Krouss is a four-year-old boy from Haiti who was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis. One of the valves of his heart is too small to allow blood to adequately pass through. As a result, oxygen does not reach his body in sufficient quantities, leaving him sickly and weak. Krouss needs surgery to ensure he can grow up healthy, and without further complications from his heart condition. Surgeons will insert a balloon inside the valve and inflate it to stretch the valve open. Depending on the result, he may or may not then need an open-heart procedure. The treatment will cost $6,500, however Health City Cayman Islands has subsidized part of the treatment. Through Watsi, $1,500 will cover the cost of overseas preparation and transportation for Krouss and one parent as the surgery will be performed in the Cayman Islands. Krouss lives with his mother and father, and he is their first child. His father is a security guard and his mother sells goods in the local market. He is a very intelligent boy and has already learned to read, and is looking forward to starting school next year. "I am most excited about getting to go on a plane ride," Krouss shared excitedly.

Ashraf is a cute 15-week-old boy living in Tanzania with his parents, who are small scale farmers, and two siblings. "Ashraf is an active baby. He feeds well and likes to move his arms and legs around," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Ashraf has congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain at birth. AMHF tells us, "If not treated, Ashraf is at risk of losing his vision and a big and heavy head will not allow Ashraf to sit, crawl, stand or walk. Although it is at a small rate, Ashraf’s head is increasing in size." Ashraf’s mother first noticed that he had a serious medical condition when he was six weeks old. "Ashraf’s mother noticed her son’s head was unusually soft and the blood vessels were too visible on his forehead," continues AMHF. "His parents rely on growing and selling maize and beans. With two children going to school, coming up with enough money to pay for the surgery which Ashraf needs has been a challenge." The surgical procedure to drain excess fluid from Ashraf's brain costs $775. After treatment, AMHF expects, "Ashraf will be out of the risk of losing his eyesight and he will continue with normal development." "We love our son dearly and we hope that he will get better, grow up like his siblings and later on have the ability to go to school,” shares Ashraf’s mother.

Eleven-month-old Leah is a little girl who lives with her parents and six siblings in Kenya. "Leah has a mass swelling at the back of her head," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "A feather light touch on the growth that is protruding from baby Leah’s head sends her into a fit of tears and loud cries of pain." Leah has an occipital encephalocele, sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranes that cover it through openings in the skull. These defects are caused by failure of the neural tube to close completely during fetal development. “If not treated,” AMHF tells us, “Leah may have mental and growth retardation, seizures, and uncoordinated movement of voluntary muscles such as walking and reaching.” Leah needs an encephalocoele repair. The surgeon will remove the herniated sac and repair the opening in the skull. "Closure of the open skin defect will prevent infection and extreme dryness of brain tissue," AMHF explains. Leah’s parents do not earn enough money to pay for medical care for their daughter. Her father is a security guard for the neighborhood and her mother stays home. For $780, Leah can undergo encephalocoele repair, stay in the hospital to recover, and receive medicine to prevent infection. "I sometimes wonder how I can handle my little Leah without hurting the swell on the back of her head. It's unavoidable at times, especially when placing a cap on her head. Her cries tell how painful it is for her and this breaks my heart," Leah's mother shares. "I have no means to pay for Leah’s surgical care and would not like to have her go through all this pain for long. Please help her get treated."