Monica is a 17-year-old girl with dreams of starting her own business. “When I get better I would like to join a tailoring class and later on start my own tailoring business,” she told the staff at our partner hospital in Tanzania. Currently, Monica is struggling to complete her education in Tanzania due to genu valgus, a condition also known as “knock knees.” This means Monica’s knees bend inwards and touch when she is standing straight, and she “is unable to walk without knocking her knees,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “She often feels pain in her right knee and when the pain is severe, Monica has to use crutches to move from one point to another." Monica has been dealing with this condition since she was in primary school. AMHF says, “The condition affected her ability to walk the long distance to school, and when the pain in her knee was severe she had to miss school.” She also had to stop participating in sports that she used to enjoy, like netball and her school’s marathon team. Monica’s parents earn income for their family of five by farming and running a small kiosk selling drinks and snacks. However, “Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of their daily expenses as well as the operation which Monica needs,” reports AMHF. “If not treated, Monica will continue to be in pain and her gait will never improve.” Fortunately, for $940 Monica can receive the surgery, cast, and physical therapy necessary to heal her legs. After her operation, “Monica will be able to walk without knocking her knees,” and will thus have an “Improved gait and ability to efficiently perform various activities,” AMHF adds.

One-year-old Darwin is from rural Guatemala. "Darwin is the first and only child in the family. He loves to play with his uncle Aldair who is roughly the same age as Darwin. Together they play with toy cars and little plastic balls," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "Darwin is suffering from malnutrition and is already showing signs of developmental delays," WK says. "At 13 months he is not babbling or walking. His energy is generally low, but when he does have energy his mother says that he laughs often. Darwin’s appetite is low. He has struggled with reoccurring diarrhea, but his mother says that she is not able to afford medication." "He is far below the weight and height for his age, and our staff worries that if we don’t intervene soon his immune system will decline and he will be at higher risk of infections and illnesses, such as pneumonia," WK says. "He will be unable to develop to his full mental potential, thus limiting his ability to concentrate and go far in school. Without support, later in life Darwin will be at higher risk for chronic illness such as diabetes and hypertension." For $512, we can fund comprehensive malnutrition treatment for Darwin. "This treatment will allow Darwin to avoid the permanent effects of malnutrition. He will recoup the weight and height he has lost and begin to catch up developmentally to his peers. Deworming medication will remove the gastrointestinal infection causing his diarrhea, and he will have the chance to grow to his full potential," WK says. "He will receive nutritional support, thus allowing his brain to grow and develop normally. His immune system will strengthen and he will have more energy. His mother will be given the educational tools to prevent malnutrition in any future children she may have, and better care for Darwin and continue his treatment even after he has completed 6 months of our nutrition program. With Watsi donor support, we believe this child will fully recover." “I just wish that my son can grow well, and be healthy," his mother says. "I want him to study in school and graduate to get a profession.”