Jaden is a one-year old boy from the Philippines. His mother is a public school teacher, while his father is an office clerk. They work hard, but their income is not enough to support their son's medical needs. Jaden was born with an anorectal malformation, a birth condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction and help him grow up healthy. Jaden is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on January 28th. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is requesting $1,279 to cover the total cost of Jaden's procedure and care. After his recovery, Jaden will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. "Thank you WATSI and WSFP. His operation would be a big help towards his growth and our financial situation," Jaden's mother shared.

Rin is a 75-year-old married woman with five daughters and five grandchildren. She lives with her husband and her daughter, who works as a garment worker. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Rin developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her sensitivity to light, blurry vision, and sometimes tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Rin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 9th, surgeons 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. Rin shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see clearly. I can recognize and walk around well and I can go far places by myself."

Darith is a clever three-year-old boy. He has one older sister and one older brother. Darith is in pre-school and enjoys playing with toy trucks with his brother and friends. Darith's father works as a blacksmith. One morning recently, Darith ran to his mother and said he had a lot of pain in his left ear. She put salt water in his ear and saw worm larvae come out. She was very scared and asked villagers where to take her son. They told her to come to our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) to see an ENT doctor. The foreign body in his ear is causing Darith to experience pain. Darith's family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 29th, surgeons at CSC will remove the foreign body. Now, Darith needs help to raise $231 to fund this procedure. Darith's mother says, "I want him to get better and hope he is not in pain anymore after the objects are removed."

Nerold is a 5-year-old boy from Haiti. He is cherished by his family who want to see him healthy and active as he grows. Nerold has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Nerold underwent surgery but has been experiencing problems with a shunt he had placed 6 months ago. It began to malfunction causing him infection and severe pain from the increasing pressure in his head. Without treatment, Nerold will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Nerold at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on November 19th. This critical treatment will place a new shunt to drain the excess fluid from Nerold's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Nerold will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Nerold's mother shared that she was devastated when the original shunt stopped working. She is relieved that with this new surgery he will continue to have a chance for a happy life.

Mark Andrei is a five-year-old boy from the Philippines. Mark Andrei loves to draw and dreams of becoming a policeman someday. His father is a farmer—earning lower than the minimum wage that is approved by the Department of Labor in the Philippines; while his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Mark Andrei 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. Mark Andrei is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on November 10th. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is requesting $1,279 to cover the total cost of Mark Andrei's procedure and care. After his recovery, Mark Andrei will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. “We are thankful that there are organizations like WSFP and WATSI who are providing surgeries like this. This surgery will help increase Mark Andrei's confidence to interact with his classmates without being afraid of getting bullied,” shared Donnalyn, Mark Andrei's mother.

Loyce is a 19-year old married woman. She and her husband are expecting their first child. To make a living, Loyce runs a small-scale retail shop, while her husband sells roasted maize. Unfortunately, the pandemic adversely affected both of their businesses. Their family lives in a single room rental home. Recently, Loyce was examined at a local hospital where her scans indicated that her baby has a gastrointestinal tract congenital abnormality. It is recommended that she deliver her baby by Caesarean section, because a vaginal delivery could cause further complications. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Loyce to receive treatment. On November 4th, she will deliver her baby via C-Section at AMH's care center. The C-Section will ensure a safe and healthy delivery for both Loyce and her baby. Now, she and her husband need help raising $252 to fund the procedure and care. Loyce shared, ''I am not in a financial position to finance the surgery. I really appreciate your kindness to support me.''

Lomayani is a 4-year-old boy and the fourth child of his mother. Lomayani has not started school yet, but his parents hope to enroll him once he is older and healthy. They shared that Lomayani is a shy, quiet boy who often likes to spend his time playing and listening to his older sibling’s stories. Lomayani’s parents sell milk from their cows and goats to provide for the family’s daily needs. Lomayani was born with clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, causing difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Lomayani’s family traveled to visit the care center at our medical partner’s care, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). On November 16th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery. AMH is requesting $935 to fund Lomayani’s procedure. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear shoes. Lomayani told us, “I would like to be able to walk like my friends or other kids, please help me get this treatment. I have never played football because I am scared I will get hurt, but it looks like a fun game. I would really like to try playing too.”

