Antonio is a 60-year-old man from Philippines, married with three children. He works as a driver at a local government unit and earns about $173 a month. Last year, Antonio began having troubling symptoms, including pain in the abdominal area that radiated through his lower back. He went to the hospital for consultation and was diagnosed with chronic calculous cholecystitis, which is an ongoing swelling and inflammation of the gall bladder. Antonio has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen, putting him at risk for further health complications in the future and threaten his ability to earn an income. On April 29th, Antonio is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy through our partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Antonio needs help in raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Antonio says, "I am very grateful to be a beneficiary of Watsi. This will help me recover from my condition without being in monetary debt. Thank you very much for this opportunity."

10 year old Nicholas lives with his parents and two younger siblings in Kenya. His parents are farmers, who produce small cash crops of vegetables, maize and beans, which provide income for the family. In December, Nicholas fell out of a neighbor's mango tree, sustaining injuries to both of his hands and arms, and to his left thigh. X-rays showed that both of his arms were fractured, and the doctors also found an open wound on his thigh where the bone protruded through the skin. After undergoing numerous procedures, and infections that required multiple treatments, Nicholas, who is currently bedridden and in pain, is finally ready to have his fractured femur surgically repaired. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,145 to fund Nicholas' surgery, which is scheduled to take place on January 15th, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. After he has recovered, Nicholas will be able to walk again without pain. Nicholas' mother says: “My son has been unwell for quite a while. I hope he gets well and will be able to go back to school after treatment.”

Ork is a 60-year-old retired construction worker. He is widowed with five children and one grandchild. Ork's four daughters are married and have moved out to surrounding villages. He currently lives with his son, daughter-in-law, and newborn grandchild. His son, a construction worker, shoulders the responsibility of providing for his family. Ork's daughter-in-law works in a nearby garment factory but is taking several months of leave to care for their newborn. Ork enjoys watching TV, listening to monks pray on the radio, and looking after his grandchild. Around ten years ago, Ork developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him to tear often and have blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Ork learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 11th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Ork said, “I hope after surgery I will be able to go to the pagoda by myself. I want to be able to do things on my own and help to take care of my family."