Ferdinand is a father of two from the Philippines. He has one son and one daughter. Both he and his wife both work as public school teachers. Their income is still insufficient for their needs, however and, in addition to supporting their children, part of their salary goes to their medication for diabetes and hypertension. In September, Ferdinand began to experience several troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain. He was rushed to an emergency room to be treated. The ultrasound test showed that he has gallstones. Ferdinand has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy which is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and will put him at risk of further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Ferdinand is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on December 3rd. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $826 to cover the cost of Ferdinand's surgery and care. "Because of my condition, I'm in constant pain which hinders me from doing my usual activities. I've tried to reach out for help to our local government but was unsuccessful," Ferdinand shared. "I am glad there are foundations like Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines that exist. I'm forever grateful for the help that you've given me," he added.

Edith is a 49-year-old mother from Kenya. To support their four children, she works as a homemaker, and her husband works as a driver. She shares that her husband earns enough to support their family's basic needs. As Edith does her family chores, she enjoys socializing with friends and neighbors. Two months ago, Edith began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling. After seeking medical attention at a hospital, she was diagnosed with thyroid hyperplasia, a condition that leads to thyroid enlargement. In order to alleviate her symptoms and prevent them from worsening, she must undergo thyroid surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Edith receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 15th at our medical partner's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The surgery will cost $657, which she and her family need help raising. Edith shares, “The doctor said that with this surgery, this problem will be solved. I kindly request help so that I can be operated on soon. I also pray that the surgery will go on well.”

Ann is a 34-year-old widow and a mother of two children, ages 13 and 8 years old. She does odd jobs at a nearby small hotel; though she shared that her medical condition makes it hard to work. Ann started having epigastric pains in 2015 and has being treated intermittently for ulcers. She said that sometimes all her income goes to treatment, and yet she doesn’t get well. Recently, the pain became worse, and she was taken to different hospitals over the weekend before being brought to Nazareth Hospital, where she was admitted. A scan showed Cholelithiasis, and since she has severe pain on and off, the Surgeon recommended she should go for Cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gall bladder) immediately. Unfortunately, her medical insurance (NHIF) did not approve her case, so she needs $788 to fund her surgery. If not treated, Ann will continue to experience the pain and may have complications like pancreatitis, blockage of the gall bladder with inflammation of the gall bladder. She is in severe pain already. “I am desperate, the doctor says I have to be operated on tomorrow but have no money to pay, and NHIF did not approve my application. Any support given, I will appreciate, at least to have my life back. I am the hope of my children who are still young,” said Ann quietly.

Deborah's baby is a newborn - only a few days old. Deborah and her husband have two more children. Deoborah's husband is the breadwinner of the family, working as a small business operator while Deborah is a stay-at-home parent for their family. Her husband's income provides for their basic needs and school fees. Deborah's baby was born with clubfoot of his right leg. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. His parents are greatly concerned about their baby’s condition. They are worried, but also holding hope that their newborn baby will be ok. Fortunately, the parents brought their newborn to our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on September 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is raising $935 to fund the baby's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his leg will be aligned correctly and he will be able to walk easily as he grows. His father shared, “It has been so hard living in doubt for the past three days. I'm grateful my baby will now get help."

Ryan is a 3-month-old baby from Kenya. He is the secondborn in his family of two children. His father is a farmer and does casual labor to provide for their family, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom, caring for her two children. Ryan and his family previously lived in a village in Juja, which was later demolished, leaving them without a home. Fortunately, a well-wisher, who also accompanied them to the hospital today, managed to help them relocate. One day, Ryan's family began to notice that the size of his head was increasing. Although his family took him to a hospital seeking medical treatment and a CT scan was ordered, the CT scan was never actually performed. Fortunately, a pastor from their local church recommended that they seek treatment at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. Upon arrival, a CT scan was done and Ryan was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, he has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, he will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Ryan, which will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 4th and will drain the excess fluid from Ryan's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Ryan will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Ryan's mother says, “I love my baby so much and I know he will get the treatment he deserves."

