Katalibabu is a 36-year-old man from Uganda. He is married and has two children. Katalibabu is a trader, and he owns a small retail shop for soap, sugar, salt, rice, and other small items Three years ago, Katalibabu developed a small swelling in his left groin. As the swelling increased in size and grew painful, he started taking painkillers to reduce the pain. Katalibabu reports losing his appetite and experiencing intense pain. At the suggestion of a friend, Katalibabu visited our medical partner’s care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia occurs when tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. Without treatment, Katalibabu may experience intestinal blockage or damage. Fortunately, on March 8, Katalibabu will undergo a hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund the procedure. After surgery, Katalibabu hopes to continue working in his shop. He says, ”I have pain. I will be very glad if I am assisted to have surgery.”

Mary is a woman who lives in Kenya and works at a string bean packaging company in Nairobi. She loves her three children very much. Her eldest daughter is married, while her son is in university. Mary found a lump in her right breast in August of 2016. She underwent a biopsy and x-rays in several hospitals. However, she could not get a clear diagnosis for her condition. Unfortunately, she was finally diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgeons have recommended a mastectomy for Mary. However, she cannot afford this procedure. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to pay for the mastectomy she will undergo on April 3. Mary says, “I want to be well to continue providing for my children."

18-month-old Sindy is malnourished. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to illness. If her malnutrition continues, Sindy will also face long-term consequences, such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Sindy lives with her parents and older sister in rural Guatemala. She likes to play with her toy pots and pans. Her father is a day laborer. Her mother works in the fields and takes care of the household. While Sindy’s parents want the best for their daughter, their limited resources are already stretched thin. "First," says Sindy's mother, "I want to see her better and to keep growing, and after to go to school to study and decide what she wants to be in life." With growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation, Sindy can recover. As her caloric and nutritional intake increases, she will gain weight and grow taller, and her immune system will strengthen. Her treatment will begin on January 12. Full treatment costs $437. Through our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, your donation will help pay for micronutrient supplements, dietary staples, and community health workers to consult with Sindy's mother. “I thank you," says Sindy's mother, "because you all are going to give my daughter the support she needs."

George is a 71-year-old man who lives in Uganda with his 12-year-old daughter. George supports his daughter and himself by growing crops and selling charcoal. Unfortunately, George is not always able to work due to pain caused by his inguinal hernia. A hernia occurs when an organ bulges through weakened muscle and tissue. This condition causes pain, and it can lead to obstruction of blood flow or damage to the surrounding area. George has been living with his hernia for over five years. Recently, the pain has grown severe. On January 5, physicians at our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, will perform surgery to repair the weakened muscle and tissue. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is requesting $229 to fund George's procedure. After recovery, George will be able to return to work. “I praise God to bless the donors’ hands so they can keep helping others,” says George.

Sinorn is a married mother with four sons and one daughter. In her free time, she likes to listen to the news on the radio and watch comedy programs on TV. Two years ago, Sinorn developed glaucoma in her right eye. This condition occurs when pressure builds up within the eyeball, and it causes her blurred vision, pain, and burning. It is difficult for her to do any work, see things clearly, or go anywhere outside on her own. Sinorn traveled with her niece to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. $198 will cover the costs of the trabeculectomy procedure that she will undergo on January 9. This procedure will relieve the increased pressure inside her right eye and allow Sinorn to see clearly again. Sinorn's niece hopes that her aunt "has a successful surgery so that she can do her work and go anywhere she wants."

Dotto is a 25-year old-man from Tanzania. He is the second of seven children, and he lives with his parents. When Dotto was ten years old, his legs started to bend. His parents never sought medical treatment, but when they saw a neighboring child who had been treated, they finally visited our medical partner. On November 22, Dotto underwent corrective surgery. This procedure will prevent further pain or bending in his legs. Now, his family needs help to raise $940 to cover his medical costs. Dotto expressed amazement that his condition could be treated, and he shared his gratitude with donors.

Tha Zin is an 18-year-old student from Mogok Township, Kachin State, Burma (near Mandalay Division). She lives with her mother, father, and her three sisters. Tha Zin's father supports the family. His job is to cut and polish gemstones and he earns approximately 300,000 kyat (approximately 300 USD) per month. This income is usually enough to support the family's daily expenses and they have even been able to save money. However, since Tha Zin became ill the family has spent all their savings on her medical care and now her older sister is unable to return to university because the funds saved for her university fees have been spent also. Tha Zin first started to experience painful headaches in February 2015. Her father took her to many hospitals with several admissions but she was not diagnosed properly. In September 2015 she was admitted to Mogok hospital because she was losing her memory and could not walk or talk. The doctor there suggested Tha Zin's father take her to medical partner Mandalay Hospital for a CT scan. Tha Zin and her father travelled to Mandalay where she was diagnosed with multiple brain abscesses. Tha Zin's family was so worried that nothing further could be done. Tha Zin felt sad, lost hope and became depressed. She stayed at home, mainly lying in bed. Her family has given up hope about finding further treatment because they have spent all their money on medical and associated costs and they were already in debt. Tha Zin's father recently accompanied his younger daughter, Tha Zin's sister, to a doctor's appointment at the Mogok clinic. At this time the monk from the Ananda Myitta Clinic (AMC) was visiting to meet with the doctor and heard the story of Tha Zin's medical condition from her father. The monk encouraged Tha Zin's father to travel with her to Mae Sot, Thailand to BCMF. Tha Zin said, "I feel hopeless and thought I will die soon. My family has spent a lot of money on hospital and medical costs. I feel like a burden and trouble for my family. My sisters are also so worried for me all the time. If I have a future I want to study and live with my family for a long time." She added, "I want to be well soon. I would like to go to university and then become a teacher and help my community." With the support from Watsi, Tha Zin underwent a CT scan on October 11. The result showed mass-like growths which needed to be removed very quickly. Tha Zin had this growth removal surgery on October 22.

