Maly is a 12-year-old 6th grader who lives in Kandal province with her parents and two brothers. Her father is a mango farmer, and her mother sells spices throughout the village and surrounding areas on the back of her bicycle. Her favorite foods are bread with jam, and beef noodle soup. She loves to dance and watch Cambodian dance competition shows on TV. Three years ago, Maly had her ears pierced at a shop in her village. Since then, keloids--large, raised scars--have developed on both ears, and have grown in size. She experiences itchiness and discomfort. She has not yet returned to school this autumn, as she feels too embarrassed. Maly traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 13, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the large masses. Now, Maly's family needs help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. Maly told us she really wants to remove the keloids, and then she will feel better about going back to school.

Merab is a 30-year-old mother who is married with three children aged nine, six and three. She works as a small-scale farmer. She completed her secondary education but did not get a chance to proceed further due to a lack of school fees. Merab and her husband own a three-roomed house with their main source of cooking energy being firewood. They rely on bodabodas (motorcycles) as the main mode of transport while seeking medical attention which costs them about six to ten dollars round trip, which is high for their family. Three years ago, Merab began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small painless swelling on the front side of her neck, which has grown over the years. She has tried using herbs as treatment with no success and, although painless, the swelling makes her feel inferior while in public and she is worried what will happen in the future if she is untreated. Merab sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter that requires surgical removal. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. Merab is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 12th when surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family needs help raising money. Merab says, “I wish to look normal again through surgery. I will continue with farming for the well-being of my family after I recovery.”

Sephania is a baby from Simanjiro, Arusha in Tanzania. He lives among the Maasai people. He comes from a large family of six siblings, raised by a single mother. His father died shortly after he was born, and his mother depends on her brothers, who are cattle breeders. They help provide basic needs for the family since his mother does not work and has no means to earn a living. Sephania was born with both his legs twisted inward and downward. His mother was informed that there was treatment for the condition. She could not afford transport money at the time and had to wait for almost 2 years before she was able to collect enough money to travel to a medical center. She arrived at our center with an escort, who helped her translate as she only speaks Maasai. After a brief assessment with our team, we set up a treatment plan for Sephania, starting with a series of castings. Sephania has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Sephania traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Sephania's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Sephania’s mother says, "It has taken a while to be able to come for treatment. I hope my son will get treatment that will help with his foot’s condition."

Sina is a 22-year-old woman from Cambodia with chronic otitis media, a condition where the middle of her ear is inflamed. Since her left ear drum is perforated, “Sina has recurrent discharge from her ear,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), reports. “She has been dealing with this for six years and it causes her constant discomfort and hearing loss,” CSC continues. “Sina is a university student and the youngest of four sisters, and in her free time she enjoys drawing pictures and reading books.” Sina needs a myringoplasty for $399 -- a surgical procedure to close the perforation of her eardrum. With surgery, "Sina will no longer have discharge from her left ear and her hearing will slowly return," says CSC. Sina’s younger sister says she is worried about Sina “because she cannot hear the teachers clearly, even if she sits at the front of the room.” With this treatment Sina will be able to continue at school with improved hearing.

“I wish to get my life back. I hope Watsi will help me so that I can be well again to support my husband in taking care of our family,” said Jane. Jane is a beautiful middle-aged woman from Kenya. "She is married and she and her husband have three children who are all in school,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares. After experiencing headaches, bleeding, and anemia, Jane visited a medical center where she received a CT scan that revealed uterine fibroids -- noncancerous tumor-like growths, that require surgery to remove. Once diagnosed, "surgery was advised but Jane kept on postponing due to lack of money. Jane heard about the Watsi program and came to seek for help." “Jane is a housewife, while her husband has a kiosk which sells daily household goods. The income from the kiosk supports the family's basic needs and supplements the school fees for their children," AMHF adds. "It is impossible for this family to raise the money needed for this important surgery." For $790 Jane will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy and a five-day hospital stay. The removal of her uterus in the hysterectomy will help to prevent the fibroids from recurring. AMHF reports that after her surgery, “Jane will recover fully. She will be free from the bleeding and anaemia. Jane will be able to take care of her children.”

