Kalyan, a 13-year-old seventh grader, lives with her mother and brother in Kandal province in Cambodia. She enjoys studying home economics and Khmer literature and would like to be a singer when she grows up. Kalyan was born with a spinal condition called listhesis, which is an unnaturally mobile vertebra that moves, leaves its normal position, and can cause different complaints when it compresses nerves and other vertebrae. Listhesis can be caused by a bone abnormality, trauma from an accident or injury, or result from a fracture or a tumor. Pinched nerves and chronic back pain are common symptoms of this condition, as is loss of flexibility and possible paralysis. Kalyan is frequently unable to attend school due to her condition. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Specialty surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre can fuse her spine to avoid any further damage to Kalyan's back, while also alleviating her pain. Kalyan and her mother need your help to raise the $1,500 cost of the surgery, implants, hospitalization, and post-op medication. After recovery from the procedure, which is scheduled for February 7th, Kalyan's spine will be more stable, and she will be able to engage in all of the normal activities of a 13-year-old. Kalyan's mother shared: "I hope my daughter will no longer have pain and she can go back to school."

Joshua is an 8-year-old boy who has been living in a children's home since he was two years old and his mother passed away. A neighbor intervened to help him move there when it was discovered that the living conditions with his grandmother were not suitable. Since early 2020, Joshua has had an inguinal hernia, or painful bulge in the groin area. Joshua started having lower abdominal pain, and has been to several hospitals for treatment but his condition has not improved. He was recently diagnosed with an inguinal hernia at one of the facilities and surgery was recommended. The host organization was not able to raise the needed amount and so he was referred to our medical partner BethanyKids Hospital for treatment. Fortunately, on September 15th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $585 to fund Joshua's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Joshua says, "I want my pain to go away and play like my friends."

Sharon is a 23-year-old small-scale farmer from Kenya. She is married with two children, aged four years and one year old. Sharon and her husband grow and sell vegetables and take on casual labor jobs to help supplement their income. They have a three-room house for their family. A week ago, Sharon was grazing her sheep when she tripped on a root. She was located on a hill and fell from a high distance causing her to fracture her right leg. Unable to walk or stand, some neighbors heard her call for help and rushed her to the hospital. Sharon was experiencing severe pain, swelling, and skin traction on her right lower leg. She underwent an x-ray, which showed that she had a fracture on her right femur. She also underwent skeletal traction to realign the bone and keep it in place until she could undergo surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On November 29th, Sharon will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, to mend her right femur and allow her to move again. AMH is requesting $1145 to fund this procedure. Sharon says: “It’s so unfortunate that I broke my leg at a time when my children needed me the most. I am now forced to stop breastfeeding my son, who is still young, but I am grateful as I am still alive. I need your help, and I believe that someday things will get back to normal, and I will be able to be there for my family.”

Oo is a 52-year-old man from Burma, living with his wife and daughter. Oo's wife is a day laborer, while his daughter works as a salesperson in a store. Oo is unemployed because of health issues, but he enjoys growing vegetables, and guarding the entrance gate of the village. In the midst of the rainy season in July, Oo placed his belongings on a friend's bullock cart, and went to climb on top of the cart to ride. As he was preparing to climb onto the cart, it suddenly jerked forward, throwing Oo to the ground, and injuring his right arm. After a week had gone by, Oo, who was experiencing significant pain in his arm, traveled to a local free clinic, where he was given a shot to ease the discomfort. He was told that he would need to have the injury investigated further at a hospital in Yangon. In October, Oo's arm was X-rayed at the Karen Baptist Convention Hospital in Yangon, and it was determined that the bone in his arm had been broken, and had never healed properly. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Oo will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones on October 25th, at Karen Baptist Convention Hospital. This surgery will promote the complete and correct healing of the fracture, enabling Oo to lift his arm without pain, and to return to work. Oo needs your help to raise the $885 for this procedure. Oo said: “I am very worried that the doctor will not be able to treat me because I sought treatment so late. It is so difficult to go to Yangon because I live in a conflict area and there are a lot of travel restrictions."

