Darius is a 20-year-old farmer from Uganda. His crops consist of tomatoes and tea, which he produces for his personal consumption as well as for sale in his community. When he is not working, he enjoys watching soccer and visiting his friends and relatives. Darius has had chronic osteomyelitis for four years now. What started as a small swelling has become a painful open sore that is chronically draining. Osteomyelitis is the result of a bacterial bone infection that can have serious implications for Darius's health if left untreated. As Darius's condition has severely impacted his ability to walk and work, he traveled 45 kilometers to our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, to seek treatment. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that Darius will require extensive procedures to rid his body of the infection. Not only will surgery be required to remove the damaged bone and skin, but he will need a long course of antibiotics to prevent further infection. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is requesting $1,205 to help fund Darius's much-needed treatment, scheduled for April 25.

Maria Eluvia is a 56-year-old mother of three who lives in rural Guatemala. In October 2016, Maria Eluvia went to the clinic of our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), after experiencing abnormal bleeding. The physicians discovered a small growth known as a polyp. These polyps often go away on their own, but after several months, the polyp was still present. Physicians have recommended a biopsy to remove the polyp and test for cervical cancer. If left untreated, there is a chance that the polyp could be cancerous and spread. WK is requesting $383 to perform the biopsy and to run the necessary tests to determine if the polyp is cancerous. Maria Eluvia is scheduled for a biopsy on March 11. Although cervical cancer is a slow-progressing and treatable disease, it is important that these tests are conducted to prevent any spreading or future complications.

Tumusiime is a 47-year-old married farmer from Uganda. Her husband is also a farmer, and together they have 10 children, some of whom are still in school. For over three months, Tumusiime has been experiencing abdominal pain associated with heavy vaginal bleeding. This condition puts her at risk of developing severe anemia and could also result in other medical difficulties. Upon visiting our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Tumusiime was diagnosed with uterine myomas, and a total abdominal hysterectomy was recommended. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $208 to cover the cost of Tumusiime's total abdominal hysterectomy, which is scheduled to take place on June 29. Once completed, the treatment will hopefully spare Tumusiime from further medical complications, allowing her to live more comfortably. "I hope to be relieved of heavy painful bleeding so as I may have good work performance at home," shares Tumusiime.

Aye is a 13-month-old baby girl from Burma. Aye was born with a meningocele, a mass on the back of her head. Over time, Aye’s mother has noticed that the mass on her daughter’s head has gradually grown. The mass hurts when touched, which causes Aye to cry often and sleep poorly. Aye underwent surgery to remove the mass, and a post-op CT scan revealed enlarged ventricles in Aye's brain. The doctor who operated on Aye wants to get a follow-up CT scan to see if any of her symptoms remain. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $693 to cover the cost of the scan, scheduled to take place on July 17.

Pascal is a 76-year-old father from Kashenyi, Uganda. Pascal and his wife are small farmers who grow coffee and tea, and live with their five children and 15 grandchildren. When not picking coffee, Pascal walks to the gardens with his grandchildren and tells them hunting stories from when he was younger. Over the past month, Pascal's prostate has become enlarged and has caused him a lot of pain. He tried taking pain relief drugs, but they didn't improve his condition. He finally visited our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, where they informed him that his prostate should be removed. Pascal is scheduled to have his prostate removed on May 3. Although he has been able to save $7.00 to supplement his treatment, he is still in need of $314 to cover the total cost of his procedure. While many men have retired at his age, after his surgery, Pascal looks forward to getting healthy and going back to work on his farm with his grandchildren again. “I thank the donors for helping pay for my surgery. I could not afford the costs due to not having a stable income or even making enough to meet my house needs. God is rewarding me for the good deeds I did in my younger days. I was not sure of what to do about the surgery,” explains Pascal.

Ban is a 67-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is married with two sons and four daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys tending to his garden and planting vegetables for the family's consumption. Ban was involved in a motor vehicle accident in July 2015, which resulted in a fracture of his left leg's tibia. Surgeons decided to place fixating hardware to heal the fracture. However, the wound did not heal properly, and thus the bone is exposed and he experiences severe limitation in ankle movement. This pain has made it extremely difficult for him to walk. Ban heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, from people in his village and traveled for four hours to receive treatment. He was diagnosed with inflammation in his tibia due to an infection caused by the hardware. Surgeons will perform a sequestrectomy procedure, which involves removal of dead portions of the bone that are causing the infection. The treatment is scheduled for June 5 and will alleviate Ban from the pain and allow him to walk easily again. He now needs help raising $224.

