant who was released from government duty in 2000. Since then, she has since been running a small kiosk that sells vegetables and other groceries. In March 2019, Jane suffered a fracture on her left distal femur with intraarticular extension, meaning the break crossed into the surface of a joint. To remedy this, she underwent surgery with a locking plate. However, the fracture has not healed properly, which threatens her mobility. Doctors are now recommending a another fracture repair surgery to prevent future complications of her condition, including inability to walk. However, this procedure is costly for Jane. The profit she earns from her small business is not enough to cover her basic needs, let alone her medical bills. Jane has been relying on a small government pension to get by. She separated from her husband over 30 years ago and has since been raising her only son alone. Her son is an adult, but lacks a stable job and works as a casual laborer to make ends meet. Thus, Jane is appealing for financial help. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 11th, Jane will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. After recovering, she will no longer have difficulties in walking or be in constant pain. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Jane shared, “I need this surgery to get back on my feet. I am the one taking care of my grandkids since my son has no job. This procedure will help me be able to go get vegetables from the market so that I can sell and continue my business.”

Anastasia is a farmer from Kenya. In early July, she was riding a motorbike and sustained fractures of her femur and tibia. She is in chronic pain and is not able to walk or move about freely. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 11, Anastasia will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure. “As I thank God for saving my life, I kindly request for help to treat my leg so that I may be able to walk again. I was planning to have my own family soon,” says Anastasia.

Juliet is a child from Kenya. She is the youngest child in her family. Juliet was burned by a pot of boiling water. She spent seven weeks in the hospital and underwent three skin graft surgeries. Her hand has healed with contractures and needs treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Juliet receive treatment. On June 20, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her use her hand freely. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,176 procedure. Herr mother says, “I wish to see Juliet growing as a normal child."

Pauline is a baby from Kenya. She has been diagnosed with encephalocoele, a type of neural tube defect in which brain tissues and overlying membranes protrude through openings in the skull. Encephalocoele usually results from a failure of the neural tube to completely close during fetal development. Without treatment, Pauline is at risk of developmental delays, brain damage, or premature death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $929 to fund encephalocoele repair surgery for Pauline. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 7. Hopefully, the repair of this condition will allow Pauline to grow up healthy.

Vichheka is a 23-year-old teacher from Cambodia. She has one daughter, and enjoys reading books in her free time. When she was a small child, Vichheka had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Vichheka experiences discharge, headaches, hearing loss, and itchiness. It is difficult for her to focus and listen to her students when she is at school. Vichheka traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 26, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, the ear infection will stop and I will no longer have any ear discharge."

Georgeline is a baby from Kenya. She was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Georgeline is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Georgeline's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 26. This procedure will hopefully spare Georgeline from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory.

Ganizani is a 70-year old farmer from Malawi. He is a husband and father to six. He has 11 grandchildren. Ganizani likes to fish in his free time. Since February 2018, Ganizani has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Ganizani's surgery. On February 12, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. He says, "Thank you to Watsi for this support."