Sarun is a rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married with one son and sometimes works part-time at a factory close to his home. He likes watching Cambodian boxing. Two months ago, he suffered an electric burn on his right arm at the factory where he works part-time. He is in pain. The wounds are in bad shape and could progress to a very serious infection. When Sarun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On November 7, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to to remove damaged and infected tissue from the wounds. Now, Sarun needs help to fund this $262 procedure. He says, "I hope I can go back to work soon."

Margarita is a mother from Guatemala. She lives with her children, grandchildren, and husband in Guatemala's rural coastal area. Margarita works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her family. Margarita underwent a pap smear test with the nurses in our medical partner's women's health program, and the results of her pap came back positive. Though Margarita does not currently have symptoms, she still needs to undergo a colposcopy, which is a guided biopsy procedure that removes affected areas of the cervix. A colposcopy is often curative for cancerous or precancerous lesions of the cervix, and it is therefore is the best way to prevent the spread of cervical cancer. With $218 in funding, Margarita will consult with a specialist who will perform the colposcopy. Even if cancer or pre-cancer is found in her biopsy results, this procedure is often curative. She will be able to return home with better knowledge of her cervical health. The procedure is scheduled for November 8. Margarita says, "Thank you for this support and guidance for the sake of my health."

Musinguzi is a five-year-old boy from Uganda and one of three boys in his family. Musinguzi is in nursery school, where he performs very well in class. He wants to become a teacher. His mother, a single parent, works as a farmer. Since separating from her husband, she has struggled to pay for her three children’s school fees. When Musinguzi was a year old, he was diagnosed with an abnormal condition in a sensitive area. He was scheduled to have surgery at age three, but his mother was in a traffic accident, and the costs of her own medical treatment meant that she could not afford her son's surgery. On June 29, Musinguzi will finally have the treatment he needs. After surgery, he will be able to grow and develop normally and continue his schooling with peace of mind. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $199 for Musinguzi's treatment.

“My son has suffered with this condition his whole life,” shares Akandwanaho’s mother, a woman from Uganda. “He needs help, but I am unable to pay for his surgery.” Akandwanaho was born with a hydrocele, or excess buildup of fluid around one of his testicles. Although this issue often resolves on its own within a year, Akandwanaho is now five years old, and the swelling has only increased in size. He has also begun to feel pain when he walks to nursery school, which concerns his mother greatly. She shared her worries with her neighbor, who is a nurse at our medical partner's care center, Virika Hospital. The neighbor told Akandwanaho’s mother about the subsidized treatment that that center provides via Watsi. She was relieved to hear she might be able to get treatment for her son even though she normally could not afford it. When we raise $185, we can pay for the surgery that will remove Akandwanaho’s uncomfortable swelling on August 16. This fundraising goal will also cover the boy’s medications and three-day hospital stay. Although he is still young, Akandwanaho already has big dreams—he wants to study hard and become a police officer one day. Let’s make sure he has the chance to pursue that dream in good health.

Maria is a 50-year-old woman from Guatemala. She has had diabetes for eight years, but she only began treatment five years ago. Her diabetes has advanced, and she has been experiencing blurry vision and dizziness, which prevent her from working. She needs insulin to manage her blood sugar and prevent serious complications, such as kidney failure, high blood pressure, and cataracts. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 28. Maria is a single mother to two sons. She lives with them in an adobe house with a tin roof, and she supports her family by selling fruits and vegetables in a large market. Maria leaves for the market at 4 am every day, and she often stays until dark. Despite her hard work, she cannot afford this $1,500 treatment. This treatment will protect Maria from the effects of uncontrolled diabetes. She will receive the insulin, blood pressure medications, and education she needs to adequately manage her diabetes for years to come. Once her glucose levels normalize, she will no longer be at risk of dangerous blood sugar highs. She will have renewed energy to return to work, and her quality of life will improve.