Martha is a joyful four-year-old girl from Western Uganda. Her mother sells vegetables, while her father works as a taxi driver. She loves acting, and her mother shared that when she is playing with other children, she likes to pretend to be a mother taking care of others. She has not yet started school due to the pandemic. Two years ago, Martha developed swelling near her left eye. Her mother thought it would go away on its own, but the swollen area has been gradually growing. Martha experiences headaches and her mother is worried about her. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Martha receive treatment. After she was examined at AMH's care center, she was diagnosed with a sebaceous cyst, or a noncancerous cyst of the skin. On December 8th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Martha and her family need help raising $137 to fund her procedure and care. Martha's mother shared, "I am worried that without treatment, the mass will disfigure her face and cover her eye. Please support her surgery."

Alvin is a bright 10-year-old boy. He is a gifted student in grade three and loves playing with his friends. He is the only child of a single mother and is very close to his grandmother. The family shared that they rely on his grandmother’s income for their needs. Last year, Alvin’s family brought him to the local hospital, where a scan showed a right undescended testis. Due to a lack of funds for treatment, Alvin's mother was referred to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for treatment at their care center. He has been diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. Surgeons recommend an orchidopexy procedure to heal his condition and the risk it could lead to a hernia, testicular cancer, or fertility problems in the future. Alvin will be receiving assistance from AMH and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 30th. AMH is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Alvin’s mother shared, “The doctor explained to us about his condition and the dangers of not having surgery. Since we cannot raise that money, we kindly request help. I would love to see my only child mature like other boys.”

Katoeurrina is a bright, young student from Cambodia. Her father is a motorcycle taxi driver and her mother sells soft drinks. Katoeurrina has four other siblings—two brothers and two sisters. When she is not in school, she loves to play with her friends. Two days ago, while playing with friends, one of them put several dried beans in Katoeurrina's right ear. Her father tried to remove the beans but was unsuccessful. Her ear canal feels full, she has pain, some bleeding, and cannot hear clearly now. She cries frequently and does not want to go to school. Katoeurrina's family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 14th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now their family needs help to raise $231 to fund this procedure. Her mother said: "I hope my daughter's ear will be better, that she goes back to school, and will learn not to put things in her ears."

Morm is a 34-year-old rice farmer. He is married and has one son who is a student in fifth grade. His wife works as a garment worker. When he is not working in the fields, he enjoys playing volleyball and singing songs with his son. Three years ago, Morm developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. He worries about his condition and fears that he may lose his vision in the future. When Morm learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On December 6th, he will undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $216, which will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Morm shared, "I hope after surgery my eye stops tearing and burning. I want to be happy and go to the farm fields to feed my family and save money to send my son to school."

Channa is a 13-year-old student. She's the youngest of six children in her family, and has two older brothers, and three older sisters. Her siblings are married and work in construction or at the local clothes factory. Her father sadly passed away six years ago, and her mother has taken over the family farm and grows vegetables. When she is not in school, she likes to go swimming or for walks with her friends. Her favorite subject in school is Khmer literature, and she would like to be a lawyer when she grows up. Since she was born, Channa has had a mass on the right side of her nose. The mass was removed once before, but has come back. She experiences pain and feels ashamed of her appearance. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Channa receive treatment. She traveled to visit CSC's care center where, on December 9th, surgeons will remove the mass. Doctors believe the mass is a hamartoma, or an abnormal growth that is a mixture of cells and tissue, but they would like to do a histology to confirm whether additional treatment is needed following the excision. Now, Channa's family needs help raising $231 to fund her procedure and care. Channa's mother shared that she is hopeful that after surgery her daughter will look and feel better and can go to school.