Walfred is a baby boy who lives with his family in Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “When we visited Walfred at his house, he was suffering from chronic diarrhea and a cough. His mother knew he was not growing well and was extremely happy when we arrived because her neighbor had mentioned that we could be of help.” “When we weighed and measured Walfred, it became apparent that he is suffering from acute malnutrition," WK reports. "Walfred’s mom was embarrassed to tell us that she has been feeding him diluted powdered cow’s milk and sugar water. She told us that she didn’t know what else do when she realized she was unable to produce breast milk, and they didn’t have enough money to afford formula.” Walfred’s family does not have easy access to clean water, so not only is Walfred not receiving sufficient nutrients and antibodies, but he also has a parasitic infection. WK elaborates, “Walfred is the youngest of 10 children. His father is a sharecropper and does not own land. He has been worried about providing for his family for a long time, and is extremely happy to start working with us. Walfred’s siblings love him, and like to carry him on their backs while they do other chores around the house. The family is well known and respected in the community.” With $1,220 in funding, WK will provide nutrition education, formula supplementation, and deworming medication for Walfred and his mother. WK reports, “Treating lactation failure is easy and effective. Formula supplementation promotes normal physical and mental development and gives the child the chance to reach their full growth potential. Nutrition education provides the mother with the skills she needs to ensure her child’s healthy growth and development.” Walfred’s mother shares, “I am so thankful that you sought me out.” Let’s help Walfred regain his health and reach his developmental milestones!

Meet Phon, a 56-year-old farmer from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, tells us, “Phon is married and has three sons, five daughters and eleven grandchildren. In his free time he likes to keep abreast of Cambodian current affairs.” For the last three years, Phon has lived with glaucoma in his left eye. He has excessive pressure inside his eye, which can ultimately result in optic nerve damage. Phon cannot see well out of that eye—it causes him a good deal of pain and tears up constantly. For $300, we can fully fund surgery to treat the glaucoma, as well as a two-day hospital stay and post-operative medication. After his surgery, Phon looks forward to having a pain-free eye and continuing his job as a rice farmer.

"Sroeun is married with two sons, three daughters, and eleven grandchildren," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "She likes to listen to the monks praying and doing housework." For the past two years, Sroeun has lived with a cataract in her left eye. "She finds it difficult to walk to the pagoda," CSC continues. "She finds everything in her general life difficult." Sroeun has been unable to afford cataract removal surgery to restore her vision. This brief, 45 minute surgery costs $150 and replaces the clouded lens with an artificial lens. After surgery, Sroeun will have clear vision again. "After surgery she is looking forward to regaining her independence and going to visit the pagoda again," CSC adds. Let's help make it happen!

Bernie is a 41-year-old man who lives in the Philippines. "Bernie is a comedian. He likes basketball and singing while playing guitar," says our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). Bernie often has trouble walking. His knees dislocate chronically, which greatly hinders his mobility. To help him with his condition, his doctors gave him temporary knee implants, which have helped stabilize him and allow him to slowly get back to normal. Now, Bernie needs to get surgery to get his implants removed. This is where we come in, as Bernie cannot afford the $569 surgery. "I am so grateful for those who have a heart to help. I really want to walk normal again. I hope you can grant this request of mine," Bernie says. "He is excited to do full time in ministry after receiving the treatment," adds ICM.

“I was shocked when I saw the cyst on my baby’s back after delivery," says Nelly's mother. "I hope she will get well after treatment." Nelly is a six-day-old girl born in Kenya, and is her parents' first child. She was born with spina bifida, resulting in an open mass on her lower back. “Nelly’s parents live a modest life and can barely meet their daily food needs,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Her mother is a housewife and her father is a casual worker, and they have been unable to raise funds for Nelly’s surgery. If untreated, Nelly is likely to develop an infection or life-threatening spinal complications, like a tethered cord or kyphoscoliosis (irregular curvature of the spine). But for $805, Nelly will be able to afford spina bifida closure surgery. After this surgery, Nelly will be less likely to get an infection and can live a life free from spinal complications. Let’s help Nelly get healthy!

Venancio is a 40-year-old former security guard with a wife and three children living in the southern Philippines. Venancio's work as a security guard allowed him to sustain his family until he developed an abscess in his backside. The obstruction, which causes him daily pain, forced Venancio to stop work as a security guard. He now works only occasionally as a day laborer when he is able to tolerate the pain. A $920 surgery to drain Venancio's abscess and repair the obstruction will reduce his pain and allow him to return to his full-time job. His hope is that, with the surgery, he will be better able to provide consistently for his family. Let's help him do it!