Jessie is a 61-year-old man from the Philippines. He previously worked as a driver for taxis, tricycles, and jeepneys, but had to stop working when his medical condition got worse. Five years ago, Jessie developed an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. The condition has interfered with his daily activities, including earning an income, but unfortunately he has delayed receiving necessary medical treatment because of financial limitations. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful that he can receive treatment soon, regain his ability to work, and provide for his family once again. Fortunately, on October 30th, Jessie will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Jessie's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jessie states: "I am beyond grateful to Watsi because of the help they provide. I cannot afford the procedure by myself. I hope you can help more and more patients who are in the same situation as I am. My family is so happy!"

Thiago is a three-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives with his parents, who both work in agriculture, and his two older siblings. Thiago's story of being diagnosed with a heart problem is unique. He accompanied his parents in a protest march against a law that threatened their community, walking for 28 days from the Bolivian Amazon to the city of La Paz. When they finally arrived, the high altitude of the city affected Thiago's breathing, causing the family to seek medical care. Doctors then discovered that Thiago has Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving a hole between two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Thiago does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 26th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally. Thiago's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Thiago's father shares, "We are so happy that our son's surgery has been scheduled for this week, and we hope for the best."

Aye is a six-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, who are small-scale farmers. They sell their extra vegetables and livestock for additional income every couple of months. Aye and his sister are both students in the village. In his free time, Aye plays games on his mother's phone and enjoys playing football with his friends. He dreams of becoming a professional footballer when he grows up, just like his idol Ronaldo. In 2024, Aye's mother noticed a small mass on the left side of his neck. Over the next four months, she watched it grow in size. Currently, the mass measures 15 cm and continues to grow despite previous treatment. Aye feels no pain and is not impaired in any way, but his mother is deeply worried about what it could be and anxious about the cost of his care. Fortunately, on April 22nd, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, will help Aye undergo mass removal surgery. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Aye needs your support to fund the surgery. Aye's mother said, “I hope that once he recovers, I can send him back to school. I hope he becomes a teacher in the future since there is a shortage of teachers in our village. Thank you for your help.”

Franklin is a 13-year-old student from Haiti. He lives in a rural agricultural area with his parents, who are both farmers, and six older siblings. He enjoys going to school and playing soccer. Franklin has a heart condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart was severely damaged by an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and now cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Franklin will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On March 23rd, he will undergo surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair his damaged valve; if they are unable to do so, they will remove it instead and implant an artificial replacement. While another charity, Mitral Foundation, is funding Franklin's surgery, his family will also need help with the costs associated with his surgical preparations. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It will also support securing travel documents for the family and paying travel costs for the social workers who will accompany Franklin's family overseas. Franklin's mother shared, "We are so thankful to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our son!"

Michael is a 10-year-old student from Kenya. When his mother was pregnant with him, she went through a very hard time. She had married into a different tribe, and this brought her a lot of pain. “I was rejected because I was seen as a foreigner,” she said quietly. “This made my pregnancy very difficult. Then my only son was born with clubfoot, and life felt too heavy to bear.” Clubfoot is a condition where one or both feet turn inward, affecting the bones and muscles. Michael lived with this condition on both of his feet for almost ten years without treatment. As he grew older, walking became painful and tiring. “My feet are very sensitive,” Michael said. “I cannot walk without my slip-on shoes. I want to walk fast or even run, but I cannot.” Many times, he leaned on walls for support while watching other children walk and play freely. His mother's pain grew deeper when her in-laws rejected her and her husband, saying their child was cursed. Michael’s father supported them at that time. But after everything they went through, they stopped looking for treatment, and Michael grew up with the condition. Even so, they still hoped that one day things would change. In 2025, that hope came back when they moved to a new village. A neighbor told Michael's mom about CURE Children’s Hospital of Kenya. Fortunately, Michael traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. At the clinic, the doctors examined Michael and quickly scheduled him for surgery. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 25th. While Michael is scheduled for surgery, his family cannot afford it. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Michael's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and attend school without disruptions. "I am looking forward to getting better so that I can continue with my studies and engage with my friends in playing football," Michael told us.

Neema is a 12-year-old girl from Tanzania. She was brought to our center by her family after concerns were raised about the inward bending of both her feet. Neema has been living with clubfoot since she was a young child, a condition that has affected her ability to move comfortably and independently. Due to her physical challenges, Neema is currently not enrolled in school. Despite this, she is a joyful child who enjoys playing, jumping rope, and participating in games with other children at the care center. Her playful spirit and resilience shine through, even as she faces limitations that no child should have to endure. Neema’s family is deeply concerned about her future, particularly her mobility, independence, and access to education. Fortunately, Neema's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons plan to begin her clubfoot treatment on January 26th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Neema's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk more comfortably, wear shoes with ease, and potentially return to school. Neema says, "I can't wait for the day when I'll be able to comfortably wear shoes on both my feet."

Lonah is 33 years old and a mother of seven children from Kenya. She and her siblings did not finish schooling after their father passed away, leaving their mother struggling to support the family. She comes from a very hot region where farming is difficult, except for a few pawpaw trees she tends. To supplement the family income, she does casual domestic work. Lonah slipped and sustained an injury on her upper left arm. She thought it was just a simple wound and waited for it to heal. However, the wound was infected, causing her pain. Lonah developed necrotizing fasciitis and needed to undergo a procedure to clean the wound. She was referred to our medical partner, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where they cleaned and treated her wound. She still needs a contracture release and skin graft for her wound to heal completely. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lonah receive treatment. On December 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery to help her regain the use of her arm and return to caring for her family. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,239 procedure. Lona says, "I had given up and wanted to go home to continue with wound care, but God provides in miraculous ways. Imagine being away from home for three weeks, and my children are really suffering. Please help me so that I can go home a happy mother. I look forward to complete healing so that I can use my hands to work as usual."

Brenda is 14 years old and a fifth-grader from Kenya. She is the second of six children in her family. Brenda dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Brenda has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. She previously had surgery on her left foot, and is now being prepared to have surgery on her right foot. Walking has been challenging for her, as her foot naturally turns inward, making every step uncomfortable. With ongoing treatment, she is gradually moving closer to walking comfortably and confidently. On November 26th, Brenda will undergo clubfoot correction surgery at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Brenda's procedure and care. After treatment, she will be able to walk without pain, play freely, and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Brenda shared, "I can’t wait to walk on my two feet properly. I will be so happy and look forward to continuing my education without any challenges."