Seng Leang is 21 years old and is currently enrolled in her first year of college. She likes to read her school books and watch television. In November 2012, Seng Leang was in a motor vehicle accident and suffered a fracture in her left tibia. She visited a Khmer traditional healer, but her symptoms did not improve. Since then, Seng Leang has been experiencing knee pain and has difficulty walking. When she learned about Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC), she traveled for three hours with her mother to seek treatment at CSC. On October 21, surgeons at CSC performed an osteotomy on her tibia. This procedure realigned her broken tibia and should allow the fracture to mend correctly. Over time, Seng Leang will begin to walk comfortably again. Now, her family needs help to fund this $411 procedure. Seng Leang tells us, "I hope I can walk normally."

In February 2015, Yoeur was knocked over by a cow. After the accident, she received Khmer traditional medicine, but it was ineffective. Doctors at a local hospital told her to come to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) because she could not bear her full weight, and it is painful for her to walk. She traveled two hours with her cousin to reach CSC for treatment. Yoeur is a 65-year-old farmer who lives with her sister in Cambodia. During her free time, she enjoys watching the TV news. An x-ray performed at CSC shows a left femoral neck fracture. The femoral neck is the top portion of the thigh bone, just below the ball-shaped end (head) that connects to the pelvis to form the hip joint. Fractures of the femoral neck frequently disrupt the blood supply to the femoral head and can lead to serious complications, including the breakdown and death of the bone tissue and failure of the fracture to heal. To treat the femoral neck fracture, surgeons will perform a hemiarthroplasty — commonly known as joint (hip) replacement surgery — to remove the broken portion of Yoeur's femur and replace it with a prosthetic joint that fits into the pelvis. After surgery, she will be able to walk properly. $392 pays for surgery for Yoeur, as well as surgical and medical supplies and up to two days of meals for Yoeur and her caregiver. Let's help fund this life-changing surgery for Yoeur.

“Shital was collecting fodder for his cattle when he slipped and fell down, injuring himself,” our medical partner, Possible, explains. “Not only did he fracture his left (wrist) joint, but he is wounded on the face too.” Shital is a 14-year-old boy from Nepal. “As the eldest son, Shital is responsible for taking care of his younger brother and sister and the cattle as well,” Possible continues. “He currently studies in the eighth standard and enjoys playing volleyball with his friends.” Shital's parents tend to the farm to make ends meet and support the family. $224 will cover the cost of orthopedic surgery to ensure Shital's broken wrist heals correctly. "Shital is a brave child. He has been trying not to cry despite the pain and the stress of getting his treatment," His father shares.

Soe is a 27-year-old woman who lives with her husband in Burma. Soe came to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), seeking treatment for gallstones. The gallbladder—a small, pear-shaped organ that sits under the liver—stores and drains bile. When an individual has gallstones, bile drainage may be blocked, causing irritation, spasms, pain, nausea, and vomiting. “Soe is experiencing stomach and lower back pain making it difficult for her to sleep and eat,” BBP tells us. “Usually, when she eats, she feels nauseous and needs to vomit.” Until recently, Soe had a job as a waitress at a hotel restaurant in Thailand, but her symptoms made it impossible for her to work. Facing financial trouble, she and her husband returned to Burma in the hopes of finding treatment for Soe and receiving support from their family. For $1,500, Soe will undergo a laparotomy, a surgical procedure to access the abdominal cavity and remove the gallbladder. Funding also covers the costs of an eight-day hospital stay, transportation to and from the hospital, pre- and post-surgical consultations, and blood tests. “Soe should fully recover following her gallstone surgery,” says BBP. “She should be able to return to her family and again find a job so that she and her husband can save money for their future.” Soe looks forward to a successful operation. “I will work and save money for the next few years, and then, one day, we will have a happy family,” she shared in her pre-operative interview with BBP.

