Jeremiah is a young man aged 18 years from Limuru Kiambu. He is a form two student and is the second born in a family of two children. He stays with his grandparents because his mother is a single parent and traveled to Dubai where she is trying to make a living with little income. His grandparents are peasant farmers and his mother is not able to send them any money. Jeremiah has for the last five years been visiting many hospitals because of a headache and abdominal pains. He has taken many recommended drugs and undergone many tests without positive results. This has greatly affected his learning, and that is why at the age of eighteen years he is still in form two. Eventually, his grandfather decided to bring him to Watsi Medical Partner's care center Nazareth Hospital and an ultrasound showed he has a big gallstone. The surgeon advised a laparotomy but the family is not in a position to meet the surgery cost. If not treated Jeremiah will continue to experience the pain as the stone will continue to grow and may cause complications like inflammation or blockage of the gallbladder and pancreatic duct. “It has been years of pain and frequent visits to different hospitals, at one time I was even being told that I am not eating well. I really plead for help so that I can get back to my normal life and continue with my studies,” said Jeremiah.

Yon is a 66-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, but unfortunately he passed away. Yon and her husband work on a rice farm and plant vegetables surrounding their house. She likes to listen to the news on the radio and go to the pagoda to join in Buddhist ceremonies. About nine years ago, Yon developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation and tearing that prevented her from working in the rice field. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Yon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for more than four hours seeking treatment. Yon needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for May 11th. "I hope that my wife's eye irritation will go away after surgery so she will be able to better take care of herself and travel anywhere easily," Yon's husband said.

Sophal is a 63-year-old sugar cane seller from Cambodia. She has two children, five grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Sophal developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sophal learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On December 23rd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. "I hope that I will be able to see clearly and can return to my work selling sugar cane," she shared.