Leakhena is a quiet 14-year-old girl from Cambodia. She and her twin brother live with their 65-year-old grandmother in Kampong Cham province. Her brother is learning to be a monk at a local temple, while Leakhena stays home to help their grandmother. At home, Leakhena likes to watch TV. According to her grandmother, Leakhena has had knee stiffness and difficulty walking since she was a toddler and is unable to fully straighten her right knee. When Leakhena's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three and a half hours to seek treatment. On February 15th, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure of her right leg to help her walk better. Leakhena needs our help to fund this $482 procedure. She said: "I hope it will be easy to walk and I will not have any pain."

Sokly lives in Battambang province with her husband, younger sister, and her two sons. Her husband works in a tire repair shop and Sokly is a teacher in a primary school. The two sons work in a local shop to help support the family. In her free time, Sokly likes trying new recipes and shopping with her sister in the local market. Sokly has been experiencing tinnitus and discomfort in her left ear for several weeks. Tinnitus is a noise or ringing in the ears, even though no external sound is present. She has been taking sick days and is having difficulty teaching due to this condition. Sokly traveled around five and a half hours from Battambang province with her younger sister to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, seeking treatment. During her examination, doctors found a small growth in her left ear. On April 1st, Sokly is scheduled for surgery to remove the growth and some of the bone in her ear canal to widen the channel from the outside of the ear to the eardrum. Sokly can contribute $100 for her surgery but needs an additional $726 to fund the cost of this procedure. Sokly said, "I hope I don't have to worry about this anymore and I can continue my work as a teacher."

Soeun is a 70-year-old woman from Cambodia. Soeun's husband is a Buddhist leader. Soeun and her husband do not have children of their own, but Souen takes care of her neighbor's children while their parents are at work in the rice fields. Two years ago, Soeun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and discomfort. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Soeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled three hours seeking treatment. On February 14th doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in Soeun's right eye. CSC is helping Soeun raise $229 for this procedure so that she will be able to see clearly. Soeun said, "I hope I can see clearly again so I can take good care of my husband and myself."

Pheng is an elderly mother of six with two sons, four daughters, and now many grandchildren. She lives with her youngest daughter who is a rice farmer. Pheng's husband passed away many years ago. Pheng no longer works, but instead stays home to help her daughter take care of the grandchildren and sometimes she cooks. She likes to listen to the news and monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Pheng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Pheng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On September 6th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and will place 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. Pheng said, "I hope my eye can see clearly again. I can see my children and my grandchildren's face clearly. And I want to go to the pagoda by myself."

Jackline is a 36-year-old woman. She previously worked as a teacher, but since the pay was very minimal, she now works as a banana trader, as bananas are a staple food in her home country of Uganda. Her husband is a builder and, together, they have five children. They shared that their income is just enough to make ends meet. Jackline visited our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for her antenatal care. Due to her previous pregnancy history, doctors recommend she deliver through an elective Caesarean section (C-Section) to reduce the chances of any complications. AMH is requesting $252 to fund this procedure, and Jackline and her husband hope she can undergo the planned surgery. Jackline shared, “I desire to have a safe delivery but the cost is limiting. I appeal for financial assistance."

Rin is a 36-year-old accountant. He's been married for 11 years and has two children. His daughter is ten years old and in grade five, while his son is eight years old and in grade three. His wife grows sugar palms and sells sugar and sweets. In May, Rin was in a motor vehicle accident where he fractured his right humerus. The fracture also caused paralysis of his right wrist. He was treated with a Khmer traditional treatment, but his fracture did not heal. He then had a cast for one month, but there was no improvement to his condition. He's been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his wrist and he cannot work. Rin traveled to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), to receive treatment. On September 8th, he will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery and, after recovery, he will be able to use his wrist again. Now, CSC is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. Rin shared that he hopes that he can use his wrist again and return to work.

