Chulsa is a 10-year old student in the third grade. When he was only one year old he was burned by hot water. His mother brought him to a clinic near their home to be treated. His skin eventually healed, but he developed a burn contracture (permanent shortening of a muscle or joint) on his finger. It is now difficult for him to use his finger. Chulsa has one sister who is six years old. His mother is a factory worker and his father is a construction worker. When Chulsa's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled across Cambodia for seven hours seeking treatment. On January 11th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to help Chulsa use his hand completely. Now, his family needs help to fund this $477 procedure. Chulsa told us how hopeful he is that he can finally use his finger more easily than before.

Jayden is 2-year-old baby boy from Kiambu County, Kenya. He is the second born in a family of two children. His mother is a housewife, while his father does casual work as a mason. Jayden was born with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. When he was a few months old, his mother noticed that she could not feel his testes, but ultimately the family did not bring him in to a doctor. Recently, his grandmother also noticed this, which led to Jayden being brought to the hospital. There, doctors ordered a scan that showed bilateral undescended testicles, and they recommend Jayden has an orchidopexy surgery to correct the condition. If left untreated, Jayden has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. However, this procedure is costly for Jayden and his family. Jayden's father earns just enough income to support his family's basic needs. He is not able to afford Jayden's surgery, and appeals for financial support. Jayden will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 5th. AMHF is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Jayden's mother shared, “Although we don’t go to church, I pray to God that our son may have this support and get successful treatment so that he may have a normal future like other boys.”

Yousrim is a 57-year-old farmer who breeds chickens and ducks to sell. Last year, she suffered trauma to her right ear when insect flew into her ear. For three days she tried remove it but was unsuccessful. She self-treated by inserting rubbing alcohol in her ear and told us that it became really painful for her. Ever since then, she has ear discharge, ringing in her ear (tinnitus), and hearing loss. Yoursim's son says he has to speak close to his mother's ear for her to understand him. Yousrim lives with her husband, and has two daughters, one son, and one grandson. In her free time, she likes to play with her grandchild, and watch TV. Yousrim traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 20th, she will undergo surgery on her right ear. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $464 to fund this procedure, covering medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Yoursim is optimistic that after the surgery she will stop having ear infections and discharge, the noise in her ear will go away, and her hearing will improve.

Yar is an 18-year-old girl from a Karen community who is now living in Thailand. She lives with her parents, three younger sisters and three younger brothers in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Yar and her parents are all too ill to work and are homemakers, while her siblings are students. Her family relies on the monthly food allowance they receive from an organization to get by. They also grow vegetables for themselves to supplement this income. Yar completed grade nine, but felt too ill to return to school this year. In her free time, she likes to weave Karen bags for her siblings and help her mother with household chores. One day in the beginning of January 2020, Yar started to experience neck pain, fevers, and chills. When she went to the camp’s hospital, run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), she was diagnosed with tonsillitis and was given oral painkillers and antibiotics. During her follow-up appointment, the medic gave her more of the same medications. After her follow-up appointment, Yar felt a small growth with her tongue inside her bottom left jaw behind her front teeth. When she went back for her next appointment, Yar told the medic about the growth in her mouth however, this was not checked and she kept receiving more oral medication each week until the beginning of June 2020. During this time, the mass in her mouth increased in size. In June 2020, she was referred to Umphang Hospital. However, Umphang Hospital then referred her to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for surgery. On June 16th, IRC brought Yar to MSH where she received a physical examination, a CT-scan, and a biopsy of the mass. The CT result indicated that the mass was benign but the doctor did not explain the results to her specifically. In July 2020, when she went back to MSH for her follow-up appointment, the doctor removed the mass in her mouth as well as five of her lower front teeth during surgery. Since the surgery, Yar has experienced swelling where the mass was removed as well as aches in her neck and back. The mass has now returned and is increasing in size. On August 5th, the doctor told her that the mass in her mouth was increasing in size and that she would need to receive surgery again. However, she would need to receive treatment at Chiang Mai Hospital because they are unable to treat her further at MSH. IRC has referred Yar to Watsi's local Medical Partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for assistance accessing treatment in Chiang Mai. Now, the doctor in Chiang Mai ordered a CT scan to confirm Yar's diagnosis and plan for her treatment. Doctors want Yar to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $469 to cover the cost of Yar's CT scan and care, scheduled for September 29th. “I want to open a small sewing shop in front of my home,” said Yar. "I plan to attend vocational training to learn how to sew clothes in the future."

Turyamusiima is a 16-year-old senior high student from Uganda. He is the second born in a family of three children and all his sisters are also still studying, the first one is in an institute while the last is in fourth grade. He enjoys playing football during his free time but now cannot endure the pain his condition causes him whenever he is playing. Both his parents are small-scale farmers who struggle to educate their children from the little money they earn from farming. Since seven years ago, Turyamusiima has had an inguinal hernia. If not treated, the hernia may result in intestinal tissue damage. Fortunately, on September 7th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $230 to fund Turyamusiima's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Turyamusiima shared: “I hope to get well after my surgery because this condition has given me a hard time. I will continue with my studies and maybe even enjoy football as I used to before.”

