Lydia is a 78-year-old woman from Uganda and has raised 7 children (the youngest of which is 27 years old). Both Lydia and her husband are small-scale farmers. She lives in a four-bedroom home with her husband and several family members. For over a year, Lydia has suffered from a right inguinal hernia. She has pain and swelling in her abdomen that has worsened over time. Even with the increasing pain, she has continued to tend to her farm, as she needs the produce and income to support herself and her family. Lydia underwent a thyroidectomy in December 2021, which Watsi helped to fund. While the hernia existed at the time, the thyroidectomy took priority as it was a more urgently needed procedure. Fortunately, on February 16th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery by surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), at their care center, Rushoroza Hospital. AMH is requesting $170 to fund Lydia's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Lydia says, “My prayer is to get well, and I believe I will be well after surgery so that I may be able to continue farming comfortably.”

Hoeung is a 64-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife, and has retired from rice farming due to poor vision. At home, he enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Seven years ago, Hoeung developed a pterygium in his right eye. 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. He experiences itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. He also has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Hoeung learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 15th, surgeons at CSC will remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. Now, he needs help raising $225 to fund his procedure, medications, supplies and inpatient care for two days. Hoeung shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can feel comfortable, and I can go outside again."

Meet Dennis, a 12 year old boy living in Kenya with his parents and two younger siblings. When Dennis isn't in school - where math is his favorite subject - he enjoys playing with friends and reading books. Dennis' father works as a casual laborer, while his mother is a housewife. Dennis was healthy at birth, but at the age of two, his left foot started to bend inwards. His parents brought him to numerous hospitals, but his condition remained unresolved. This is very frustrating for Dennis, who has to walk on tiptoes, and is in pain when he walks. Doctors at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, diagnosed Dennis with a clubfoot. Now he is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AIC Cure International Hospital on January 16th. This procedure which will allow Dennis to wear shoes and to walk with ease. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,286 to fund Dennis' life changing procedure. “Our joy will be to see Dennis walking and playing like other children,” Dennis’s mother told us.