Mao is a 52-year-old grandmother from Kompong Chhnang province in Cambodia. She is married and has two sons, four daughters, and nine grandchildren. She earns a living by selling packaged food in her local market and her husband is a police officer. In her free time, she likes to watch the news and check her Facebook. Three years ago, Mao developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness and tearing. 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 Mao learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. on February 9th, Mao will undergo treatment to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. Mao needs help raising the $225 to fund her medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Mao said, "I hope after surgery I can feel better and take care of my grandchildren."

Florah is a 45-year-old mother of three from the Rukingiri district in southwestern Uganda. Her eldest son is awaiting to join college, while the youngest is in primary 6. Both she and her husband are small-scale farmers who grow food crops for home consumption but often sell the surplus to generate an income. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the radio. For two years, Florah has been experiencing vaginal bleeding, backache, and lower abdominal pain with unpleasant discharge which is worsening. She has been diagnosed with multiple uterine myomas and premalignant cervical lesions and is unable to raise funds for her treatment. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Florah's surgery. On February 28th, she will undergo a hysterectomy at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Florah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Florah says “I am really in deep pain, I don’t have the money needed for my surgery and kindly, I request for your support to make my surgery possible.”

Bela is an 18-month-old girl from the Philippines, who loves listening to nursery rhymes and playing with her musical toys. She lives with her older sibling, her father, who is a businessman, and her mother, who is a homemaker. Bela was born with an anorectal malformation, which is a congenital condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate her bowel dysfunction and help her grow up healthy. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Bela access the treatment that she needs. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on January 14th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being paid for by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is looking to you to help raise $1,211 to cover the remaining cost of Bela's procedure and care. After her recovery, Bela will no longer need a colostomy, experience bowel dysfunction, or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Bela's mother said: "As a parent, I hoped she'd have a normal life, and be free from using a colostomy bag. To be honest, a huge part of our budget goes to her colostomy supplies. So this free surgery is really a big help to our family. To WATSI and World Surgical Foundation Philippines, thank you very much! We wouldn't know how to get her treated without your support."