Atanazio is a 57-year-old farmer from a village in Salima District in Malawi. Salima District is nestled along the southern shores of Lake Malawi, and is known for its lush, rolling hills, and fertile land. The community here primarily relies on agriculture, with maize, groundnuts, and cassava being the backbone of local livelihoods. For Atanazio, this way of life has been the foundation of his family’s survival, as he has worked tirelessly on his farm to provide for his wife, children, and grandchildren. In 2016, Atanazio started experiencing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), which caused him pain, discomfort, and distress. For nearly a decade, this affliction has hindered his ability to work, affecting his health, productivity, and the well-being of his family. Each month, Atanazio would endure long trips to the local district hospital, where he would receive routine catheter changes in an attempt to manage the symptoms of his condition. As the years passed, the toll this illness took on his body, mind, and soul became unbearable. Once a strong man capable of tending to his farm and supporting his loved ones, he now struggles to meet his basic needs. In 2023, Atanazio's journey toward a definitive diagnosis took a significant turn. He was referred to a hospital in Lilongwe, where he was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged and causes urinary difficulties. The diagnosis provided some clarity, but Atanazio was advised to undergo further tests to rule out the possibility of malignancy. Thankfully, the results returned negative, offering relief in an otherwise turbulent period. Despite the positive news, Atanazio’s struggles were far from over. His financial situation had declined, and despite numerous hospital visits, he was repeatedly told that surgical treatment was not available at the time. Last month, after suffering from acute urinary retention, Atanazio’s family made the difficult decision to travel once again, this time to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. They gathered funds from their savings and from relatives who wished him well in the hopes that a solution would finally be within reach. At Nkhoma Hospital, a cystoscopy procedure was performed, allowing the surgeons to develop a clear treatment plan. Physicians at Nkhoma Hospital determined that Atanazio should undergo a prostatectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on March 6th and, once completed, it will alleviate his uncomfortable symptoms, giving him the opportunity of a better life. "After this surgery, I believe my life will improve. I will no longer be in constant pain, and I will finally have the strength to work again and provide for my family. I am hopeful that I can return to the farm and live the life I once had without the burden of illness holding me back," said Atanazio.

Sovannara is an 8th-grade student and the only child in his family. He lives with his 80-year-old grandmother, two aunts, two uncles, and four cousins in Prey Veng province. His mother works as a garment factory worker in Phnom Penh, while his father passed away years ago. Sovannara enjoys studying Khmer and dreams of becoming a teacher when he grows up. His favorite meal is traditional sour soup, and he loves playing with his cousins during his free time. Sovannara was born with a small skin mark on his left knee. Over the years, this mark gradually developed into a mass, and he began experiencing pain, especially when walking. In the past week, the area became tender and painful. He was diagnosed with a hemangioma on his left knee, a benign growth made up of blood vessels. In his case, the hemangioma has become infected, and a necrotic lesion has developed. Due to the pain and swelling, Sovannara now finds it difficult to move around and walk comfortably on his own. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is helping Sovannara receive the treatment he needs. He is scheduled to undergo an excision procedure to remove the hemangioma on April 24th. This procedure will cost $726, and Sovannara and his family need your support. The cost will cover the surgery, hospital stay, medications, physiotherapy, and follow-up care. Sovannara said, “I want to walk without pain in my knee and hope the mass stops growing.”

Sineth is an 18-year-old plantation worker from Cambodia. He lives with his family in Kampong Cham province and works on a coconut plantation. Sineth and his family extract and boil coconut meat to produce coconut oil for sale. In the evenings, he enjoys playing soccer with other workers. In July 2023, he was involved in a traffic collision on a motorbike. He fell on his left shoulder and hit his head hard, losing consciousness. When he awoke, he was unable to move his left arm and had a fracture of his right wrist. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He has no movement of his arm, along with pain, numbness, and lack of muscle control. Sineth traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On April 26th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to have use of his left arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Sineth said, "I hope the doctors can fix my arm so I can use it to work and help support my parents."

Mai is a 46-year-old mother from Thailand. She resides with her husband, and son in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. She works as a seamstress, her husband sells snacks and her son is a tutor. Mai has been unwell since 2015 and doctors advise her to undergo a hysterectomy. If left untreated, Mai's pain and symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Mai said, "I felt very happy when I found out that Watsi would support my treatment. Thank you so much for your assistance. It means a lot to me and my family.”

Axel, who is a five year old kindergartener, lives with his parents in La Paz, Bolivia. His mother is studying engineering, while his father works in construction. Axel was born with a coronary fistula, a rare condition in which a hole exists between one of the arteries on the outside of the heart, and one of the chambers of the heart. Because of this condition, blood leaks through the hole, weakening Axel, because his heart does not receive sufficient blood flow. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is here to help Axel access the treatment that he needs. On September 12th, doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will sew the hole closed, so that blood can no longer leak through it. After surgery, Axel should be able to go on to live a strong and healthy life. Now Axel and his family need your help to fund this procedure, which will cost $1,500. Axel's mother said: "Our family is very happy to know that our son was chosen for surgery, and we are praying that everything will go well!"