Chenda is a three-year-old girl, who lives with her parents and her two-year-old sister. Chenda's father works in construction. When Chenda was one year old her mother noticed she had difficulty walking and her gait has remained abnormal for the last two years. Her neighbors told her to come to our Medical Partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) where an x-ray shows dysplasia of her left hip. To repair this dysplasia, surgeons will perform an open reduction and pelvis osteotomy on the left side. She will be able to walk normally once she recovers and grow up as a healthy girl. Chenda's mother said, "I hope my daughter will get well soon and she will be able to walk easily and well after her surgery."

Kosal is a 22-year-old tuk-tuk driver from the Takeo province in Cambodia. He is happily married with two young children. Since he works in the distant city of Phnom Penh, his family stays with his parents in Takeo. In his free time, he loves to play soccer, listen to the news, sing karaoke, and meet up with friends. In 2016, he regrettably fell from a roof after an electrical accident, causing a fracture in his left leg. His family took him to a government hospital where doctors placed hardware to heal the fracture. Despite the treatment, the fracture did not heal well and the hardware will need to be removed to avoid any further complications. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On August 18th, Kosal will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This procedure will allow him to heal fully. Kosal said, "I am thankful I could recover well, and I hope that after this hardware is out I can continue to be stronger and work hard."

Thyda is a 13-year-old primary school student. She has three sisters and one brother, and she is the youngest of her siblings. She likes drawing and watching TV in her free time. For two years, Thyda has experienced ear discharge and buzzing in her right ear. She was treated with ear cleaning and a nose rinse, but her symptoms did not improve. Another organization, All Ears Cambodia, referred her to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Surgeons at CSC will perform a mastoidectomy to remove an abnormal growth, a cholesteatoma, from her ear. Her treatment is scheduled for February 13. However, Thyda's family cannot afford this treatment, so CSC is requesting $842. Thyda's grandmother hopes that she will feel better and hear easily.

Robert is a 69-year-old man from a rural village in Malawi. He has nine children and lives on a farm. He spends his days collecting firewood, playing with his twelve grandchildren, and going to his church. Two years ago, Robert began to experience difficult and painful urinary symptoms. Over time, the condition has grown worse, eventually hindering his ability to work and play with his family. "I am in much pain and I need this surgery," Robert says. "Thanks to Watsi, I will get my procedure!" Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to cover the cost of a prostate resection surgery. The operation is scheduled for February 15 at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. Robert is expected to make a full recovery.

Barsilisa is a 54-year-old homemaker from the Philippines. She is married and has four children, the youngest of whom helps her with her daily household duties. Her husband is a fisherman, and her older children go to school. In her community, she's fondly known as "Barsing." In 2014, Barsilisa was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. At the time, she took medication to treat it. She had to stop because the medicine was too expensive to buy continuously. As a result, her goiter grew, causing her extreme fatigue, tightening of the neck, and nervousness. Barsilisa visited our medical partner's care center, where it was determined that Barsilisa's condition cannot be treated with medications. She needs to undergo surgery. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is asking for $489 in funds to cover the cost of Barsilisa's thyroid surgery, hospital stay, and physician's fees. She will undergo surgery on January 31. Barsilisa is looking forward to being well so she can resume her duties as a mother and wife. "My condition hinders me a lot in doing my responsibilities as a wife and a mother for my children," says Barsilisa. "This operation means a life that is purposeful for me. Thank you so much."

Mue Soe is only 21-years-old, but she has had heart problems since she was a baby. When Mue Soe was born, her mother took her to a clinic in Burma but she could not afford the testing required for a full diagnosis. As Mue Soe grew up, she was always very tired and weak and her heart palpitations prevented her from playing with other children at school. When Mue Soe was 13, she made it to a clinic in Thailand where she was diagnosed with cardiac disease and told she needed surgery. Her family was nowhere near being able to afford the procedure. Since then, Mue Soe has been in and out of health clinics due to her chronic fatigue and weakness. She is especially worried about paying for her healthcare now, since her mother passed away and she takes care of her younger brother. For $2,000, we can help Mue Soe receive cardiac surgery. This operation will allow Mue Soe to overcome the fatigue and weakness she has endured for so many years and allow her to return to school and fulfill her dreams of becoming a nurse and caring for her brother.