Kipsum is an 82-year-old talkative grandfather from Kenya who plants maize and beans on his small farm and performs tasks at home. He has 28 children, half of whom never completed school due to lack of school fees. Three years ago, Kipsum started to feel pain on the lower part of his abdomen. He continued living with the condition, hoping that he would get well. Two years later, he observed swelling of his lower abdomen, which prompted him to visit the hospital. The doctors diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia and recommended hernia repair surgery. Kipsum could not afford to pay for the surgery and decided to return home. An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of the intestines through a weak point in the abdominal muscles that presents as a bulge in the groin. If not treated, Kipsum may suffer tissue damage due to the hernia twisting and blocking his intestines. For some months now, Kipsum has been having sleepless nights. His sons suggested that he visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, for evaluation and treatment. On August 23, doctors from Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), will perform an operation to push the protruding tissue back into Kipsum's abdomen and sew together the weakened muscle with pieces of synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue will grow into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. AMHF requests $384 to pay for the surgery, three nights at AIC Kapsowar Hospital, IV fluids, lab tests, medicine, and surgical supplies. "I pray that God may continue giving me good health so that I can see my great-grandchildren," says Kipsum. Let's help make that happen!

Meet Joshua! Joshua is a fourteen-year-old boy who lives in Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, describes him as “very shy... but he always has a smile on his face.” Joshua’s father died years ago, and as the second oldest in a family of six children, it’s up to him to look after his mother’s cattle. The cattle are his family’s primary source of income, and he feels that he is contributing the most to his family by herding cattle rather than attending school. Joshua has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgum, a physical condition in which the knees curve inwards. Right now, Joshua is unable to walk without knocking his knees, affecting his gait and ability to walk or run. If left untreated, Joshua risks developing early osteoarthritis. For $940, we can help cover the three surgeries that Joshua needs, along with two weeks of hospital stay and medication. “I feel pain on my knees especially after walking a long distance. I don’t want to fail helping my mom herd cattle; so I hope that my legs can be straightened so that I can walk properly,” Joshua shares.

Pamela is a hardworking 29-year-old woman from Kenya who supports her five school-aged children. “Pamela is married to a tailor who also farms to provide for the family,” shares our medical partner, Lwala Community Alliance. In her spare time, “Pamela enjoys listening to gospel music.” Pamela is pregnant with her sixth child and is having a difficult pregnancy. “Pamela's lower limbs are sometimes so painful that she cannot walk, hence she has to spend most of her time in bed. She also feels lower abdominal pain,” says her doctors. Watsi donors can help Pamela receive prenatal care and a safe delivery in a healthcare facility for $290. After the delivery, Lwala says, “Pamela will join her husband in the farm and also hopes to start a small business so that she can help her husband to provide for the family.”

This is Emmanuel. He's 11-years-old and he lives in Kenya with his parents and five brothers and sisters. Emmanuel's parents both work to support their big family - his father is a security guard and his mother farms. "Emmanuel has been to two different hospitals over the last two months without any improvement," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. He was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. "Emmanuel is not able to walk without support and is always drowsy. He has not been able to attend school this term because of his condition." The recommended treatment to remove the tumor from Emmanuel's brain and to help him resume a normal and healthy life includes a brain tumor surgery, or more specifically, a craniotomy, which will cost $1260. “I am so sad to see my child’s condition deteriorate every day," says Emmanuel's father. "I pray and hope that he gets treatment as soon as possible. We pray that we’ll get funding for his surgical care soon.” Let's fund this procedure and help Emmanuel out.