Yar is a 18-year-old girl from 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 traditional Karen bags for her siblings and help her mother with household chores. One day in early January 2020, Yar started to experience neck pain, fevers, and chills. When she went to the refugee camp’s hospital, run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), she was diagnosed with tonsillitis and was given oral paink medication 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. She told the medic about this at her next appointment, but it was not checked out and she received more oral medication each week until the beginning of June 2020. During this time, the mass increased in size. In June, she was referred to Umphang Hospital, which then referred her to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for surgery. 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. In July, 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. Daily, she experiences an achy pain in her lower left jaw, her neck and her back. The mass has also returned and is increasing in size. IRC referred Yar to Watsi's Medical Partner Burma Children Medical Fund for assistance accessing treatment in Chiang Mai Hospital. After reviewing a CT scan to confirm her diagnosis, the doctor in Chiang Mai recommended she move forward with surgery to remove the tumor. Now, she is scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 3rd. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Yar shared, "I am scared to receive surgery but I believe that I will be recovered after that so I am happy."

Mengchou is a 77-year-old woman from Cambodia. She has three sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. Mengchou enjoys going to the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. If she can not travel to the pagoda she will listen to the monks on the radio. Mengchou developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision making it difficult to walk. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Mengchou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 20th, doctors will perform a small incision 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. "I hope I can go to the pagoda by myself again," Mengchou shared.

Margaret is a 65-year-old woman from Kenya. She is a happy lady with two adult sons, whom she raised as a young, single mother. Margaret initially sought care due to excruciating pains in her knee and right leg. Her knee problems started back in late 2017, and she visited a health facility in her hometown, Kiambu, for medical attention. However, after that first treatment, her condition has only deteriorated. After visiting several health centers, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, Kijabe Hospital. In early October, she was reviewed by their orthopedic team, who recommended a total knee replacement surgery. Margaret underwent a knee replacement procedure and was finally discharged after a lengthy stay in the hospital. Unfortunately, during her follow-up clinical review visits, her doctors continued to discover infections and fluctuant swelling that require further attention and treatment. Margaret has undergone additional treatment including draining and debridement on the area that was operated on during her total knee replacement surgery. Now, she will need another debridement and skin graft procedure, in addition to a total knee implant hardware removal, to prevent possible infections that could result in amputation or even death. She is currently ambulating on crutches. In the past, Margaret relied on national health insurance funding to support her medical and surgical treatment costs. However, the money has been depleted over time, and they are unable to cover any additional surgical bills for her. Margaret does not work and has been relying on her sons for physical and financial support. They do not have have stable jobs and are responsible for monitoring her treatment and care. Margaret and her sons have tried to raise funds from friends and relatives, to no avail. They are appealing for financial help. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Margaret receive treatment. On November 4th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to heal the infection and allow her to walk more easily. Now, Margaret needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Margaret shared, “I have been through a lot with this leg. Anytime it heals, the pain starts again. I can’t even sleep because of the pain. I appreciate any support you can provide."

Chheng is a 50-year-old clothes seller from Cambodia. She enjoys cooking for her family, including one son and one daughter, and likes to watch television in her free time. For the last ten years, Chheng has suffered from swelling and pain in her left knee. She was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her left knee and cannot stand for a long period of time, and now has difficulty walking comfortably. Fortunately, Chheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Chheng of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 6th, and Chheng needs help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. I hope that I will no longer be in any pain, and I will be able to walk well again and return to my work," Chheng said.

Darun is a 20-year-old gas station worker from Cambodia. He is the fourth child in a family of five brothers and a sister. After work, he likes to exercise, listen to classical music, play games on his phone, and help his family around the house. He also enjoys going for walks around the city with his friends. In October of 2019, Darun was treated for a fractured right leg at a local hospital after getting in a motorcycle accident. He has swelling and pain when he walks. He cannot walk without support and is unable to work. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On March 9th, Darun will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. Surgery will fix Darun with hardware that will help his injuries heal, and allow him to walk again. "I hope that surgery will help fix my leg and I won't have any pain and can walk again," he said.

Joan is a one-year-old from Tanzania. Joan is a beautiful girl and the youngest child in a family of four children. Joan’s father works as a motorcycle driver commonly known as “bodaboda” driver while the mother does tailoring in their neighborhood. Joan 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, Joan has been experiencing fevers, vomiting and her head is increasing in size. Without treatment, Joan 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 Joan that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 24 and will drain the excess fluid from Joan's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Joan will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Joan’s mother says, “We have struggled so much to make sure our daughter gets all her disabilities corrected, something that has left us with no savings of any kind and only debts. She needs another surgery as soon as possible and we have nowhere to get the money from, please help us.”

Bravin is a child from Kenya. He is a cheerful boy who is in preschool. He is the firstborn in a family of two children. Bravin’s mother is a stay-at-home mom, while the father is a casual laborer on construction sites. On July 4th, 2020 Bravin fell from a chair as he was playing in his house. He sustained a closed fracture-dislocation of the right elbow. He is in pain and cannot use his hand freely. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 5th, Bravin will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him regain use of his hand and no longer be in pain. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “I have watched my child suffering from pain for the past four weeks, yet we have no money to meet this cost. I kindly ask for help so that my boy can be well and use his hand so that he can grow up normally," shared Bravin’s mother.

