Gilbert is 65 years old and a retired secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and a father of five children. His wife is a farmer. Six years ago, Gilbert began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on his neck. He visited the hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent follicular neoplasia of the thyroid. His medical history shows that he previously had a goiter in 1978, which was surgically removed, and he remained well afterwards. In 2023, Gilbert's condition worsened. After several tests, he was then started on chemotherapy for follicular thyroid disease and completed six cycles. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for surgery and specialized care. He was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gilbert receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 7th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Gilbert shared, "My condition has brought in more pain to my retirement life, ending up draining all my resources on hospital support; kindly help me to get better and get away with the stigma around me, said Gilbert during assessment."

Thou is a 57-year-old man from Cambodia. He is single and lives with his elderly mother and his brother, who is a rice farmer. He has six siblings, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. Although they live separately, the family remains close and supports one another when needed. Because of his medical condition, he has been unable to work for about six years, and he and his elderly mother depend on family support. Thou has had a persistent wound on his left foot since 2001 after his foot was cut by a small stone. The wound gradually worsened due to nerve damage from Hansen’s disease, leading to recurrent non-healing ulcers and infection. The condition has made it difficult for him to stand, walk, or work. It limits his mobility, prevents him from working, and affects his independence in daily life. His doctors recommend an amputation of his left foot to prevent symptoms from getting worse. On March 4th, Tnhou will undergo an amputation with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. His family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $488 to fund Thou's surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Thou said, “After the surgery, I hope this treatment will help my wound heal, reduce the pain, and allow me to walk more comfortably again.”

Nilo is 48 years old and a hardworking father from the Philippines. He has two children, both of whom are in school. Four months ago, Nilo began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain in the stomach and the back. Nilo was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Nilo is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on May 2nd. A portion of the procedure's cost is being covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Nilo's surgery and care. Nilo shared, "I am deeply grateful for Watsi's help. I hope more people can receive and benefit from this opportunity."