Pengthy is 17 years old and in the tenth grade. He is an orphan and lives with an organization in Phnom Penh. Pengthy likes to read books, sing, and watch TV in his free time. Pengthy developed an ear infection in his right ear when he was two months old. It then spread to his left ear. He experiences hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear). Pengthy is unhappy, and he worries about his ear. He was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a doctor in Phnom Penh. Pengthy traveled for one hour with his caretaker to reach CSC for treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform a myringoplasty procedure on his right side. His treatment is scheduled for March 30. Pengthy cannot afford this treatment, so he needs help raising the $423 that is necessary for the surgery. After recovery, his hearing will improve.

Marie is a 62-year-old woman who lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She has experienced many hardships in her life but has persevered with the love and support of friends and family. In the beginning of 2016, Marie felt a little mass on her left breast. Eventually, this lump become painful and bothersome, leading her to get biopsies at two separate hospitals—but she never received the results. Finally, she was referred to our medical partner's hospital, St. Luc Family Hospital, where she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began chemotherapy. After a few months of chemotherapy, Marie will undergo a mastectomy on March 2. This operation will remove all the breast tissue and should give Marie her health back. The treatment will cost $1,085. Marie's son, James, has been her attentive caretaker as she fights this disease. He says, “Cancer is an illness of patience and courage. Always encourage them and keep on praying."

Chhorvy is a 24-year-old student who has two younger sisters. She likes to listen to pop songs, read books, and exercise with her friends in her free time. A few years ago, Chhorvy developed a stone in her salivary gland. It became difficult for her to eat, and she was in pain. She went to a private clinic in Phnom Penh, where surgeons removed the salivary stone. However, her symptoms did not improve. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Chhorvy traveled one hour with her mother to seek treatment. On January 19, surgeons at CSC will remove the stone and correct a duct in her salivary gland. CSC is requesting $224 to fund this procedure, which will improve Chhorvy's quality of life.

Meet Kan, a 68-year-old farmer. Kan likes to tend after her farm and do housework. Kan has developed a nasal obstruction, which causes her pain and limits her ability to breathe. She has been diagnosed with a nasal septal abscess, a collection of pus in the nasal septum. She has taken medicine from a pharmacy, but her symptoms have not improved. Kan traveled one hour to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On January 13, surgeons at CSC will perform a needle aspiration to drain the pus and relieve Kan of her pain. CSC is requesting $224 to fund this procedure.

Nyanvura is 50 years old and a mother of four children. She and her husband cultivate food for consumption and sell the surplus to buy basic items, such as sugar and salt. Three years ago, Nyanvura developed a reducible right inguinal hernia. This painful condition limits her ability to walk long distances, lift heavy items, and work in her gardens. She never visited a hospital because she knew she could not afford care. When Nyanvura learned about Watsi, she decided to visit our medical partner's hospital, Holy Family Virika Hospital. On November 9, she underwent a hernia repair surgery. Now, she needs help to fund this $249 procedure. After recovery, she hopes to work hard to support her family.

Erjan is a four-year-old boy from the Philippines. He lives with his parents in a small house with a metal roof. Erjan has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. He began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 17, 2016. Erjan is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope my son will finish his studies and learn how to walk with God," says Erjan's mother.

Yoeun is a 51-year-old rice and crop farmer from Cambodia. She is married with two sons, three daughters, and three grandchildren. Yoeun likes to go to the pagoda to listen to monks pray. She also likes to listen to the news and monks pray on the radio. Yoeun heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from her aunt. She traveled for three hours with her aunt to reach CSC for treatment. Yoeun developed a cataract in each eye about five months ago causing her blurred vision. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, do any work, and go anywhere on her own. For $292, Yoeun will undergo cataract surgery in both eyes. After surgery, Yoeun will be able to see clearly again. Yoeun says, "I hope I can see everything more clear than now so that I can continue my work as a farmer just like before and go to the fields easily. I hope to be able to go anywhere outside by myself without needing to disturb others." Yoeun's aunt says, "I hope my niece can see better than now so that I don't have to worry about her vision loss anymore."

Adrianel is a six-year-old boy from the Philippines, currently in the first grade. He and his three older siblings were raised by their grandparents, as their mother suffers from mental illness and their father left to be with another woman. When Adrianel was six months old, his grandmother noticed that his scrotum was enlarged and increasing in size. His grandparents are very worried about him, but they could not afford to bring him to a doctor. He is often in pain, and when the pain flares up he can barely eat or sleep. Adrianel was referred to a community clinic, sponsored by our medical partner, International Care Ministries. Doctors diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia, and he was advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible to avoid further complications. Unfortunately, Adrianel's grandfather is the family's sole earner and cannot afford to pay for the $962 hernia repair surgery. Aside from his condition, Adrianel is attentive, sociable, and very eager to learn in school. He helps his grandparents in small ways, such as sweeping the leaves around the house and folding clothes. Adrianel is very close to his grandparents, and says that when he grows up, he will build a big and beautiful house for them. He also wishes to get his mother treatment so she can rejoin their family. Adrianel's grandparents are concerned about his condition and his future. They want him to finish his studies and enjoy his childhood like other children his age. "Thank you for helping us and our grandson," they say.

Blessing is an adorable baby boy who is barely one week old. He is one of three children in his family, and the second born in a set of twins. His family lives in a single-room rental house in the Eastern region of Kenya. Blessing's mother is a housewife, while his father is a gardener in a nearby neighborhood. Blessing was born eight days ago with a leaking mass on his lower back. His parents were advised to seek specialized treatment, which they did. Blessing was found to have spina bifida, a condition in which the backbone and the membranes around the spine do not close completely. Spina bifida is associated with risks such as infection, tethered spinal cord, and scoliosis. A spinal bifida closure surgery is required to close the open spine defect and prevent these potential complications. Blessing's parents are not able to raise the $805 needed for his surgical care. They never anticipated such a cost, but they are hoping that their son can be treated soon. "I will not give up on my son, many are hoping for such blessings. It's my prayer that he gets well and becomes my greatest testimony," says Blessing's mother.

Oun is a 30-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She is married with one son and one daughter. She enjoys cooking and taking care of her kids at home. Five years ago Oun sustained damage to her ear when using a q-tip to remove an insect that got into her ear. After the accident she began experiencing ear discharge, hearing loss, and pain in her left ear. Doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), have discovered a cholesteatoma in Oun's left ear. A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth or buildup behind the eardrum due to an infection. It is difficult for Oun to communicate with other people as it impairs her hearing. For $809 Surgeons will perform a mastoidectomy in which they will remove the growth from Oun's ear. This will treat the infection and stop it from spreading before it causes more damage. Her ear pain and discharge will stop and over time her hearing can improve.

Krouss is a four-year-old boy from Haiti who was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis. One of the valves of his heart is too small to allow blood to adequately pass through. As a result, oxygen does not reach his body in sufficient quantities, leaving him sickly and weak. Krouss needs surgery to ensure he can grow up healthy, and without further complications from his heart condition. Surgeons will insert a balloon inside the valve and inflate it to stretch the valve open. Depending on the result, he may or may not then need an open-heart procedure. The treatment will cost $6,500, however Health City Cayman Islands has subsidized part of the treatment. Through Watsi, $1,500 will cover the cost of overseas preparation and transportation for Krouss and one parent as the surgery will be performed in the Cayman Islands. Krouss lives with his mother and father, and he is their first child. His father is a security guard and his mother sells goods in the local market. He is a very intelligent boy and has already learned to read, and is looking forward to starting school next year. "I am most excited about getting to go on a plane ride," Krouss shared excitedly.