Ryan is a 3-month-old baby from Kenya. He is the secondborn in his family of two children. His father is a farmer and does casual labor to provide for their family, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom, caring for her two children. Ryan and his family previously lived in a village in Juja, which was later demolished, leaving them without a home. Fortunately, a well-wisher, who also accompanied them to the hospital today, managed to help them relocate. One day, Ryan's family began to notice that the size of his head was increasing. Although his family took him to a hospital seeking medical treatment and a CT scan was ordered, the CT scan was never actually performed. Fortunately, a pastor from their local church recommended that they seek treatment at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. Upon arrival, a CT scan was done and Ryan was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, he has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, he will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Ryan, which will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 4th and will drain the excess fluid from Ryan's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Ryan will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Ryan's mother says, “I love my baby so much and I know he will get the treatment he deserves."

Rosalie is a 26-year-old mother of three from the Philippines. She is a full-time mom, and her husband works multiple part-time jobs to provide for their family's basic needs. Last November, Rosalie began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe upper abdominal and back pain. Her condition hinders her from doing household chores and looking after her children, and it also worries her family, as the episodes of pain have become more frequent. Rosalie was diagnosed with cholelithiasis, or gallstones, and has been advised to have surgery to remove her gallbladder. If left untreated, her 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), Rosalie is scheduled to have her gallbladder surgically removed on August 20th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $826 to cover the cost of Rosalie's surgery and care. Her husband shares, "We are incapable of financing her surgery, and we don't know where to find the money to help her. So, thank you, Watsi and World Surgical Foundation Philippines! Your support is a big help to our family."

Alice is a cheerful and talkative 63-year-old farmer from Kenya. She has seven children, with her youngest being 14 and her oldest being 40. Although she is married, Alice works to support her children alone. She and her family live on a small piece of land, half of which is reserved for a tea plantation. She grows and sells this tea in order to pay her children's school fees and provide them with their day-to-day needs. 15 years ago, Alice began experiencing troubling symptoms, including neck swelling, joint weakness, and constant fatigue. After attempting to alleviate her symptoms using herbal medication with no success, she decided to seek medical attention at a health center. The medics referred her to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, for diagnosis and treatment. Fortunately, a friend provided her with money to pay for her transportation to the hospital. Once there, she was diagnosed with bilateral non-toxic multinodular goiter, meaning she has multiple lumps located within her thyroid glands. In order to stop her symptoms and prevent them from worsening, she must undergo surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), is helping Alice receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 15th at AMHF's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This surgery will cost $936, and Alice and her family need help raising money. Alice says, “I would like to see my children achieve their dreams. I look forward to getting well to continue providing for and supporting them. Kindly help me.”

Samorn is a 22-year-old soldier with one younger sister who is currently in the 10th grade at public school. Samorn's mother is a farmer and his father repairs houses in order to earn a living. In his free time, Samorn enjoys singing, listening to music, exercising, and playing football. On April 10th, Samorn was in a motorcycle accident. He hit a tree and fractured his right clavicle and ulnar, as well as injured his right shoulder. As a result of the crash, Samorn has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to move his right arm, and cannot work. Fortunately, Samorn traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. On June 7th, Samorn will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery. After he has recovered, he will be able to use his arm again and get back to work in order to help his family. Samorn was able to contribute $100 towards his medical care. Now, our partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to help fund his procedure. Samorn says, "I hope I can use my arm so I can drive and work again."

Im is a 69-year-old farmer with two sons, three daughters, and many grandchildren. Im lives with her youngest daughter. She enjoys exercising in the morning, cooking for her family, and caring for her grandchildren. She developed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the right side of her face 10 years ago. It has grown over time and has become very uncomfortable, causing itchiness and pain. She has tried applying ointment from the pharmacy and Khmer traditional medicine treatments, to no avail. When Im learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On May 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform an excision, histology, and rhomboid flap procedure to remove the skin cancer. Now, she needs help to fund this $673 procedure. Im says, "I hope my face heals and I do not experience this pain again."