Jackson is a 28-year-old young man from Kenya. He is the second born in a family of three children and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, which caused paralysis on one side of his body. He lives with his parents in a rural county. His father is a pastor at a small church in their hometown, and his mother is a homemaker. He loves to learn and was sponsored to take a computer-networking course at a local technical institute in the capital city. On July 29th, Jackson was involved in a road traffic accident that caused a fracture on his left leg. He was hit by a speeding vehicle along a busy highway as he was trying to cross the road. He was rushed to a nearby local hospital where an x-ray revealed a broken bone that needed surgery. He had a cast applied and requested to return to the facility once he raised the amount needed for the surgery. Jackson is currently confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk on his own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. On August 3rd, Jackson will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The procedure will relieve him of pain and help him walk easily again. He will also be able to resume his studies. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Jackson says, “I can feel the bones pricking my legs from the inside. I cannot walk, and I am in pain. I have so far missed my classes because of the accident.”

Suy is a 56 year-old rice farmer who lives in Kampong Speu province with his wife and youngest son. His other two sons live nearby, and also work as rice farmers. In his free time, Suy enjoys gardening - including growing fruits and vegetables - and looking after his chicken coop at home. Fifteen years ago, Suy had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind his ear drum. As a result, Suy experiences ear discharge, pain, and hearing loss. He has tried various medications and natural remedies, but nothing has worked. Suy sought help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 17th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure on his right ear, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $926 to cover the cost of the procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Suy shared: "I hope I can solve this problem in my ear so I can hear better and stop worrying all the time."

Meet 42-year-old Khin who lives with her husband in Thailand. Both Khin and her husband work in a wool factory. In March 2023, Khin felt overwhelmingly tired. She received an injection at a local clinic, but she didn't feel any better. A few days later she became dizzy, and fainted. Subsequently, she developed back pain and gastrointestinal issues. She has now been diagnosed with a myoma - or uterine fibroid - and advised to have her uterus and cervix surgically removed, to prevent future health complications. Khin is scheduled to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy on May 25th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once she has recovered, Khin's overall health should improve, and she will be free of the pain that currently lives with. Khin said: “When I first heard that I would need surgery, I felt stressed because I have no money. But when I learned that I have a donor, I felt relieved. In the future, I will continue to work in the factory.”

Ly is a 48-year-old rice farmer living with her two sons and two daughters in Kandal province in Cambodia. Ly was widowed six years ago and, ever since their father's death, the oldest two children work as motorcycle and bicycle repairmen to help their mother provide for the family. One year ago, Ly suffered from an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. As a result, Ly experiences ear discharge, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Despite using ear drops, Ly has not seen any improvement in her condition, and now she has also developed polyps. It is difficult for her to hear or communicate with others. Ly traveled to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, hoping to be treated. On May 9th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy on her right ear at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $926 to fund this procedure and all of the necessary medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Ly said: "After surgery, I will be able to hear and the ear discharge will stop."

Hser is a 30-year-old midwife from Burma. She lives with her husband and eight other colleagues in the staff housing of the clinic she works at. Hser is a midwife, and her husband is a medic. In her free time, she enjoys going fishing with her husband and friends, weaving Karen clothes, and visiting the villagers nearby. Around June 2020, Hser felt she had a mass. Thinking it was not serious, she did not go to a hospital for treatment until April 2022. At the hospital, a doctor gave her medication for three months, but the mass did not decrease in size. Currently, Hser's experiences uncomfortable symptoms from the mass. Hser sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on March 8th. Hser needs help raising $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Hser said, "I am married, but I don’t plan to have children yet because my husband and I are both busy working as health workers for our community. So, I am very worried that I won't be able to have children anymore because of my condition. However, I have a loving and kind husband who understands me in every way, and he told me not to worry and feel sad. We cannot help but stay strong, helping and encouraging each other."

Sok is a 64-year-old clothes seller from Cambodia. He has five children and eight grandchildren. His wife recently passed away, so he currently lives on his own. To make a living, Sok sells clothes at a local market, but when he is not working he stays home and listens to news on the radio. Five years ago, Sok developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, photophobia, and itchiness. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sok learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there seeking treatment. On July 8th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Sok shared, "I hope I can see well after surgery so that I can work by myself more. I also hope my children do not worry about me and I can take care of myself again."

Kyomuhangi is a 45-year-old farmer from Uganda. She is married and a mother to four children; three sons and one daughter. One of her sons is in the capital Kampala working, and the rest are still in school. Her eldest daughter is married and is a small scale farmer. Kyomuhangi herself dropped out of school at primary seven and never proceeded due to lack of school fees. Currently, she and her husband both earn a living from small scale farming. They grow food crops like beans, maize and groundnuts both for consumption and sale to earn for their family. Four years ago, Kyomuhangi started experiencing lower abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with chorionic pelvic uterine myoma undergoing degeneration. A myoma is a non-cancerous tumor, and Kyomuhangi needs to have it removed. As such, she will undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Kyomuhangi's surgery. On February 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Kyomuhangi will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain she has been experiencing. Kyomuhangi shared, “Over the past four years, I have been suffering, but am now glad that I was oriented to the support [Watsi] offers. I pray that you can help me undergo my surgery so that I can have good health once again and resume with farming so that I can support my family.”