Biziki is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife and together with their eight grown children, they run their small farm. Biziki spends his days tending his goats, and he likes to play with his grandchildren in his free time. Since April 2018, Biziki has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Biziki's surgery. On June 5, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Biziki and his family were thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded. He is looking forward to returning home. He says, "Thank you for this support."

Mu is a 25-year-old farmer from Burma. She lives with her family. In her free time, she enjoys reading books that make her laugh. Two years ago, Mu began experiencing pain in her lower back. She has been diagnosed with kidney stones, which are hard deposits of minerals that form in the kidneys and are often very painful to pass. She has been advised to undergo surgery to remove her kidney stones. If left untreated, Mu's symptoms will continue to worsen and will put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Mu's kidney stone removal surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 15. She says, "I hope that my surgery...will be successful so that I can return home and give myself and my family peace of mind."

U All is a 44-year-old monk from Burma. He used to work as a painter, but since becoming a monk, he has only painted for pleasure and occasionally if he needs money. Generally, he survives off of donations of food and money from Buddhists in the area who visit his forest temple. Experiencing severe abdominal pain, U All was diagnosed with bile duct stones in August 2017. Relying first on medication from the hospital, he started to manage the pain with traditional medicine when the medication from the hospital stopped working. U All has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, U All's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), U All is scheduled to undergo his biliary obstruction repair on April 18. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of U All's procedure and care. “After surgery I want to continue my life as a monk," says U All. "But, there is still a part of me that wants to become human again and work as a painter.”

Fred is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife, and they have three grown children, who help run the family farm. To help supplement the family income, Fred raises chickens. In his free time, he likes to sit and talk with his wife. Since November 2017, Fred has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Fred's surgery. On March 13, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Fred and his family were thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded, and he is looking forward to going back to his normal activities pain-free He says, "Thank you Watsi."

Marko is a young boy from Tanzania. He lives in an extended family of twelve people. Marko’s father is a security guard, and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. Marko has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Marko traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 14. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Marko's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk without difficulty. Marko’s mother says, “I would really like to see Marko get treated and attend school and reach up to university level."

Chan Thou is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She works at a money exchange stall in the market. She has been experiencing pain on her right hip for more than 12 years. The pain is so severe that she cannot walk on her own or sleep at night. Fortunately, Chan Thou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chan Thou of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 11, and Chan Thou needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I hope I can take care of my family and walk again."

Esther is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her younger sister in Port-au-Prince. She was previously a teacher but has had to stop working due to her heart condition. Esther has a cardiac condition called severe mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in her heart has become severely damaged from rheumatic fever, and can no longer adequately circulate blood to the rest of her body. Esther will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On December 12, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will replace her damaged valve with an artificial implant. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $65,000 to pay for surgery. Esther's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Esther's family overseas. She says, "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping me to travel for this surgery!"

Victor is a friendly and playful boy who is the youngest child in his family. His father passed away, so his mother is a single parent. The family lives in a one-roomed house. Victor's legs are bowed. He was brought to a hospital, where it was determined that he needs surgery to repair his condition. The $1,165 cost will cover the operation and his hospital stay. His treatment is scheduled for November 13. “If I get help for my son to undergo surgery since his condition is worsening and hindering his movement, I will be grateful," Victor's mother says.

Mary is a nine-year-old student from Kenya. She lives with her parents and has six siblings. Mary’s mother is a subsistence farmer and housewife, and her father is a farmer. Mary has a spinal deformity whereby her spine is curved backward. Two years ago, she visited a hospital for treatment but did not have the funds required to receive treatment. Mary has difficulty with walking and standing. The pain has also impacted her studies. Having heard of Watsi’s programs with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), they decided to seek help. Our medical partner, AMHF, is requesting $1,500 to fund Mary’s surgery. An anterior/posterior spine fusion is scheduled for October 18. “I am appealing to Watsi to help my daughter get treatment as this will brighten her future and improve her self-esteem. I will be happy to see her growth and I wish her the very best in her life," Mary’s mother says.

Alfred is a 30-year-old father of one from Kenya who loves discussing politics and watching the news when he is well. While his wife is a farm laborer, Alfred has been unable to work for the past year due to his condition. Since June 2015, Alfred has been suffering symptoms of a brain tumor. While he was first diagnosed with epilepsy, MRI test results received towards the end of 2016 indicated that Alfred has a brain tumor. In April 2017, Alfred became paralyzed on his left side. The wait for surgery at his provincial hospital was too long, so Alfred was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for a craniotomy. Alfred complains of loss of balance and vision, painful head migraines, and altered speech. If not treated, the brain tumor might increase in size and result in brain damage or death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,495 to fund Alfred’s brain surgery, which is scheduled to take place on June 23. Alfred says, "I wish to be treated and work hard for my family. I want my child to read and excel in future."

Kim is a 54-year-old farmer. She is married and has one son and two daughters. In her free time, Kim likes to work around the house and cook desserts to sell in front of her home. Kim has developed a baker's cyst, a type of fluid-filled growth behind her left knee. This type of swelling can cause stiffness and knee pain and, as in Kim's case, often requires surgical removal. Kim and her son traveled for five hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for treatment. CSC is requesting $220 to fund the removal of the cyst. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 30 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Kim to live more comfortably.

Muhumuza is a 29-year-old farmer from Uganda. He is married and has four children, who are all in school. Muhumuza developed a swelling in his groin when he was 14 years old, and by the time he was 20, the swelling had extended into his scrotum and he started feeling considerable pain. Due to the pain he is unable to lift heavy objects and has lost his appetite. Muhumuza was advised to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, for treatment. If not treated, Muhumuza may suffer intestinal tissue damage or even death. On May 17, Muhumuza will undergo hernia repair surgery. He is requesting $249 to cover the total cost of his procedure. Muhumuza says, “I have a hernia. After surgery I hope to continue farming in order to earn money for my children’s education.”