Shine is a three-month-old baby boy from Thailand. He lives with his family in Mae Sot, Tak province. Since he was one month old, Shine has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia is at risk of becoming strangulated, or cut off from circulation of the blood supply, which can damage or kill the tissue. Fortunately, on February 14, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Shine's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 14 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably.

Sam Chai is a rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two daughters and enjoys gardening outside his house. Two years ago, he fell off his motorbike and has been noticing hip pain ever since. He cannot work or walk long distances, and it's difficult to look after his family. Fortunately, Sam Chai learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Sam Chai of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 12, and Sam Chai needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "I hope I can get back to work like before."

Po is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two children in a rural village. She and her husband are subsistence farmers, growing peanuts and beans. Po was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. She began to experience frequent tiredness in 2014, and her symptoms intensified in 2017. She could not walk long distances due to heart palpitations. She often feels dizzy and even loses her appetite during extreme tiredness. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Po. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 13 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Po says, “I hope to continue to work on the farm with my husband. And bring my children back to take care of them. I want to be cured of my condition and I am not worried about having to go through a surgery. I believe in the surgeon who will take care of my condition.”

Than is a 49-year-old woman who lives with her father in Burma. She works as a fruit vendor and takes care of her father. Than’s health problems started over ten years ago, when she noticed that she had breathing problems. She tried to use traditional medicine to treat herself. At first, Than felt better, but in 2017 her health worsened. She cannot breathe well, and gets tired in hot weather. She underwent a heart examination and was told that she requires heart surgery, which is scheduled for November 20. Than said that in the future, "I want to work as a fruit vendor again and continue caring for my father." Watsi is requesting $1,500 to help fund Than's treatment.

Moe is a 21-year old man from Burma. He has eight siblings, but his parents passed away when he was 15. Moe worked in a restaurant kitchen until a medical condition prevented him from continuing with his work. Moe was born with a dark birthmark on his face. When he was 17, the birthmark began to grow, eventually creating pressure on his forehead and eyelid. Moe also experienced a growth on his thigh. When he was 15, he was playing soccer with his friends, and was kicked in the leg by another player. He felt a shooting pain in his leg, and has experienced ongoing pain since. He visited a local hospital, where he received an x-ray, and was informed that he would need surgery to address the cyst on his leg. Moe decided to use traditional medicine to treat the pain, which did not work. Having heard of Watsi’s program with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), he decided to seek help. Doctors suggested the cyst be surgically removed On October 4, Moe will undergo a cyst excision procedure. He needs help to fund this $1,500 surgery. Moe said, "I love cooking, and am eager to return to work to the restaurant industry. With time, I dream of becoming a chef".

Dorcas is a seven-year-old girl and bright student from Kenya. She dreams of being a politician or doctor when she grows up. Dorcas has clubfoot, a condition in which the bottom of her foot curves inward and upward, making it difficult and painful to walk. She has been using orthotics and doing physical therapy, but her condition is not improving. She sometimes falls as she walks and plays with other kids. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund surgery to correct her clubfoot, which is scheduled for July 10. Dorcas and her mother hope the treatment will allow her to walk comfortably. "I would love to see my daughter walking well and progressing with her studies. She is a very bright girl and an achiever. I ask for support because I really cannot afford the bill," her mother says.

Hla is a 55-year-old man who has pyelonephritis and urinary stones. He currently lives in Thailand with his wife, his children, and a grandson. Hla is originally from a village in Burma. Twenty years ago, due to the heavy fighting in the area, Hla and his wife decided to migrate to Mae Sot with their children. Hla and his wife used to work as agricultural day laborers until they retired five years ago. Hla enjoys planting vegetables on a small patch near the house. In early March 2017, Hla started to feel pain in his lower abdomen. He began to experience urinary and bowel dysfunction, and medications did not help. Two days later, he went to our medical partner's clinic and was admitted for three days. He was then sent to the hospital for an x-ray and an ultrasound. Doctors told him that they found a stone in his bladder around the size of a chicken egg. “I never thought I would be this sick in my life. I never expected it to be a big problem,” says Hla. On April 3, Hla will undergo surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove the bladder stone. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund his treatment.

Emmanuel is a newborn baby boy from Kenya. When he was born, the family immediately noticed an unusual mass on the back of his head.The doctors diagnosed Emmanuel with an encephalocele, a condition caused by the incomplete formation of the skull that allows cerebral spinal fluid and brain tissue to form a sac on the back of the head. If Emmanuel goes untreated, he may have mental and growth retardation. Emmanuel and his family were referred to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, where surgery was recommended to prevent further complications. On May 5, Emmanuel will undergo brain surgery to repair his encephalocele, and his family is asking for $929 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “We are only asking for financial help in order to give Emmanuel a chance to enjoy his future as he ought to,” says Emmanuel’s mother.

Elisa is a seven-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is a lively child who loves to play with her stuffed bear and eat bananas. Elisa has been diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On May 25, Elisa will begin growth monitoring and nutritional supplementation at Clinic Tecpán, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Elisa's food supplementation, as well as an educational program that will teach her mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet for Elisa using limited resources. "We are grateful for the support our daughter will receive," say Elisa's parents. "We hope that through the program she can recover from malnutrition.”

Sokha is a 51-year-old mother from Cambodia. She is married and has two sons and three daughters. Sokha sells food to support her family, and in her downtime, she enjoys listening to the news on the radio. In December 2016, Sokha was involved in a motor accident, sustaining a dislocated right elbow. Initially, she sought out traditional healer treatment, but her condition did not improve, and she still experiences stiffness and pain in her elbow. Having heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a neighbor, Sokha decided to seek additional treatment. On March 7, Sokha will undergo open reduction internal fixation surgery, a procedure which will realign her elbow. CSC is asking for $411 to cover the cost of her treatment. After surgery, Sokha will be able to easily use her arm again!

Michelle is a 21-month-old girl from the Philippines. She loves to draw, write, and play with her neighbors. She lives in a mountainous area with her parents in a house made of native materials. They don't have electricity at home, and their source of water is a spring. Both parents are farmers. Michelle has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens Michelle’s growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 21. Michelle will be 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 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. Her mother says, "I hope that she will recover from malnutrition."

Dilan is a one-year-old baby boy from Guatemala. He is the fourth child in his family. His mother is a homemaker, and his father works in construction to support their family. Dilan has been diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition in which the body is unable to grow properly due to a lack of nutrition. Beginning on March 13, Dilan will receive nutritional support and be monitored for growth at our medical partner's care center, Clinic Panajachel. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to fund his treatment, as well as an educational program for his mother. This program will teach her how to create a nutrient-rich diet for Dilan with limited resources. Dilan's parents are looking forward to their son's recovery so he can grow to be a strong, healthy child.