Emmy is a 36-year-old taxi driver. He is a father of 4 school-aged children. After completing high school, he had difficulty raising funds for college despite the desire to join university. He enrolled in a driving school and was later hired as a taxi driver. His wife is a farmer and their family of 6 lives in a 2 bedroom semi-permanent house. For 6 years, Emmy has had left inguinal hernia. The hernia causes him pain especially when he strains. Fortunately, on January 25th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Emmy's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Emmy says “I have been with this pain for quite a long time, I could have undergone surgery so long ago but I have always been let down by finances, I surely need and am grateful for your support for the success of my surgery.”

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.”

Oun is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer. She lives in Pursat province, revered as one of the holiest sites of Cambodian Buddhism. Her husband died of lung disease many years ago, so she lives with her son, his wife and her grandchildren, who are all rice farmers. When not helping out in the house, she likes visiting the local pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Four years ago, Oun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her tearing, blurry vision, and photophobia. Oun has to spend her days inside the house due to light sensitivity from her cataract, and she cannot do what she normally likes to do. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, doctors will perform phacoemulsification and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Oun said: "I hope my eye can be fixed, so I can continue to spend time with my family and recognize faces."