Chrismarlie is a 13-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a city on the northern coast of Haiti. Her father is a school administrator, and her mother is a homemaker. Chrismarlie shared that she enjoys going to school and listening to music with her friends. Chrismarlie has a cardiac condition called pulmonic stenosis, which means one of her heart valves is too tight, making it difficult for blood to pass through and leading to heart failure. The surgery that she needs is not available in Haiti, but fortunately, Chrismarlie will be able to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 29th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which the surgeons will widen the heart valve so that blood can flow through it more easily. Chrismarlie's family is raising funds to cover the costs of her surgery prep, as our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is contributing funds to help cover the cost of surgery. The $1,500 will support her surgery prep, which includes all labs, medication, check-ups and follow-up appointments, and the passports needed for HCA's social workers to accompany Chrismarlie and her family overseas. Chrismarlie said, "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping to fix my heart problem!"

Faith is a 12-year-old student from Kenya. Her father is a farmer, while her mother works hard to raise their family and care for their home. Faith is the only girl and the second-oldest in her family of four. She is in fourth grade and likes reading and playing with friends. She has a big heart and hopes to one day become a surgeon to help children who are neglected because of their medical conditions. Faith has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is twisted out of shape. This condition makes it difficult for Faith to walk or to even wear shoes. Fortunately, Faith and her mother traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons are scheduled to perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Faith's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she should be able to put on shoes and walk well at home and school. Her self-esteem also will improve, and she'll be able to continue with her studies and hopefully achieve her dream career of becoming a surgeon. Faith's mother said, “I hope to see my daughter walking normally like other children. That’s why I am requesting support to facilitate her surgery."

Vania is a hardworking 14-year-old student from Haiti. She lives in an urban area of the island nation's capital, Port-au-Prince, with her parents and three younger brothers. She enjoys studying, especially science and literature. Unfortunately, Vania has not been able to attend school for two years because of her heart condition. She suffered from rheumatic fever early in her childhood. The illness damaged one of the four valves in her heart, leaving her with a condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. Her heart cannot pump blood adequately through her body, which leaves her weak and short of breath. The good news is that surgery can help. Vania will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On May 16th, surgeons will remove her damaged valve and implant an artificial valve in its place. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $17,000 to pay for the procedure. But Vania's family also needs help to fund other medical and travel costs, which is where our Watsi donors come in. They are raising $1,500 to cover lab work and medicine for Vania, along with checkup and followup appointments. It also will help pay for her to get a passport and support social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Vania and her family overseas. Vania says, "I am looking forward to this surgery so that I can feel more normal and go back to school."

Pheap is a 49-year-old rice farmer and a caring father to his three sons and daughter. Unfortunately, Pheap's wife died of cancer last year, so now he only lives with his youngest son. On the weekends, Pheap likes to watch boxing on TV and go fishing with his son. When he was a child, Pheap had an ear infection, which caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Pheap experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and tinnitus. In the last three months the symptoms have worsened. He cannot hear well and has a lot of trouble communicating clearly with others. Luckily, Pheap traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. On February 24th, Pheap will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations, which will hopefully allow for Pheap to hear and communicate clearly again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to help fund this procedure. This cost covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Pheap says, "I really hope the infection will stop and I can hear people again."

Debora is an eight-year-old student in the second grade. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Deborah is the youngest of six children in her family, and has a twin sister. The children live with their grandmother and their uncle, while their mother lives in the city. Since she was two years old, Debora has had a swollen area on her neck. Because of this, she has difficulty talking and moving her neck easily. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Debora receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at AMH will remove the mass. Now, Debora's family needs help raising $724 to fund her procedure and care. Debora shared, "I wish the swelling would disappear. I don’t like it."

Goodluck is a three-year-old boy and is the youngest of two children in his family. Both of his parents work as small scale farmers. He loves playing with toy cars and having fun with his friends. Goodluck was diagnosed with genu varus, a condition caused by an accumulation of fluoride in the bones. This condition is often comes from contaminated drinking water. He experiences pain and exhaustion after short distance walks. Fortunately, has the opportunity to receive treatment through our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). After his procedure on February 4th, Goodluck will begin regaining his mobility and allow him to play and be active with his friends again. This treatment will also greatly reduce his risk of future complications. AMH is requesting $880 for Goodluck's knee procedure. Goodluck’s mother shared: “It was through one of your employees who saw how much my son was struggling to walk and advised me to try seeking treatment help here.”

Rady is a 58-year-old farmer who is married and lives in a rural province of Cambodia. Seven years ago he went to a government hospital where they diagnosed him with bilateral perforated ear drums and suggested surgery. His family could not afford surgery so instead his wife purchased him hearing aids, but they are now broken. His conditioned has worsened over the years. Rady traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 3rd, he 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. Rady says, "I really hope my hearing will improve and all the ear discharge will stop."