Meet Oun, a 47-year-old woman from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), informs us, “Oun is married with one son, one daughter, and two grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys watching Thai dramas on TV.” Oun has a pterygium in both of her eyes. A pterygium is a non-cancerous growth in the mucus membrane that lines the inner eyelid and cornea. Oun has difficulty seeing clearly out of her eyes because the pterygium has obstructed her vision. This makes it difficult for her to work on her farm, and to go outside alone. The pterygium has also caused her eyes to burn and itch, and has made her feel less confident in her appearance. With $150 in funding, Oun will receive surgery in which the conjunctive growth on the cornea will be removed and replaced with a new graft of her tissue to cover the hole and prevent the pterygium from returning. CSC believes that after treatment, “Oun will have less pain and her vision will improve. She wants to be able to see clearly so she can to do her work on the farm very well and easily go outside.”

Meet Kim, a 61-year-old grandfather from Cambodia. “Kim is married with five children and one grandchild,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “He enjoys current events in Cambodia and is always listening or watching the news.” “Kim has pterygiums that make his job as a construction worker basically impossible due to the constant burning sensations,” explains CSC. “He also has very blurred vision. Even when he stays inside, he still has discomfort all of the time.” A pterygium often occurs in patients whose eyes get unprotected exposure to the sun. As a result, a small growth develops on the inner corner of the eye, causing discomfort including burning sensations. Doctors can remove Kim’s pterygiums in a simple procedure. The small growth will be surgically removed and the area will then be repaired with extra tissue from Kim’s eye. $150 in Watsi funding will ensure that Kim receives the surgery and will cover all the operational costs as well as the medicines he will need. “After the surgery, he is looking forward to no pain, going back to his construction job, and he even says he will try to get a second job as a taxi driver to make extra money for his family,” shares CSC.

“Samuel and his wife are subsistence farmers and they depend on the produce from their small farm for their basic needs,” says our partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). This is Samuel, a 55-year old father from Kenya with a wife and two children. AMHF explains, “In February 2015, Samuel fell and sustained fracture of the left ankle joint. He was taken to hospital and plating was done. About two weeks ago, Samuel started having severe pain on the site and difficulty in walking. Samuel came to Nazareth [our partner hospital] and an x-ray was done which showed that the plate had dislodged. The doctor ordered a repeat ORIF.” An ORIF is an open reduction internal fixation—a surgical procedure to fix a severe bone fracture. With $1,125 in funding, Samuel will receive the new surgery he needs. AMHF reports, “We expect after an ORIF, the bones will unite, Samuel will be well again and he will be able to use his leg. This will enable Samuel to work in his farm and earn for his family.” Samuel wants to get back working on his farm -- not only to support his family, but to pay for his children to attend college. Samuel shares, “Working in the garden requires my hands and legs. I therefore hope this surgery will be successful so that I can continue working for my family.”

Jecinta is just two weeks old! Born in Kenya, Jecinta is the youngest of four siblings. "Her family lives in a two-room house in Central Kenya," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Jecinta's father hawks boiled maize while her mother sells vegetables. Their daily average income is $3. Jecinta's parents own no land and have no other source of income." Jecinta was born with spina bifida, a cystic mass swelling on her lower back. "Jecinta is at a risk of developing infections in the exposed nerves and tissues and/or tethered cord syndrome that can lead to either scoliosis or kyphosis," says AMHF. "She is also at a risk of losing muscle function on the lower limbs if not treated." With their limited income, Jecinta's parents are unable to afford the $805 spina bifida closure that Jecinta needs. This procedure is vital in preventing future complications and infections from spina bifida. It will fully resolve Jecinta's current discomfort and ensure she grows and develops normally. Let's help this newborn baby girl and her family, and fund this life-changing surgery!

"Pyae Son first became aware he had a heart condition two years ago," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "He remembers supervising on a construction site and feeling overly tired. Since that day he says he experiences poor appetite, difficulty breathing and numbness in his chest." Pyae Son is a 27-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his parents and grandfather. "He was enrolled at university but had to stop his studies one year ago in order to financially support his family," BBP tells us. Pyae Son was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease, and needs surgery to correct his defect. "Pyae Son hopes to receive surgery shortly so he can contribute financially to his family once more," BBP says. "He stated he want a ‘stable and simple life.’ The only thing he desires is to live a life where he has energy; he no longer wants to live as a patient." $1500 will fund a complex cardiac treatment for Pyae Son. BBP expects that this will resolve the underlying condition and resolve his current symptoms, such as the inability to sleep, pain, and numbness. He will also be able to return to work and support his family.

