Mean is a beautiful five-year-old boy from Cambodia who has one sister and three brothers. He enjoys watching cartoons at home and playing with his four siblings. To support their family, his father is a construction worker, and his mother manages their home and cares for the children. Last August, Mean was badly burned across most of his body in a petroleum accident. Although his parents took him to a specialty children's hospital to receive care, he eventually developed severe burn contractures. Contractures occur when the skin surrounding a scar matures, thickens, and tightens, preventing movement. He is no longer able to stand straight due to a contracture of his right hip. He has burn contractures on his forearm, right elbow, and both armpits. He also has keloid scars, or enlarged and raised scarring, on both ears. He currently experiences itching all over his body and difficulty sleeping. When Mean's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On August 4th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to release the painful contractures. This will allow him to stand and walk straight, as well as grow at a healthy rate. Now, his family needs help funding this $495 procedure. Mean's mother says, "I hope the doctors can help Mean so he will not be in pain or ashamed when he is ready to go to school."

Sam is a 12-year-old student from Cambodia, and the third of four siblings in her family. Her mom sells food at the local market and her dad is a tuk tuk driver. She is in grade 6 at her primary school. Sam's best subjects are Khmer and English literature and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. In her free time she enjoys playing games and watching TV. Five years ago, Sam had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Sam experiences pain, ear discharge, and hearing loss. She has difficulty communicating with others and the ear infection occasionally causes her a high fever. She is no longer attending school because of her worsening condition. Sam traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 30th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. "I hope that my daughter's surgery will be successful so she can go back to school," Sam's mother said.

Farkia is a baby from Tanzania. Farkia is a second born child in a family of two children, her mother says she is a happy and very active baby. Farkia’s father works as a casual labor looking for day jobs and her mother is a stay home mother. Farkia has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Farkia has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Farkia will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Farkia that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 2nd and will drain the excess fluid from Farkia's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Farkia will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Farkia’s mother says, “I got so worried once I heard that I could not deliver normal, I knew then that something is wrong. I know that my child needs this surgery but I cannot afford to give her that, please help me be able to save my daughter’s life."

Srey Vin is a girl from Cambodia. Since Srey Vin was three years old, she has experienced reoccurring dislocations in her right hip. She has difficulty walking normally, and often experiences pain in her hip. Surgery will help to realign the bones to the hip socket, and ensure that Srey Vin does not experience any difficulty or pain when walking. Surgery is scheduled for May 2 and will cost $497. She looks forward to returning to school and playing with her friends. Her mother says, "I hope that after surgery, I will no longer have to worry about my daughter's condition and that she will be able to walk normally without any pain."

Nalek is a 10-year-old primary school student from Cambodia. When he is not in school, Nalek loves to paint pictures, eat oranges, and play with his toy cars. Since birth, Nalek developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred and cloudy vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Nalek learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 14, doctors will perform a lensectomy and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $398 procedure.

Srey Mech is a mother of two from Cambodia. She sells clothes at a shop. She has two sons. She likes to go for walks and watch TV. Fifteen years ago, she fell down and broke her hip. She had a hip replacement surgery, but now it needs to be replaced because she has been in chronic hip pain for the past two years. She cannot walk. Fortunately, Srey Mech learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Srey Mech of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for November 7, and Srey Mech needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I really hope I won't be in pain and will be able to work after the operation."

Sopanh is a one-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has one older brother. He likes to play with his toy cars. Sopanh has strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. It is difficult for him to see clearly. Sopanh traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 1, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align his eyes. Now, Sopanh's family needs help to raise $292 to fund this procedure. His mother says, "I worry that my son's vision is failing and that he feels shy about it."

Edoso is a baby from Ethiopia. He is a smiley toddler who loves to play and laugh with his mother. His father passed away a year ago, leaving his mother with six children. Edoso's mother rented out their small farm and is barely able to meet the needs of her family. Edoso was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Edoso is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on April 10. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Edoso's procedure and care. After his recovery, Edoso will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Edoso’s mother says, “I was a house wife. When I lost my husband, life got difficult because he was the one who supported the family. Now I am struggling with the financial needs of my family. I am trying to raise my children with the limited money I get from my rented land."

Irene is a young girl from Tanzania. She is an only child to her parents. She loves school and making new friends. Irene is currently in grade four. Her parents are both subsistence farmers. Irene has clubfoot of her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Irene traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 3. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Irene's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Irene says, “I am grateful that I will be able to walk well like all of my friends. Thank you for getting me treated.”

Wesley is a baby from Kenya. He lives with his elder brother and parents in a one-room rental house in the Nairobi suburbs. His father, the family's sole breadwinner, is training to be a mechanic. Wesley 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, Wesley 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 Wesley's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 12. This procedure will hopefully spare Wesley from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I long for the once happy family we had. We hope this gets behind us soon,” shares Wesly’s father.

Tinsaye is a cute baby girl from Ethiopia. She is an only child to her young parents and loves playing and laughing with her mother. Tinsaye was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Tinsaye is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on June 19. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Tinsaye's procedure and care. After her recovery, Tinsaye will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Her father says, "We can’t afford the medical bills and raised funds for transportation to come to the hospital. It is our hope to get the surgery and to see our child healthy."

Srey Pich is six years old and lives in Cambodia with her family. She was born with congenital club hands, which is making many activities difficult for her. She complains about difficulty eating, carrying things, and writing in school. Currently, her left hand has better function, so she uses it to write and eat. However, she is right-handed and prefers the right hand. Srey Pich and her family visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, to receive care. The doctors informed her parents that she would need a procedure called pollicization and centralization to help her right hand function again. Her procedure is scheduled for November 23. Srey Pich's procedure will cost $448 and her family is appealing to Watsi for financial assistance. "I want to be a teacher when I grow up," says Srey Pich.