Keol is a three-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He is the third child in his family and lives with his parents and two brothers. His father sells vegetables to support the family, while his mother is a housewife. He is very sociable and loves playing with his older brother. When Keol was a month old, his parents noticed a swelling in his groin area. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. Keol was then placed on a waiting list for surgery. The three-month wait has been a difficult and uncertain period for the family, particularly for his mother, who shared that she reached out to others around her for reassurance during this time. Keol's parents finally got the call they had been waiting for, and were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Keol's surgery has been scheduled for May 4th, and once completed, will allow Keol to live a healthier life. Now, Keol's family needs help to fund this $512 procedure. Keol’s father said, "Thanks to Jesus Christ and the donors. I continue to hope and pray for Keol, and I truly believe he’s in a good condition.”

Ashley is a four-year-old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and one younger sister in an agricultural village in central Haiti. Her parents both work as farmers and raise animals. Ashley likes listening to music on the radio and singing in church. Ashley has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels next to her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Ashley will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which doctors will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole in her heart, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for the surgery. Ashley's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Ashley's family overseas. Ashley's mother said: "We will be so happy when we can stop worrying so much about our daughter's health!"

Srey Nith is a 35-year-old woman from Cambodia. She lives with her husband, who works as a laborer. They have one son who is a kindergarten student and is cared for by her parents. She is the fourth of six siblings, and all of her siblings are married and live in nearby villages. In her free time, she cleans the yard and reads literature. Thirteen years ago, Srey Nith fell from a tree while picking fruit and injured her hip. She developed avascular necrosis of her right hip, a condition where the blood supply to the ball-shaped part of the thigh bone is disrupted, leading to bone death. She has undergone several surgeries, including a right hip replacement, but she continues to suffer from chronic infections in the hip prosthesis. She experiences pain and is unable to walk without support, and cannot sit comfortably for long periods. She now seeks further treatment to regain mobility and reduce pain. Srey Nith was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), by another hospital and traveled four hours to seek care. She will undergo surgery on January 23rd. She is able to contribute $12.50 toward the cost of treatment and needs help to raise $1,488 more. The costs include a special prosthesis, surgery, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Srey Nith said, “After the surgery, I want to be able to move and sit comfortably again so I can go back to my job and earn an income for my family.”

Samalani is a 40-year-old driver from Malawi. He is married with three children and works hard to provide for his family, although his health has recently hampered his efforts. In early 2024, Samalani was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. Over time, the swelling has become more frequent and is now associated with pain around the affected area. With proper treatment, Samalani hopes to regain his productivity and continue fulfilling his role as a responsible father and provider for his family. Fortunately, on April 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Samalani is able to contribute to his treatment, but needs $575 more to fund the procedure. He says, "Surgery will provide me the opportunity for a healthier life. Your support will help me to continue taking good care of my family."

Nalin is a 78-year-old retired tailor from Phnom Penh from Cambodia. She is widow whose husband died during Khmer Rouge, and has three children and 13 grandchildren. She lives with her youngest daughter who is a house maker. At home, she enjoys listen to the monks' sermon on the radio and take care of her grandchildren. Nalin is diabetic, and about a month ago, her right eye's retina detached, causing her blurred vision, redness and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Nalin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On February 25th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Nalin needs help to fund this $706 procedure. She says: "I hope that after my surgery, my eye will be able to see better than now. I look forward to being able to recognize places, and walk on my own.

Eimy is a newborn baby from Bolivia. She lives with her two older brothers, her mother who is a homemaker, and her dad who works as a roofer. When Eimy was born, her mom noticed that her face looked blue, she was breathing fast, and could not breastfeed well. Eimy was diagnosed with a cardiac condition called transposition of the great arteries. The two major arteries connected to the heart are attached to the heart in an anatomically abnormal configuration, meaning that blood cannot flow normally through the heart and body. Doctors explained that she needed urgent surgery. On May 19th, Eimy will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will detach the two arteries and reattach them in their normal positions, so that blood can flow normally. Eimy's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Eimy's mother says: "I have so many feelings right now, but I trust that my baby will have a successful surgery. I am so grateful to be here."