Meet Mekeya, a two-year-old girl from Ethiopia. "Mekeya was born without an anal opening," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "She could not pass stool normally and had to pass stool through her vagina with great difficulty." Upon her diagnosis, Mekeya received a colostomy, which has worked somewhat as a temporary solution. However, she needs an anorectoplasty to fully correct the problem and allow her to pass stool normally. The surgery will cost $1500, and Mekeya's parents cannot afford the cost. "Mekeya's parents are farmers. They have spent all their money on health care diligently seeking for a cure for their daughter," says AMHF. "However, despite all their efforts Mekeya is not yet well. They are deeply worried that Mekeya is in real danger and they are completely unable to pay for this life saving surgery." After treatment, Mekeya is expected to make a full recovery. "Mekeya will be able to pass stool normally," says AMHF. "She will have a chance of growing up healthy and normally."

Here’s Julius! He’s a 53-year-old male widower from Kenya with three children who are in school. “Julius had been doing his normal work as a farmer, to tend for his children, until two weeks ago when he fell and sustained fracture of the right leg,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Since then, he has been experiencing a lot of pain and has been unable to move around.” If left untreated, Julius will continue to be in pain, be unable to use his leg, and may suffer from delayed healing and malunion, where the bone heals in a deformed position. His extended family cannot assist him and his income is not enough to afford this surgery. For $1,125, AMHF will be able to provide Julius with an ORIF, or open reduction and internal fixation surgery, to fix his broken bones. With this surgery, it is expected that the bones will heal correctly and Julius will be able to use his leg again. Julius says, ''I want to appreciate Watsi in advance. I hope Watsi will help me so that I can continue taking care of my children, I am their only hope!” Let’s work together to help Julius!

This baby girl is five-month-old Winfrida of Tanzania. Shortly after birth, Winfrida was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid builds up in the brain. As a result, extra pressure is placed on the nerves and blood vessels in the brain, and the patient is at increased risk of developmental problems or vision loss. "Winfrida is getting less and less active and frequently throws up after being fed," Watsi medical partner Africa Mission Healthcare tells us. "If not treated, Winfrida’s head circumference will continue to grow bigger; she will lose her vision, can get convulsions and will eventually die." Winfrida and her mother live with her mother’s aunt, but together they cannot afford the necessary medical treatment. “It is my great hope that my baby will get well and continue with normal growth,” says Winfrida’s mother. “If at least my baby will be healthy, I’ll do anything to earn some money so that I can help out with the cost of raising a baby.” $690 will fund treatment for Winfrida’s hydrocephalus, and will allow her to regain mobility and have the opportunity to grow into the healthy baby her mother hopes for. Your help goes a long way towards helping Winfrida along the road to recovery!

“Carlos doesn’t talk like my other kids did. I think this is a sign that he is sick and needs help,” says Carlos' mother about her son's language delay. In addition to language delay, this toddler from Guatemala is experiencing general developmental delay due to malnourishment. His family works on a plantation to meet basic needs, but putting food on the table is difficult. "Recently Carlos has had several intestinal infections, and the family hasn't had the extra cash to get medical treatment," Wuqu' Kawoq' (WK) tells us. "They came to our clinic last week looking for help with his medical and nutritional needs." Carlos came to the right place -- because WK is equipped to help. "We are excited to be a part of the solution here, together with help from Watsi donors," the WK team writes."With intensive medical treatment, including food and vitamin supplementation, and treatment of his intestinal infections, we expect that Carlos will start growing again and that his language development will really take off." So let's be part of the solution and fund $535 to position Carlos for a healthy future.

Sulma is a 28-year-old woman from Guatemala who is expecting her first child. She is excited to give birth, but worried about how she will manage her type 1 diabetes during her pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes is "extremely difficult to manage in Guatemala" as it is, according to our medical partner. Her doctor says, "Although Sulma is very happy [about her pregnancy], it is also very stressful. Insulin control and glucose monitoring during pregnancy for a type 1 diabetic is medically complex and expensive, and she cannot afford to do it." Sulma needs medical oversight to ensure a safe pregnancy. After losing her mother to diabetes and watching her sister have serious complications from the disease, Sulma has been very proactive about her health and the safety of her unborn baby. But her limited financial and medical resources just can’t meet her treatment needs. For $300, we can provide Sulma with quality prenatal care from the doctors at Wuqu' Kawoq, including transportation, diabetes testing supplies, insulin therapy, and ultrasound monitoring. Together, we can help give Sulma and her new baby a healthy start!

Maureen is a bright woman from Kenya who is pregnant and hoping for a safe delivery. She was recently treated for malaria and as a result is exceptionally tired and sore. Maureen and her husband farm in order to provide a living for their expanding family; they have three children and their fourth is on its way. The $215 will cover her antenatal care, a hospital delivery and a post-birth checkup. Maureen’s recent illness could make her more susceptible to complications during childbirth, but Lwala Community Alliance want to help keep her and the baby healthy from here on out!