Khun is an 18-year-old farmer from Cambodia who enjoys playing volleyball, watching television, and listening to pop music. After sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident, he came to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), upon the recommendation of a neighbor who had surgery there. “Khun was hit by a car when driving his moto,” CSC tells us. “This accident caused a fracture of his left femur, an open right forearm fracture, and left hand fracture. His left femur is swollen and immobile. He can't walk without great pain.” Doctors recommend surgery to reposition and set Khun's broken bones and enable faster healing. “First, his left leg will be stabilized, and his hand will be debrided,” explains CSC. “On a later date, doctors will repair his fractured forearm.” For $405, Khun will undergo the needed operations and also receive two weeks of hospital care, five days of post-operative care including physical therapy, and six follow-up appointments during the first year after surgery. “After treatment, Khun will regain the ability to walk and use his hand and arm again,” says CSC. “He will return to working on the farm without pain or immobility.” "I hope I can do things by myself after surgery,” shares Khun. “I want to go back to work and support myself."

For over 18 years, diabetes has been a struggle for Raul. When he suddenly lost consciousness in the street 7 months ago, the doctors diagnosed Raul with acute kidney failure. Due to lack of access to medication and treatment, Raul is now going into kidney failure and needs dialysis, a treatment that mimics the kidney’s ability to remove waste products from blood. Raul is a 50-year-old man from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), explains, “Without treatment, Raul will die. Dangerous levels of chemicals and waste will buildup in his blood. In addition, he will be at risk for other symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes, including blindness, nerve damage, and cardiovascular complications.” Raul lives with his mother, sister, and extended family. He used to work as a construction worker, but had to stop after he began passing out at work. In recent months, Raul has had difficulty eating due to vomiting, passes out when he stands for a long time, and has pain in his legs due to swelling. Raul and his family cannot afford the cost of treatment, and with his sister now taking care of him, Raul’s family has lost two streams of income. $1,496 will cover the dialysis that Raul needs to survive. WK says, “With this treatment, Raul will be able to live a relatively normal life, even with his failing kidneys. His energy will increase and he will be able to get back to everyday activities and spend time with his family.” “I am most excited to be able to walk around again once I receive treatment,” Raul shares, “I want to be more independent.”

Meet Nyo, a 47-year-old woman who lives with her husband, two children, and two grandchildren in Burma. Her husband and children work in the corn fields, and Nyo stays at home to take care of her granddaughters. Nyo was recently diagnosed with a uterine myoma. Caused by the abnormal development of uterus muscle cells, these benign fibroid masses grow and multiply within the uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) explains, "The mass on her uterus has gradually gotten bigger and she is really worried about it." This condition causes Nyo discomfort in addition to issues with urination. When Nyo was told that she needed to have surgery to remove the mass, her family was very concerned about their ability to afford the treatment. Since Nyo's daughter had to stop working to look after the grandchildren while Nyo left to visit the clinic, their family's income has been reduced during this time. For $1500, doctors will perform a total abdominal hysterectomy--removing her cervix and uterus along with the fibroids. In addition to relieving Nyo's discomfort and urination problems, this procedure will simultaneously prevent fibroids from redeveloping in the future. "I wish to see my granddaughters grow up happy and healthy," Nyo tells us. "I hope that I will be cured from my condition so I can work again and can support my family."

“Srey Nich spends her free time cleaning the house and helping her mother get around,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Srey Nich is a 24-year-old woman from Cambodia. She has cholesteatoma, an abnormal growth of skin behind the eardrum in her left ear. As this skin-lined cyst increases, it erodes bones and promotes the growth of bacteria within the middle ear. This leads to hearing loss and infection. Srey Nich also “experiences pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and daily ear discharge from her left ear,” adds CSC. “When Srey Nich was a child she began having ear discharge and hearing loss on both sides,” reports CSC. Ten months ago, she underwent surgery to close the perforation on her right middle ear, but now she requires a different type of procedure on her left ear. $809 will fund the mastoidectomy Srey Nich requires to treat her left ear. This procedure involves opening the bone behind the middle ear to remove the bacteria and eliminate infection. This surgical intervention will help to protect Srey Nich from further hearing loss and complications. In addition to this surgery, Srey Nich will receive a routine course of antibiotics as well as follow-up visits to monitor her recovery. Srey Nich says, “I hope my ear discharge stops and I have good hearing, and no more pain."

