Meet Benta, a one-year old girl from Western Kenya. Benta lives with her mother, father, and older sibling. Her father works as a farmhand in order to earn a living and provide for the family. After noticing an abnormal growth on her lower back, Benta’s family sought medical advice and discovered that their daughter has congenital spina bifida. Congenital spina bifida is a neural condition whereby the spine grows improperly in utero, resulting in a gap between the vertebrae. As the spinal column is a major connecting site for the body’s nervous system, this can be a very serious neurological disorder if left untreated. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “Benta has a large cystic mass on the lower backbone area.” They add that intervention will play a crucial role in allowing Benta to grow healthily throughout her childhood, in addition to greatly reducing the risk of infection later in life. $805 will allow Benta to receive a spina bifida closure to remove the large cyst that is currently obstructing her spinal column. Benta will undergo a surgical operation and receive five days of hospital care in addition to postoperative physical therapy sessions. AMHF shares, “the surgery will help reduce the risk of developing infections, developing tethered cord and paralysis in her legs.” Grateful for a healthy baby girl, Benta’s father shares “I pray that our daughter gets better.”

"I have watched Roodney get sicker over the last year, and it has been scary to see. I am very excited to know he will finally have a chance for surgery!” says Roodney’s father. Roodney is an outgoing and friendly three-year-old boy from Haiti, who lives with his parents and baby brother. He likes to play games, dance, and clap his hands. Roodney was born with pulmonary atresia, a congenital heart disease where the pulmonary valve of his heart is missing. As a result, his body becomes deprived of oxygen which leaves him sick and weak. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, tells us, “this is a life-threatening condition requiring surgery to reconstruct the connection between the heart and pulmonary artery.” For $1500, HCA will provide the transportation and overseas preparation required for Roodney’s treatment. International Children’s Heart Foundation has donated $10,000 for all other treatment costs. After surgery, it is expected that Roodney’s blood oxygen levels will increase and his health will improve. Let's help make it happen!

“My hope is to one day go to school,” says Modest. Meet Modest, a seven-year-old boy from Tanzania who has a bilateral clubfoot. “Modest cannot walk properly or fast because he is using the lateral aspect of his feet for walking," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Even though he is already used to walking like that, Modest is at risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age if not treated." Modest is the youngest of four children in his family. He enjoys playing ball games, playing with cars, and playing with Lego blocks. “Modest’s parents are small-scale farmers. They rely on growing and selling maize and peanuts. Their income is not enough to cover their daily expenses as well as pay for Modest’s treatment,” says AMHF. For $1160, we can correct Modest’s clubfoot and help him achieve his dream of attending school. AMHF concludes, “Modest’s gait will improve, he will be able to walk properly and fast and the risk of developing osteoarthritis will also decrease.”

“My grandchildren are very young and are fully dependent on me and my husband. I want to get well soon so that I can continue taking care of them," says Mary. Mary is a 55-year-old mother of nine and grandmother of four from Kenya. “Mary has a lump in her left breast that is slightly painful to the touch,” shares our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Her left hand is also weaker due to swollen lymph nodes and she can no longer work long hours on her farm.” Mary and her husband own a cow and a farm where they plant potatoes, but it has been a dry season and the family cannot cover the full cost of treatment. Without treatment, the cancer is likely to spread to other organs which could lead to death. For $740, AMHF will be able to provide Mary with a mastectomy, a surgery that will remove breast tissue. With this surgery and chemotherapy, it is expected that Mary will lead a normal life and go back to working on her farm with her husband. Let’s help her out!

Meet Abdirahman, a one-year-old baby boy from Somalia. "Abdirahman has been having issues feeding, which is a common complaint for children with hydrocephalus," our medical partner Edna Adan Hospital explains to us. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the skull, which causes brain swelling. With this condition, Abdirahman is unable to sit by himself. His mother brought Abdirahman from their hometown to the hospital hoping they could help. For $640, we can pay for a surgical shunting procedure to remove excess fluid from Abdirahman's brain, which will decrease the size of his head and give him a chance to grow up healthy. "His mother was very happy to find out that more treatment was available!" his doctors say.

“This is our first born and we want the best for her. We hope to see her able to walk properly and not miss out on opportunities because of her foot,” said Ajanati’s mother. Meet Ajanati, a happy, seven-month-old girl from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, reports, “Ajanati has a congenital deformity of the left foot. If not treated, Ajanati will use the lateral aspect of her left foot for walking, which will be painful and affect her gait.” It also puts her at risk of osteoarthritis later in life. “Ajanati’s mother is a home maker and her father makes clay blocks which are used for building houses. As much as they want to help their baby girl, finance has been an obstacle,” continues African Mission Healthcare Foundation. For $1160, we can correct Ajanati’s clubfoot. African Mission Healthcare Foundation expects the treatment to allow Ajanati to walk on both feet without any pain and her chances of developing early osteoarthritis will also decrease. Ajanati can continue being the happy child she is.

“It is healthier to deliver in safe hands where the mother and the baby can be easily helped in case of any complication during delivery,” shares 33-year-old Judith, who is pregnant with her sixth child. Judith lives in Kenya with her husband, a small-scale farmer who also works at the local sugar cane milling site. Her close friends describe her as “friendly and fun,” according to our medical partner, Lwala Community Alliance (LCA). In her free time, Judith enjoys “eating local vegetables.” $290 ensures that Judith and her baby have proper and safe prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. Watsi donors, let’s help them out!

Miraa is a one-year-old boy living with his parents and two older siblings in Tanzania. His father tends to a few cattle and works as a shop keeper, while his mother takes care of the family at home. Our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tell us, “Miraa is a quiet and very shy boy. He likes being close to his mother. In the afternoon when the sun is shining and his mother is relaxing in the sun with the other mothers, he likes to sit a short distance from his mother playing with other children.” Miraa was born with unilateral club foot. Club foot is a congenital condition in which the foot appears to have been rotated inward at the ankle. AMHF explains, “His left foot deformity will affect his gait if not treated, and Miraa will also have an increased risk of developing early osteoarthritis of the small bones.” “Miraa is my only son and I want him to be able to herd his father’s cattle when he grows up and be like other boys; walk and run properly,” Miraa’s mother tell us. For $1,160 we can fund the treatment to correct Miraa's club foot so he can walk normally for the rest of his life. Let's do it!

This handsome face belongs to Elvis, a one-year-old little boy from Guatemala. He lives with his parents and older brother, Henry. Interestingly, this family is no stranger to Watsi! Henry was a patient in the past, and Watsi is excited to continue to provide “family based care” to this deserving family! Like his brother, Elvis was born with blocked tear ducts in both eyes. This means that his eyes are constantly irritated and that his tears do not drain properly. In addition to being a cosmetic issue, this leads to frequent painful infections of the tear ducts. For $1,500 Elvis can receive bilateral tear duct surgery, as well as the associated lab work, medications and transportation to and from the hospital. Successful surgery should allow Elvis’ tear ducts to drain normally, which will alleviate the pain and discomfort he is experiencing. Additionally, his appearance will improve. Let's help this family for a second time and give Elvis the same care we gave to his older brother!