Srey Khuoch is a 38-year-old food seller who is married with one daughter. She likes to watch TV in her free time. In September, Srey Khuoch slipped and fell, dislocating her right elbow. It grew swollen and painful, and she had difficulty moving her arm. Srey Khouch learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, on the radio, and she traveled four hours with her husband seeking care. On October 24, she underwent a repair surgery. This procedure, which realigned the bones in her right arm, should relieve her pain. Now, Srey Khouch needs help to fund this $411 procedure. After recovery, she will be able to continue selling food to help her family.

Tha is a 55-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married, with three sons and two daughters. He likes to listen to the news on the radio and look after his grandson. About ten years ago, Tha began to develop a tumor on his right ear. At its current size, the growth measures five centimeters by five centimeters. It causes him great pain and is growing quickly. Tha and his son traveled five hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, at their care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. He is scheduled to receive treatment on January 20. Our medical partner is requesting $224 to cover the cost of the operation to remove the growth. After surgery, Tha looks forward to returning home pain-free.

Wielman lives with his parents and brother in rural Guatemala. He likes to eat rice and play with his brother. Wielman has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. At two years of age, his weight is the same as that of a healthy six-month-old baby. Without treatment, Wielman faces increased risk of developing chronic diseases and having a low IQ. Treatment and prevention of severe acute malnutrition is crucial for Wielman's development. $782 will fund Wielman's treatment at our medical partner's care center, Clinic Tecpán. Beginning on January 19, Wielman's condition will be evaluated by nutritionists and physicians. His growth will be monitored, and he will receive medical care and nutritional supplements. Community health workers will also visit his family and educate them on how to prepare nutrient-rich meals to support Wielman's development. Wielman's mother says that she is "going to look for a way to dedicate more time to Wielman to improve his growth."

Sokha is a 53-year-old motor taxi driver with four sons and one daughter. In his free time, he likes to watch boxing on TV and run for exercise. Three months ago, Sokha developed a pterygium in each eye. A pterygium is a growth that spreads across the clear tissue of the eye. This condition causes him blurred vision, tearing, light sensitivity, irritation, and itching. It is difficult for him to see things clearly, work, and go anywhere on his own. Sokha decided to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On December 16, eye surgeons at CSC removed the pterygium from each eye to allow Sokha to see clearly again. Now, he needs help to fund this $148 procedure. "I hope that I look better and feel more comfortable," says Sokha, "so that I can continue my work at a motor taxi driver to earn money for my family."

Kiiza is a 77-year-old man from Uganda. Since retiring from his career as a high school teacher, he enjoys spending his time writing, editing, and translating books in his native language. For the past year, Kiiza has been experiencing pain and swelling from a right reducible inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of the intestines through a weak region in the abdominal muscles. Its presence makes coughing, bending at the waist, or lifting heavy objects very painful. Due to the pain, Kiiza was unable to sit upright. He had a backache and constant headaches. His right leg was partially paralyzed. "I have a lot of pain," shared Kiiza, "but I have faith that I will be well again." When Kiiza was diagnosed with the inguinal hernia last year, he had no means to pay for treatment. Then, he visited our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, and was advised to have an operation to repair the hernia. On November 30, Kiiza underwent a hernia repair surgery. During the operation, the doctor pushed the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sewed together the weakened muscle with a synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue will grow into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to pay for Kiiza's care. Funding for him also covers the costs of three nights in the hospital, pain medicine, antibiotics, and blood tests. After recovery, Kiiza hopes to continue translating books.

Mey Mey is two years old and an only child. She likes to write, paint, and play with toys. Mey Mey has a type of congenital strabismus in both eyes called exotropia. This condition causes her eyes to turn outward. When Mey Mey's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 1, doctors performed a corrective eye surgery. After recovery, Mey Mey's vision will improve. Now, her family needs help to fund this $264 procedure. "I hope that my granddaughter looks better," says Mey Mey's grandmother, who accompanied her to surgery. "I won't have to worry about her feeling shy around others when she grows up."