Meet Akim, a six-year-old boy from Haiti who lives with his mother, father, grandparents, and little sister. According to our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), “Akim is in first grade, and likes going to school. When he is not in school he likes drawing and listening to music.” Akim was born with a congenital heart disease called ventricular septal defect. This means that there is a hole between the two lower chambers (or “ventricles”) of his heart. Blood from one ventricle leaks into the other without first getting oxygen from the lungs. Due to his condition, the blood that is pumped out of Akim’s heart to his body is not oxygen-rich. Consequently, Akim often has trouble breathing. HCA tells us that if left untreated, Akim’s condition could lead to serious health complications. Health City Caymen Islands has contributed $7,500 toward Akim's treatment. An additional $1,500 will cover overseas transportation costs. Akim's surgery will repair the hole in his heart, and restore normal blood flow. Akim shares, “I am excited about going to the hospital because it means I will be healthy after I leave."

Meet Bhim, a 50-year-old man who enjoys spending time with his cattle as they graze the hills of Nepal! “From a very young age, Bhim developed the habit of smoking,” explains our medical partner, Possible. “Despite taking medications regularly, his situation gets worse every now and then, making him feel suffocated and breathless.” “There is hardly any physical activity I can do without difficulty,” shares Bhim. “I need help even going to the washroom.” Bhim suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a complication caused by smoking that results in difficulty breathing due to poor airflow to the lungs. "I worry about my father's health. If only his condition got better, he could do a few things independently," says Bhim's son. For $270, Bhim can receive oxygen therapy for his COPD. Possible shares, "We can control the symptoms and ensure that he goes about his daily activities with more ease."

30-year-old Vorn is a husband and father who works as a farmer in Cambodia. He enjoys watching Khmer boxing on television and listening to traditional Khmer songs. “Vorn fractured his ankle four months ago when he was hit by a car,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Center (CSC), tells us. “It has been difficult for Vorn to walk since the accident.” Because of his injury, Vorn has been unable to work to support his wife and two sons. Treatment for Vorn is a surgical procedure known as open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to reposition and set the broken bones in his ankle so that they can heal properly. $405 will fund the surgery, a two-week hospital stay, five days of post-operative care (including physiotherapy), and six follow-up appointments during the first year after surgery. After surgery, “Vorn will be able to go back to work without pain,” says CSC. “He will regain the ability to walk and support his family.” Vorn looks forward to walking properly again and returning to work on the farm. Let’s help make that happen!

Like most six-year-old boys, Sifaeli enjoys drawing, painting, and playing Legos with his friends. He lives in Tanzania, and is the fourth oldest in a family of six children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), describes Sifaeli as “very talkative and friendly, but sometimes a bit shy.” Sifaeli was diagnosed with severe fluorosis, or a misalignment of the knee joint and femur. AMHF explains that in Tanzania, there is an excessive amount of naturally occurring fluoride in the water, which causes bones to curve. “His bones are bent to the extent that it looks like he has mild clubfoot [when] he walks,” states AMHF. His knees frequently hurt, and sometimes while walking, he bends over to hold his knees to try to alleviate the pain. He is unable to walk or run fast, and he is unable to wear shoes. Sifaeli’s parents are small-scale farmers who grow and sell maize and beans to support their family. They cannot afford their children’s school fees or other basic needs, let alone Sifaeli’s operation. If Sifaeli is left untreated, there is a high risk of him developing early osteoarthritis. For $940, we can help cover Sifaeli’s three rounds of surgery, 15 days in the hospital, and another two weeks of recuperation at Plaster House—a rehabilitation facility. The surgery, known as osteotomy, is a procedure in which the bones are broken and then realigned in the proper position. After the treatment, Sifaeli will be able to walk to school by himself, pain-free. Sifaeli’s father shares, “It hurts to see my son the way he is while three years ago he was perfectly fine. My hope is for a successful treatment so that my son can walk normally again, have the ability to go to school, and grow up like other children."