Sarah is a 19-year-old girl expecting to deliver her first child. Upon review in our facility, the doctor recommended a cesarean section delivery due to her short stature and inadequate pelvis. The cesarian section will reduce chances of complications such as stillbirth and birth asphyxia. Sarah was brought up by her widowed mother together with her three siblings. She dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. She started working as a hotel attendant. She says the man responsible for the pregnancy is not supportive. Sarah appeals for financial assistance as she requires surgery but does not have enough savings to cover the cost. Sarah says, “I am hoping to have a child, take good care of him and continue with studies after surgery.”

Monica is a farmer from Kenya. She is a widow and a mother of four ranging between 11 and 2 years of age. Sadly, she lost her husband in February 2018 after he was attacked by bandits and his cattle raided. Monica didn’t go to school when she was young, so she can’t write, read or talk the national language of Swahili. Since her cattle were taken, Monica embarked on farming millet and sorghum in the farm left by her late husband. Monica arrived at the hospital after she was assaulted by someone she knows two weeks ago and sustained injuries to her right hand. She is not able to work and is in persistent pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 28th, Monica will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal and use her hand again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. Monica’s brother says, “Or hope is for her to get treated, she is the sole breadwinner to her family.”

Immaculate is fast asleep on her mother’s lap. She was woken quite early to come to the hospital. A little bump, almost invisible, sits on her fontanel. Following results from CT scan, little Immaculate has been diagnosed with a dermoid cyst, a sac-like growth, that is present at birth and a craniotomy surgery is recommended. According to the doctor, the cyst sits on a very sensitive vein and if it ruptures Immaculate risks death. Surgery to close it will minimize such risks especially as she grows older, is more active, and playing with children who may accidentally hit the bump and cause the rupture. Immaculate lives with her parents and siblings in a one-room house in Central Kenya. The surgery is a cost that Immaculate’s parents cannot bear. They both are employed casually in a neighbor’s farm with an irregular daily wage of around Kes200 each. Immaculate’s elder brother is a student in class one and doing fine. With a very menial income, they are not able to raise the funds needed. “I will be glad if we get help,” says Immaculate’s mother.

About six months ago, Thidar started to feel very tired and could not sleep well due to difficulty breathing. After multiple tests and blood tranfusions, Thidar was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis, mitral valve regurgitation, aortic valve stenosis, and aortic valve regurgitation. Seeing that both of her heart valves need to be replaced surgically, the doctor told her, “You have a heart problem and you must undergo surgery as soon as possible.” When Thidar told him that she cannot afford to pay for surgery, the doctor told her about a monk who lives just outside of Yangon and who might be able to help her. She was given his phone number and when she called the monk, he referred her to Watsi partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for assistance in accessing the treatment she needs. Currently, Thidar feels very tired and has no energy to walk long distances. She cannot sleep well, and she has no appetite. She said, “In the future, I will stay in my village and look out for my family. I would like to send my children to school until they graduate.”