Khon is 73 years old and a retired rice farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has two daughters, one son, and five grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who still works as a farmer, and one of their grandsons, who is a student. The family's primary financial support comes from their youngest daughter, who works in a garment factory. In her free time, Khon enjoys listening to monks' prayers on the radio. About a year ago, Khon developed a cataract in her left eye. This condition gradually caused itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, making vision appear as if through a frosty or fogged-up window. As her eyesight worsened, Khon struggled to recognize faces, distinguish colors, and see clearly. She also became fearful of falling while walking, leaving her unable to travel independently or carry out many daily activities. When Khon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On July 24th, she is scheduled to undergo a phacoemulsification cataract surgery with implantation of an intraocular lens in her left eye. This procedure is expected to restore her vision, allowing her to regain her independence and return to daily life with confidence. Khon now needs $263 to cover the cost of her surgery and care. Khon shared, "I hope after surgery, my eye can see clearly, I can recognize my relatives, and go out well. I don’t worry about my eye anymore."

Srey Neang is a 22-year-old factory worker from Prey Veng, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers, and is the middle child of three siblings. Before her injury, she worked to help support her family. In her free time, she enjoyed listening to music and watching movies. In April 2025, Srey Neang was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that caused an open fracture of her left femur. She lost consciousness for about 12 hours and was hospitalized for two weeks. Over the past year, she has undergone 10 surgeries, but the fracture became infected and developed chronic osteomyelitis. During her most recent operation, doctors placed an external fixator and antibiotic bone cement to control the infection. Despite these treatments, she continues to have drainage from the pin sites, a large bone defect in her left femur, pain, and difficulty walking. Srey Neang was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for specialized care. On July 17th, she will undergo surgery to remove the antibiotic bone cement, perform bone grafting, reconstruct the femur with an external frame, and perform an osteotomy to gradually restore the missing bone. This complex limb reconstruction aims to eliminate the infection, promote new bone growth, improve her ability to walk, and help her return to work. However, she cannot afford the full cost of treatment and needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $483 more to fund her procedure and care. Srey Neang said, “After so many surgeries, I never gave up hope. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope this treatment will finally help my leg heal so I can walk again, return to work, and enjoy a normal life.”

Rashidah is a 26-year-old single mother of two children from Gomba District in Uganda. She is the sole provider for her family, and earns a living through small-scale farming. Rashidah and her children live in a modest one-room mud house, and the little income she earns is only sufficient to meet their basic daily needs, leaving no savings for specialised medical care. About two years ago, Rashidah noticed a swelling on the front of her neck. Over time, the swelling has progressively increased in size and has brought on troubling symptoms including persistent headaches, difficulty carrying heavy loads, and discomfort due to pressure on her airway making it difficult to breathe comfortably and perform her routine farming activities. Rashidah first sought medical care at a hospital close to her home. Although she was evaluated, she was unable to receive the required treatment because she could not afford the medical expenses. With no other option, she returned home discouraged and uncertain about her future. While travelling back from Gombe Hospital, Rashidah met a former beneficiary of the Watsi program, who encouraged her to seek specialised treatment at the hospital. Determined, Rashidah gathered all her savings and embarked on the long journey to Rushoroza Hospital. She travelled for over 10 hours by public transport, crossing over 15 districts before reaching the hospital in search of hope and healing. Upon arrival, Rashidah was warmly received by the medical team, and underwent thorough clinical assessments and investigations. She was diagnosed with a goitre, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The attending surgeon recommended a thyroidectomy as the definitive treatment. Unfortunately, Rashidah is unable to afford the cost of the recommended surgery. As a single mother surviving on subsistence farming, she has exhausted all her available resources simply reaching the hospital. She has no health insurance, no stable income, and no family financial support to enable her to undergo surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rashidah receive treatment. On July 23rd, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising the funds. Rashidah says, "Every day, I worry that the swelling in my neck will continue to grow and make it harder for me to breathe and care for my children. I travelled many hours with the little money I had because I believed there was still hope. I humbly ask for your support to help me receive this surgery, regain my health, and continue raising my children. Your kindness will give my family a new beginning."