Serey is an engineering student from Cambodia. He has three other siblings, and likes to do research and play sports in his free time. When he was nine years old, Serey had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Serey experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, headaches, and pain. It is difficult for him to hear others and often finds it a challenge to understand and communicate. Serey traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 9, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. He says, "I hope surgery will allow me to hear again and for the infection to go away."

Roodolph is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents in a small city in northwestern Haiti. He is their first child. He likes playing with cars and going to church. Roodolph has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Roodolph will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On April 17, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in his heart, and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $18,000 to pay for surgery. Roodolph's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Roodolph's family overseas. His mother says, "We are very excited for Roodolph to have this surgery so that he can be healthy and active!"

Zaw is a 15-year-old boy who lives with his mother and his 11-year-old brother in Burma. Both Zaw and his brother are students, but Zaw stopped attending when his health deteriorated. Zaw has been diagnosed with atrial septal defect, which means there is a hole in his heart. He needs to undergo heart surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, surgery is scheduled for March 12. Now, his family needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure.

Mi is a 47-year-old woman who lives with her husband and elderly mother in a village in Hpa-an Township, Karen State, Burma. While she looks after her mother and their house, her husband works as a subsistence farmer on their small piece of land. Mi also has a daughter who works in a textile factory in Bangkok. Around three years ago, Mi started to experience what she thought were muscles aches. Later, the muscle aches developed into back pain in the area around her left kidney. For one year, she took pain killers. Later, an x-ray indicated that she had a renal stone in her left kidney. Mi decided to visit our medical partner's care center. Now, she needs surgery to remove her kidney. Surgery is scheduled for February 4 and will cost $1,500. “I just want to recover, go back and look after my mom and the house,” says Mi.

Joseph is a farmer and motorbike taxi operator from Kenya. He is a father of four children. On Christmas, Joseph collided with an oncoming vehicle while riding his motorcycle. He sustained fractures of the tibia and femur, as well as a hip injury. He is not able to walk or move and is also in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 12, Joseph will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Joseph says, “My prayer is to walk out of the hospital with energy and be able to provide for my family. Kindly help me out."

Ephantus is a father of two children from Kenya. In September 2016, he was in a bad road accident. He has already undergone three surgeries to treat his injuries. However, he still has an unhealed fracture on his left tibia. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 15, Ephantus will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Ephantus says, “My prayer is to be able to walk with ease and help my wife raise our family."

Tanica is a student from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her parents and three siblings. She is in the third grade and likes reading and art. Tanica has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. On October 10, she will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in her heart. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Tanica's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. Her mother says, "We would like to say thank you to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our daughter!"

Wilson is a laborer from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of three. About three weeks ago, Wilson fell from a house and hit his left leg, causing a small cut. He was taken to a dispensary, where the cut was sutured. Later, he developed severe pain and was diagnosed with a femur fracture. He is not able to walk on his own, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 11, Wilson will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will helo him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure. “I have had so much pain and suffering. I hope Watsi will accept to assist me so that I can be well," says Wilson.

Faith is a woman from Kenya. She is a housewife, while her husband is a security guard. They have three children and live in rural eastern Kenya. Three years ago, Faith suffered a toothache that left her with a small swelling on her left mandible. She visited different local hospitals, where she was given medication with no proper diagnosis. In February 2018, Faith and her husband came to our medical partner's care center, and she underwent a minor surgery to remove the swelling. However, the surgeon noted that the benign cyst was not fully removed. If not treated fully, Faith risks developing further complications. Fortunately, Faith will undergo a mandibulectomy on August 21. Now, she needs help raising $1,500 to fund surgery. Faith says, “My hope is to have the swell subdued and the risk of further complications reduced."

Damaclin is an infant from Kenya. Her mother sells groceries, while her father is a security guard. Damaclin was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Damaclin is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Damaclin's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 11. This procedure will hopefully spare Damaclin from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory.

Hla is a 35-year-old woman from Thailand. She is originally from Karen State, Burma but moved to Thailand when she was 12 years old. She lives with her 11-year-old son. She sells vegetables, which she picks on different farms around Mae Sot. In June, Hla had an accident while she was riding a bicycle with her son from school. She is now suffering with pain in her arm. Her left forearm and fingers are swollen, and she is unable to move and use them properly. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Hla will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for June 8 and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Hla will be able to return home. She says, “I am worried that soon I might not be able to pay rent for our house anymore. Also, I am worried about my arm. I hope that I will be able to use it again in the future, so that I can go back to work and support me and my son.”