Kakrona is a one-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who are farmers, as well as his older brother and sister. His parents take their children for walks everyday, and Kakrona already likes to say hello to all his friends nearby. At home, he likes to draw pictures and watch TV. Since he was born, Kakrona has had amniotic band syndrome, which causes contractures in hands and feet, as well as swelling of his ankle joint. Kakrona's ankle has contracted, and it is difficult for him to walk or use his foot. Luckily, surgeons at our Medical Partner Children's Surgical Centre can perform a contracture release procedure, which will allow him to gain range of movement in his foot. Kakrona's mother said, "I am so happy that my son has a chance to get this surgery. I hope that after this he can start walking and grow up well."

Phal is a 56-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons and three grandchildren. Phal lives with her youngest son since her husband passed away five years ago. In her free time Phal enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio and visiting the pagoda. One year ago, Phal developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Phal learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours with her son seeking treatment. On November 20th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Phal said, "Life as a widow and older woman is very difficult with poor vision, my eyesight is important for me and my business."

Prince is a kindergarten student from Kenya. He is a six-year-old boy who likes to play and sometimes tend to his grandfather's cattle. He is an only child and his mother used to work as a waiter in a local hotel while the father is a mason. Ryan's mother noticed an unusual bending of his left foot when he was two. Because of his condition, he is not able to walk. Surgery to realign his bones will help him walk and improve his self-esteem. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 20th. The family is not able to raise the estimated bill for the surgery and is asking for your help to fund this $1,286 surgery. After treatment, Prince's ability to walk will be much improved. “We are pleading for any kind of help to ensure my son undergoes surgery and is able to resume his normal life. We would greatly appreciate your support," shared Prince's mother.

Meng is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. Meng lives with his mother, who is working as a cleaner at a local primary school. His father passed away three months ago. Meng is in the seventh grade, and he has been studying online while his school is closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. He excels in mathematics, and he is a good football player. After playing football he likes to drink ice tea with lemon and coconut. Nine years ago, Meng had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his right ear to perforate. For this reason, Meng experiences hearing loss, pain, and ear discharge. He cannot communicate clearly with others, and the chronic pain gets worse over time. Meng traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 12th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $464 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Meng's mother said, "I hope that my son can hear well, and that his eardrum will be fixed and his hearing will improve after surgery. When he goes back to school, everyone will be impressed by his new ability."

Immanuel is a 2-year-old child from Kenya and the last born in a family of four. His parents are both casual laborers who earn an average of $3 per day. His mother washes clothes while his father works in construction sites where they earn a daily wage. Immanuel’s parent’s income is inconsistent since they depend on the availability of work. In mid-June this year, Immanuel was playing in the kitchen as his mother prepared supper for the family. He dipped his left hand into a boiling pot of potatoes when his mother stepped out to fetch more firewood for the broth. He let out a loud scream which made his mother rush back to the kitchen only to find him burnt and in pain. Immanuel suffered burns on his chest and left arm. He is not healing well and he is prone to infection. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Immanuel receive treatment. On September 21st, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure. This treatment will help clean his wounds and cover them with skin so as to reduce the risk of infection and improve his healing. Now, Immanuel needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Immanuel's mother shared, “For over two months now we have tried to source help for my baby to get this needed treatment. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful. The wounds are refusing to heal and his elbow has become immobile and stiff. This might affect him now and in the future, if something is not done soon.”

Joseph is a two-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the last born of his mother who has eight children. His father is polygamous with two wives, Joseph's mother being the first wife. The second wife has five children making a family of fourteen children. Four children in the family have been able to join school but the rest have not had a chance to attend yet. Joseph's older siblings who do not go to school help their parents to look after their cattle of five cows and five goats. Both parents depend on small-scale farming of maize, beans, and vegetable for their food and they are able to sell a goat once in a while to be able to get money to buy other commodities. Joseph 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, Joseph 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, is requesting $1,015 to cover the cost of Joseph's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 10th and will hopefully spare Joseph from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Joseph’s mother shared, “The money needed to pay our son’s surgery cost is too high for us to afford, kindly help us.”

Gideon is 6-year-old playful boy. Five days ago, Gideon came to the hospital with a complaint of pain in his right hand, which looked like an obvious fracture due to the deformed and swollen appearance of his arm. He was unable to lift his hand. Gideon sustained the fracture while he was playing with his friends in school. Accompanied by his mother, they walked over 16 miles to get to our hospital to see a doctor and get treated. After the doctor's assessment, Gideon was admitted for skin traction to limit movement and reduce his pain and swelling. Now he has been scheduled for Open Reduction and External Fixation (OREF) surgery on Friday, March 20th. Gideon is the second born in a family of three children. He was born and raised in a small village called Kipkaner where most of the inhabitants work on farms or perform other low-income jobs. His parents did not attend school, so they don’t speak Swahili nor English. The family lives in a small mud hut with grass as a roof. His family gets sustenance from their small farm and consists mostly of millet, sorghum and seasonal fruits like mangos. Gideon likes to spend his days looking after her grandmother's goats. He feels that his grandmother will find it hard to take care of her goats when he is sick. Gideon is in severe pain. He has a hard time sleeping. The family is requesting for financial support for their child to undergo surgery. Gideon’s father says, “I want my son to get back to his normal life. It is paining to see him lay in bed without help.”