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.”

Naw Ree is a 49-year-old woman from Thailand. Naw Ree has lived by herself in a refugee camp in northern Thailand since 2009. As a camp resident, Naw Ree receives 243 baht (approx. $8 USD) each month from an organization that supports refugee camp residents. She also works as a maternal and child health worker, receiving 900 baht (approx. $30 USD) per month. Naw Ree raises chickens and grows vegetables. Despite receiving free health care services in the camp, Naw Ree is struggling to make ends meet. On December 16th, 2020, Naw Ree went to see a woman who had recently given birth, to remind her about vaccinating her baby on time. After sitting and talking to the woman in her home, Naw Ree stood up to leave but felt light headed and fell. She put out her left hand to stop her fall, and hurt her left arm. She went to the hospital in the camp, run by Malteser International [MI] Thailand, and received pain medication and her arm was put into a sling. The next day, she was referred to Mae Seriang General Hospital for further treatment. At the hospital she received x-rays and the doctor told her that she had fractured one of the bones in her left forearm. She was then referred to Chiang Mai Hospital for further treatment, but her transfer was delayed for over two weeks due to an outbreak in COVID-19 cases in northern Thailand. Since Naw Ree lives by herself, she has to cook, wash her clothes, and feed her chickens without anyone's help, a difficult feat with her broken arm. Currently, she is in pain but has no fever. She can only fall asleep if she takes pain medication. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Ree will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for January 6th and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Naw Ree will no longer be in pain. She will be able to go back to work as a health worker and she will be able to complete her household chores without pain or discomfort. Naw Ree shared, "My greatest wish is that I recover and that I may be able to use my left arm again."

Beatrice is a young student from Kenya. She is a calm girl and the seventh born in a family of eight children. Her family hails from Mokoyon village in West Pokot County. Beatrice's father is a farmer while her mother is a housewife. They live in a one roomed grass thatched house in their village. Beatrice has clubfoot of her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Beatrice traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on November 23th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Beatrice's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily, play, and wear shoes like the other children she knows. “We are requesting for support so that her foot can be corrected and she can continue with her normal life,” Julius, Beatrice’s father told us.

Theavy is a 31-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. She has two brothers, two sisters, and enjoys listening to music, cooking, and watching television in her free time. When she was seven years old, Theavy fell from her bike and hit her head on the pavement. Since the age of twelve, she started developing a tumor-like growth on her left cheek where she fell, which has been diagnosed as fibrous dysplasia. This condition can weaken the affected bone, sometimes leading to fractures and other pain and discomfort. Theavy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and surgeons at CSC will perform a tumor excision procedure to help her feel more comfortable and confident. Now, she needs help to fund this $606 procedure. Theavy shared, "I hope that I will feel better after my surgery and that my face will look symmetrical again."