Tushabomwe is a 44 year old woman who lost her husband in 2009 when unfortunately they were attacked by gunmen in their house. Tushabomwe was shot in her thigh and she was pregnant with her third child, who luckily survived. Tushabomwe suspected the attack was planned by relatives and this forced her to move very far away to start a new life. She has not gotten married again. Tushabomwe works hard, selling dry produce such as beans in the nearby markets and was able to construct a three-room semi-permanent house for shelter. She later started small-scale farming as a way to generate food for her children. Her oldest is 15 years old and in secondary school class one, her second born in primary school class seven and her youngest is 10 years old and in primary school class four. She is proud to independently take care of her children, although it is a challenge. Tushabomwe developed a small swelling on her neck in 2019 and it kept on increasing in size as time went on. The swelling became prominent with severe pain. She went to a local health centre and was given tablets hoping that the swelling would reduce as well as the pain, but all this did not help. The swelling reduces and increases occasionally, currently, it is in its smallest size but after some time it increases in size and so does her pain. In its largest state, she has difficulty swallowing and speaking. She decided to come to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center Rushoroza Hospital to seek medical advice and treatment. Doctors there told her that if not treated through a thyroidectomy, Tushabomwe may develop airway obstruction, thyrotoxicosis and further difficulty in swallowing. Tushabomwe says, “This condition hinders the smooth running of my business because of the pain. After surgery, I will be comfortable and I will take on my business activities and be able to take care of my family.”

Meet Julia, a stay-at-home mother of nine children from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After the birth of her ninth child, Julia noticed that a large mass had developed in her left breast and formed a ball under her armpit. Julia experienced extreme pain, resulting in loss of sleep and limited function of her left arm. After a consultation at a local hospital, Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer. Julia was referred to our medical partner's care center, St. Luc Family Hospital, where she received four sessions of chemotherapy. On February 15, Julia will undergo a mastectomy to remove all the breast tissue and cancerous cells. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is asking for $1,085 to fund Julia's surgery. Julia says that her husband is her biggest supporter and that their family encourages her to keep fighting.

Ahmed is a one-month-old boy from Kenya. He was born with an open mass on his back. His parents learned that he had spina bifida, a spinal defect. Without treatment, he risked infection or development of tethered cord syndrome. Ahmed was immediately referred to a specialist at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. On December 8, he underwent a spina bifida closure procedure. Ahmed's family lives in the northeastern region of Kenya. His mother is a housewife, and his father is a long-distance driver. They cannot afford to pay their son's medical bill. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to fund this procedure. “In life, we go through some difficult experiences," says Ahmed's mother. "They are hard for people to experience, and I think we just have this tendency to want to put our heads down and close our eyes. When you do that, there’s so much that you can miss. What you can miss is the fact that people are better than you ever thought they would be, and that people are so kind and so generous. I have faith that we will get help from Watsi, and I appreciate their willingness to help. I am looking forward to a healthier Ahmed."

Maria is a 50-year-old woman from Guatemala. She has had diabetes for eight years, but she only began treatment five years ago. Her diabetes has advanced, and she has been experiencing blurry vision and dizziness, which prevent her from working. She needs insulin to manage her blood sugar and prevent serious complications, such as kidney failure, high blood pressure, and cataracts. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 28. Maria is a single mother to two sons. She lives with them in an adobe house with a tin roof, and she supports her family by selling fruits and vegetables in a large market. Maria leaves for the market at 4 am every day, and she often stays until dark. Despite her hard work, she cannot afford this $1,500 treatment. This treatment will protect Maria from the effects of uncontrolled diabetes. She will receive the insulin, blood pressure medications, and education she needs to adequately manage her diabetes for years to come. Once her glucose levels normalize, she will no longer be at risk of dangerous blood sugar highs. She will have renewed energy to return to work, and her quality of life will improve.