Gad is a 43-year-old small farmer from Uganda. He works with his wife, Phionah, to grow maize and rice. They have six children, five of whom are in school. They are very proud of this accomplishment. When not working, Gad enjoys spending time with his children and helping them with schoolwork. He is also an active member of his church. For the last five years, Gad has had to reduce the amount he works due to pain from his appendix. He is in need of surgery to remove the organ but has not been able to afford the surgery. On August 2, Gad will undergo surgery at our medical parent's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is asking for $307 to cover the cost of his surgery. “I would like to give all my appreciation to the donors for helping me with this surgery," says Gad. "I am hoping that after my surgery, I can return to supporting my family again.”

Ephel is a farmer from Malawi. She recently traveled to our medical partner’s care center, Kabudula Community Hospital. Kabudula is a rural community outside of the capital city of Lilongwe. The health catchment area serves roughly 350,000 people, but the health centers and the hospital are often poorly stocked and staffed.  One of Ephel’s teeth has been causing her bothersome symptoms. Diet is an issue for dental health in Malawi, where sugarcane is prevalent. Also, there is little to no oral health education in Malawi and limited access to a dental professional. In fact, there are fewer than 20 dentists across the country. Fortunately, a visiting dentist will perform a dental extraction. A dental extraction is a simple procedure with few risks, and it will result in a significant reduction in her symptoms. Ephel is scheduled to undergo treatment on July 17. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting just $28 to fund the procedure.

Grace is a mother of four children. Her eldest child is in high school, while the youngest is three years old. Her husband works in northern Kenya. Grace looks after the children and works as a subsistence farmer. She loves tending to her livestock and farming. Grace has had a breast lump for the past year. She has been to several hospitals but did not get a clear diagnosis. In March 2017, she decided to visit our medical partner's care center. She had a mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. If not treated, Grace will be at risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of her body, which might result in death. Fortunately, on April 4, Grace will undergo a mastectomy at AIC Kijabe Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to fund her care. Grace says, “My children are still very young. If I leave, who will take care of them? I wish to get well.”

Enock is a 68-year-old semi-retired farmer from Malawi. Enock lives with his wife and extended family, who help farm the family land. Additionally, Enock raises chickens to supplement the family income and food supply. In his free time, Enock likes to spend time with his wife and grandchildren. Since April, Enock has been experiencing difficulty urinating, which causes him much pain and distress. He has been diagnosed with prostatic hyperplasia, or the condition of an enlarged prostate. Prostate resection, which will remove part of Enock's enlarged prostate gland, is needed in order to relieve him of his pain. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund prostate surgery for Enock, which is scheduled to take place on June 29. The procedure, once completed, will hopefully allow Enock to return to his family and former lifestyle without pain and discomfort. "Thank you for the support," says Enock.

Lucy is a bright five-year-old girl from Tanzania. She enjoys playing with her friends at her orphanage. She was born with clubfoot, which means her foot is twisted. Though she underwent previous treatment, her condition has relapsed. As a result, Lucy is not able to wear shoes. Lucy's treatment includes surgery and physiotherapy and is scheduled to begin on January 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,160 to fund X-rays, medications, surgery fees, Lucy's cast, and her hospital stay. "We look forward to when Lucy has finished her treatment and is able to continue with her studies like her friends," says Lucy's caregiver.

Keila is a fifteen-month old girl from Guatemala. She is the youngest in a family of four children. Keila likes playing with toys and watching television. Her favorite food is pasta. Keila was born with several birth defects. She has already received funding from Watsi for [malnutrition](https://watsi.org/profile/5c42dda9c889-keila). Now, she needs treatment for hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. On January 17, Keila will undergo a shunt insertion surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital Roosevelt. The procedure will drain the fluid from Keila's brain. Keila’s family wants her to get well but can’t afford her treatment. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $1,445 in funds to cover the cost of Keila's surgery, labs, medication, family lodging, and followup treatments. Keila's mother says, "My hope is for Keila to have a normal life, and for all the people who supported her to see that she was a success." Keila's mother is looking forward to seeing her daughter get back to eating pasta, watching television, and playing with her brother!