Sensokha is a 69-year-old retired public school teacher from Cambodia. Sensokha was married for 50 years and shared a son and daughter with her husband. Unfortunately, ten years ago her son was killed in a motorcycle robbery. In the past three months she also lost her daughter and husband to heart disease and hypertension, respectively. Now she lives alone and her neighbors help take care of her. Three months ago she was in a bicycle accident. Sensokha fell off while riding and fractured her right ankle. First she sought treatment from a local Khmer healer but their traditional methods were not effective. Later, from another clinic, she received a painkiller injection which made her feel better briefly but her condition did not improve. It is painful for her to walk and difficult to go about her life. When Sensokha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 1st, surgeons at CSC will perform internal fixation of her ankle joint with a pin. Once the fracture heals after surgery she will be able to walk again without pain. Now, Sensokha needs help to fund this $518 procedure. Sensokha says, "I hope my ankle will be better so I can do more things on my own and not be in so much pain."

Saw Eh is a 25-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his wife and two children in a refugee camp in northern Thailand. He works as a security guard in the camp while his wife looks after their two young children. His family receives 821 baht (approx. 27 USD) each month from an organisation called The Border Consortium as part of their rations, and he also earns 700 baht (approx. 23 USD) in a month from working as a security guard. Their monthly income is just enough to pay for their basic expenses. In the early morning of June 1st, 2020, at around 9:00 am, Saw Eh left the camp to forage for bamboo shoots in the jungle. While climbing over some slippery boulders, a few larger rocks from above him rolled down towards him. Unfortunately, Saw Eh could not avoid the falling rocks and was hit on the head and right leg. He was knocked unconscious and had no idea how long it took him to regain consciousness. When he did, he was in severe pain and cried out loudly for help. Luckily, a man was nearby and heard him shouting for help. The man fetched a few others to help him carry Saw Eh to the clinic in the refugee camp. At the clinic, the medic directly referred Saw Eh to Mae Sariang Hospital, as they knew they could not treat him in the camp. When he arrived at Mae Sariang Hospital, he received an x-ray, which confirmed that both bones in Saw Eh's right lower leg are fractured. The doctor then referred him to a hospital in Chiang Mai immediately, as he would need to receive surgery at a larger hospital, to ensure his leg heals properly. Currently, Saw Eh's right leg is in pain as well as his head. He cannot walk nor move his right leg. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw Eh will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for June 1st and will cost $1,500. The surgery will stop Saw Eh from being in pain and will help his leg heal properly. He will then be able to walk again.

Two weeks after his birth, Twahla’s mother noticed that he had not yet passed stool. From the nearest hospital, his mother was advised to use glycerine to lubricate his opening and aid in passing stool. However at six months, the glycerine was no longer effective. They were advised to try another treatment and at seven months, they were referred to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center BethanyKids Hospital where a biopsy was done. Doctors diagnosed Twahla with Hirschsprung's Disease. His doctors recommend a pull-through procedure to aid in passing stool normally. Twahla is the second born in a family of two children. His mother is a housewife while his father is a salesperson with a very limited income. The family lives in a two-room rental house in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. They had the national insurance health insurance coverage, but have exhausted their NHIF benefit kit and are not able to raise the additional funds needed. “Please help my son get through with this treatment,” shared Twahla’s mother.

Justin is a jovial 7-year-old girl from Kenya. She is a class 1 pupil at Kisisi Primary School and her family hails from Igoji village in Meru County. Justin is an only child, her mother stays at home with Justin’s elderly grandmother while their aunt is a peasant farmer. Justin has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Justin traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on April 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Justin's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily without the deformity. “My joy is to see Justin walking like other children. I am pleading for support that will make her undergo surgery and continue with her studies uninterrupted.” --Joyce, Justin’s aunt told us.

Chit is a 68-year-old from Burma. He lives with his sister, brother-in-law, niece, his niece's husband and their son. All of his family members are farmers who grow rice for their own consumption and peanuts which they sell. Chit used to work as a cowherd, but stopped when he fell ill one year ago. Sometimes his niece's husband works as a day laborer. They also have two pigs and 10 chickens, which they sell in case they need emergency cash. Their income is just enough to cover their daily expenses and pay for basic health care. Three years ago, Chit start to experience frequent back pain. After hearing about Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), he decided to seek help there. At the clinic he received an ultrasound and a urine test. After reviewing the result, the medic told him there was nothing wrong with his bladder and provided him with medication. However, the medication did not work and his back pain kept returning on and off. In 2019, Chit developed severe pain in his lower left back in addition to difficulty passing urine accompanied by a burning sensation. He went to the nearest clinic where he received a urine test and an ultrasound. After checking his result, the doctor told him that he had a urinary tract infection and inflammation of the bladder. Doctors provided him with antibiotics and gave him an injection. Three week later, when he did not feel better, his niece brought him to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) in Thailand, where he underwent another ultrasound and urine test. The results indicted that he has a stone in his bladder. The doctor gave him a follow-up appointment for 24th of January 2020 and he received two months' worth of medication in the meantime. When he returned for his appointment, he received an x-ray. Following this, the doctor told him that he needs surgery and a pre-surgical deposit of 15,000 baht (approx. $500 USD) would be required by the hospital. The doctor then scheduled his surgery for March 31st, 2020. Unable to pay for the surgery, Chit and his niece returned to MTC to ask for help. At MTC, Chit received a urinary catheter and a medic referred him to Watsi's Medical Partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for assistance in accessing further treatment and support. Chit's niece said, “When I was young my uncle looked after me well. So I want to help and support his treatment as much as I can. I am very grateful that he has received this chance to have his treatment supported by you. As we have financial problems at home, I cannot find anyone to borrow money from easily if you would not support him.”