Neary is a resilient widow and devoted mother of two from Cambodia. She is a 52-year-old grocery seller from Pursat Province who lives with her daughter. Her husband passed away six years ago due to an illness. She has two children—her son is a police officer, and her daughter is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and planting vegetables around her home. In 2022, Neary was involved in a motorcycle accident that caused a fracture of her left femur. After the accident, she received treatment at a clinic in Pursat Province, where doctors performed internal fixation surgery and implanted hardware to stabilize the fracture. In 2023, after a proximal screw broke, she underwent another procedure to remove the broken screw and replace it with a new one. She is now experiencing lower back pain, pain in her left leg, difficulty walking, and occasional stiffness. The non-union of her left femur has affected her mobility and causes discomfort that makes daily activities and running her grocery-selling work difficult. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 26th, Neary will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will remove the problematic top screw and use bone grafting to promote proper healing of the fracture. It will help reduce pain, improve stability, and allow her to walk more comfortably and independently again. Neary can contribute $100, but needs help raising $278 more to fund her procedure and care. Neary said, “After the surgery, I hope that my pain will be relieved and that I will be able to walk comfortably again. I hope to recover well and return to my normal daily activities without difficulty. I am very thankful to the doctors and everyone who is helping make my treatment possible.”

Jeffrey is a single parent from the Philippines who supports his two children financially as they live with their mother. After being unemployed for three months, Jeffrey recently returned to work as a call center agent. As the main provider, his health condition has added to his family's struggles. Jeffrey was also diagnosed with high cholesterol, which he believes contributed to the growth of a lump, and has since been following his doctor's advice to change his diet. Jeffrey used to wind down during his free time by playing games online to relieve stress; however, he now works a night shift and must rest during the day. Jeffrey needs to undergo a surgical procedure called a parotidectomy to treat a mass. He will undergo this surgery on May 22nd through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines. To support his health and financial stability, Jeffrey is requesting assistance raising $635 to cover the remaining cost of his treatment. Jeffrey shared that this will allow his family to focus their limited resources on their daily needs. Jeffrey said, "This free surgery means so much to me and my family. It saves us from debt, lets us focus on our daily needs, and inspires me to one day give back and help others, just like how WATSI has helped me."

Innocent is a cheerful one-year-old boy from Uganda, who brings joy to everyone around him. He loves to smile and, when he is feeling well, rarely spends a moment without expressing his happiness. He lives with his parents, who are small-scale farmers and rely on a limited income to meet their needs. Innocent is their only child, and the family has been doing their best to care for him despite financial challenges. Innocent was born with a condition known as non-palpable testis, meaning one of his testicles has not descended into the scrotum. His mother also noticed a swelling in his scrotal sac. Concerned about his condition, his parents first sought help at a local clinic, where they were advised to visit a larger hospital for specialized care. Innocent’s family was referred to our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, for further evaluation. Upon arrival, he was reviewed by doctors and underwent diagnostic imaging. The surgical team confirmed that he has right cryptorchidism (undescended testis). To correct this condition and prevent future complications, the surgeon has recommended an orchidopexy procedure to reposition the undescended testis into its proper place, improving Innocent’s long-term health and development. Fortunately, Innocent has been scheduled for corrective surgery on June 2nd at Rushoroza Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $220 to fund Innocent's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live a healthier life, and reduce the risk of infertility or testicular cancer. Innocent's mother says, "I pray to God that my son will get the support he needs to undergo the recommended surgery, so that he can live a healthier and happy life with no pain."

Heng is a 74-year-old woman from Kandal province, Cambodia. She previously worked as a grocery seller at a small booth and is now retired. She is divorced and has four daughters, one son, and ten grandchildren. Heng lives with her youngest daughter, who works in a restaurant. Her favorite hobbies are listening to the monks' sermons on her small radio. About two years ago, Heng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her vision to become severely blurry. Three months later, she became functionally blind, making it difficult for her to recognize people and move around independently. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Heng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On February 10th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund her procedure and care. Heng said, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can move around more easily, recognize people clearly, and participate in social and family gatherings."

Kiya is a five-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His parents both work as shop staff members. He is in kindergarten and has two older brothers. Kiya has dealt with chronic tonsillitis since he was one year old. Tonsillitis is a condition where the inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by viral or bacterial infections, causes a sore throat and painful swallowing. Recently, Kiya's tonsils have been enlarged, which will result in these symptoms persisting and potentially worsening over time if not treated. Kiya will undergo a tonsillectomy on April 25th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Kiya of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund this procedure. Kiya's parents shared, "We hope he will finally be able to attend school and play with his brothers without pain. We know this surgery will give him the strong physical foundation he needs to grow."

Ruth is 36 years old and a single mother of three from Malawi. She also has one grandchild from her firstborn. Ruth has experienced multiple family losses. Both of her parents and her two siblings are deceased. The only surviving relative is her uncle, who is physically disabled and fully dependent on her for care and support. She earns a living by selling tomatoes. In 2003, Ruth began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on the right side of her neck. Over time, the swelling grew bigger and began to affect her health. She developed symptoms including loss of voice, neck pain, headaches, and frequent coughing. After 15 years, she finally sought medical attention and was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement 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. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ruth receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Ruth shared, "My only hope is you; I tried all that I could, but failed. I am looking forward to your support."