Meet Lykim, a 48-year-old man from Cambodia. “Lykim is married with one son and one daughter. He enjoys watching sports and news on TV. He also enjoys listening to the radio," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Two years ago, Lykim developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes him blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for him to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. "I hope my eye can see everything clearly again,” shares Lykim, “Then, I can work as a professor again and go anywhere outside." After learning about CSC, Lykim and his wife travelled one hour to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Lykim's sight. With $292, Lykim will undergo cataract surgery, during which his old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing him to see again immediately after his operation.

Nga is a 57-year-old woman from Cambodia, married with 3 sons, 4 daughters, and 7 grandchildren. Three years ago, Nga developed a cataract, or clouded lens, in each eye. This means that both of her eyes are now impacted by blurred vision, tearing, and light sensitivity. Impaired vision can change the way someone relates to the people around her. Serious eye issues can impede a patient’s ability to see faces clearly, impacting her social life; she also may have trouble navigating the world outside her home, forcing her to depend on others for basic errands and for guidance while walking. These symptoms make life complicated for Nga, whose household tasks include looking after her seven grandchildren. Eventually, Nga’s cataracts became so hard to live with that she traveled five hours with her daughter-in-law to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. There, Nga learned that she has a chance to one day see clearly again. Her doctors have recommended that she undergo a two-step procedure wherein the clouded lens in each of her eyes will be removed and replaced with an artificial lens. We can fund Nga’s surgery, as well as the hospital stay and medications that accompany it, for $292. After this operation, Nga will be able to see her grandchildren’s faces clearly again. Let’s help make that happen.

A Wuqu' Kawoq (WK) health worker met three-month-old Axel and his family when visiting homes in rural Guatemala, recruiting patients for a malnutrition program. Axel lives with his seven siblings and his parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. They are indigenous Maya, and have few educational and health care resources available to them. His mother works at home, cooking and cleaning and taking care of Axel and his siblings. His father is an assistant to a bricklayer, who makes only a couple dollars per day. Axel's malnutrition was so severe that the WK community health worker decided to give Axel a preliminary supply of formula until he could be evaluated by a nutritionist. He has been losing weight and has not grown taller since he was born because of frequent sicknesses, and could be at risk of seizures and diarrhea if he is unable to receive formula. Axel's mother has had trouble producing breast milk for all of her eight children-- Axel being the youngest. For her other children, a sugary rice drink has helped them to stop crying and supplement the little breast milk she produces. Unfortunately for Axel, this has not been enough since her breast milk production has gone down even more. Although lactational failure is a dangerous condition, it is simple to help supplement children's nutrition to overcome this lack of maternal milk. For $1016, Axel will receive formula which will give him the protein, calories, and nutrients he needs to grow and thrive. His family will also receive motivational nutrition education, so they will be able to give Axel the best diet possible once he starts to eat solid foods. This treatment will give Axel's parents the tools to prevent future malnutrition and help their son have a full and healthy life. "I hope my son can grow healthy so he can be a good student," shares Axel's mother.

Moo Wah is a one-year-old boy who lives in a Thai refugee camp with his mother, Naw Lah. Naw Lah adopted Moo Wah shortly after he was born; his biological mother was abandoned by her husband during the pregnancy and could not care for Moo Wah in addition to her three other children. Presently, Naw Lah is taking care of Moo Wah on her own; her husband moved to the United States shortly after they were married. Naw Lah is hoping to move with her son once her husband is settled. Moo Wah was born with hydrocephalus - a condition that causes fluid to build up in the skull and put pressure on the brain. This causes vomiting, pain, and discomfort. Even with the financial help from her husband overseas, Naw Lah sometimes has to borrow money from friends to get through the month. Moo Wah only drinks milk powder instead of breast feeding and Naw Lah is not able to afford his food in addition to his other medical expenses. Naw Lah cannot afford the surgery Moo Wah needs, but without it he is very lethargic and irritable. He has had frequent fevers and requires constant attention. Naw Lah is physically and mentally tired from the frequent trips to clinics and hospitals and eager for her son to get better. With $1,485, Moo Wah will receive the operation he needs to alleviate his symptoms. A surgical shunt will drain the excess fluid built up in his skull and alleviate the pressure on his brain causing him to be tired and irritable. With this intervention, Moo Wah will get a new start on life and the chance to lead a healthy childhood.

Demian injured himself when he was constructing a chicken coop. He fell from the roof of the coop and landed on his wrist, badly breaking his arm and hand. Right after falling, Demian tied his wrist in an attempt to set the bones at home. When that failed, he went to bone setters who applied herbs to his hand. His fracture has only gotten worse with time and he now has osteomyelitis (infection) of the carpal bones, a condition that makes it difficult and painful to move his hand. Demian is a single father to two girls and lives with them in rural Uganda. Demian is 35-years-old and used to work as a security guard, until one year ago after his accident. Demian likes raising animals and finds his pleasure in seeing his animals grow and mature. “I feel a long journey has been moved and it is always rewarding when these animals mature, I either get milk from the goats or eggs from the poultry,” Demian shared. Now, Demian cannot take care of his poultry. He hired a person to help him take care of the farm but the work is too much and he needs more help. The chickens are not producing enough eggs to sell for money so Demian cannot afford to hire more help or have his fracture reset. With $500, Demian will have surgery to reset his fractured bones and remove scar tissue that has made his hand difficult to use. This will ensure that his hand heals properly so he can use it again, and will also eliminate his pain. Demian hopes to go back to his job after the treatment and also continue his farming. "I am thankful to everyone supporting my hospital care. May God bless you,” he says.