Betty is a 26-year-old mother of three from Uganda. During her free time, Betty enjoys listening to gospel music and radio programs about crime prevention. In August of this year, Betty was in labor for three days without medical supervision. Eventually, she was rushed to the hospital to undergo a C-section. As a result of this delivery, Betty developed an abnormal condition in a sensitive area. Betty and her husband, Isaac, are subsistence farmers, growing maize, sim sim, millet, and soya beans. Betty's condition has affected her ability to work and join others in the community. On October 25, 2016, doctors performed a repair surgery. Now, Betty needs help to pay for this $547 procedure. When she recovers, Betty hopes to make pan cakes to sell at the local market. She also plans to walk her children to school. Betty dreams of taking tailoring classes, so that she can craft clothes and uniforms for children in her community. "I want to thank Watsi for this opportunity to have my health restored, and I wish to thank the donors for making it possible for me to get this operation," says Betty. "I pray that I will get better after surgery, gain my ability, and continue with my work."

Lara is a two-year-old girl who lives with her parents and other siblings in a small house made of nipa and bamboo, with no access to electricity and water supply. Lara's father works as a farmer with no stable income and therefore cannot provide better nutrition to his family. As a result, Lara is suffering from moderate malnutrition, weighing much less than healthy kids her age. Watsi's medical partner International Care Ministries' (ICM) Home-Based Feeding program will provide Lara with nutrient enriched food packs to ensure she gets additional food to regain normal weight, and achieve optimum physical and mental development. Staff and community volunteers will make weekly visits to monitor Lara's progress. To help sustain her health, ICM's professional staff will educate her parents about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene and organic vegetable gardening. $184 will cover the costs of the care Lara needs. Let's help raise the funds! Lara's parents shared, "We hope that Lara can recover from malnutrition so that she can become strong and healthy."

Meet Yek, a 59-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Yek is married with four sons, four daughters, and six grandchildren. She enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). One year ago, Yek developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for her to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again,” shares Yek, “Then, I can work at home and go anywhere outside." After learning about CSC, Yek and her daughter travelled six hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Yek's sight. With $292, Yek will undergo cataract surgery, during which her old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing her to see again immediately after her operation.

Beatrice is a 46-year-old single woman from Kenya who is fighting cervical cancer. She works as a security guard and lives in a single-room house where she pays rent from her small salary. In 2013, Beatrice began experiencing uncontrolled vaginal bleeding. She visited a dispensary and received medicine, but the bleeding began again in October of 2015 and has persisted since then. A pap smear performed in June revealed that Beatrice has high-grade cervical cancer. She requires a hysterectomy, but she cannot afford the surgery or even medicine to help control the bleeding. If Beatrice does not receive treatment, the cancer will likely spread, leading to her premature death. Due to frequent hospital visits and lower abdominal pain from her condition, Beatrice has not been able to work consistently and barely earns enough money to meet her daily needs. Her four brothers face their own economic challenges and are unable to provide financial support. In addition, Beatrice's elderly mother has been hospitalized several times this year. For $800, Beatrice will undergo a hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix and prevent the spread of the cancer. Funding also covers the costs of four days of inpatient care, including meals, blood work, and medicine. "My only wish is to get well and reduce the pain I have," shares Beatrice, who has had difficulty coming to terms with her condition. "I want to live and be there for my mother."

23-month-old Kervens was born with two holes in his heart: one between the two upper chambers, the other between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Because of the nature of his condition, the only way to know whether surgery is possible for Kervens is to first do a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter probe is inserted into his heart in order to take detailed measurements. The results of this test will determine whether he is operable, and if he is, his doctors will then go on to arrange surgery. This procedure is not available in Haiti, so he must travel to the Dominican Republic to undergo the test. Kervens is a very calm and happy child who likes to be carried and to meet new people. Kervens lives in northern Haiti with his mother, aunt, and an older sister. His mother is currently unemployed and looking for work, and so the cost of the diagnostic test that her son urgently needs is beyond her financial means. "My family is all praying that the test will go well and Kervens will be able to have his surgery," Kervens’ mother shares.

Meet Sovai, a 84-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Sovai is married with one sons, one daughter, and five grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and joining ceremonies," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Three years ago, Sovai developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for her to see clearly and go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Sovai and her sister travelled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Sovai's sight. With $225, Sovai will undergo cataract surgery, during which her old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing her to see again immediately after her operation.