Lida is in third grade with one older brother and one older sister. Her parents are both farmers. In her free time, Lida enjoys reading books, being active, watching TV, listening to music, playing with her friends, and going on walks with her family. Lida was in an accident that caused trauma to her right big toe. Her family took her to a clinic to treat the wound for 10 days, but her toe did not heal. She arrived at Watsi's Medical Partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) with an infected wound, pain when walking, pus discharge, skin necrosis, redness, and poor blood supply to the area of her right foot. Surgeons will need to perform a debridement and amputation of her right big toe to ensure the infection does not spread and allow her to walk again without pain. Lida's parents need support to pay for the surgery and said, "I hope she will get better after this surgery."

Phearum is a three-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has two older brothers, and enjoys playing with his toy cars and watching cartoons. Two years ago, Phearum suffered from burn injuries to his right hand after accidentally coming into contact with an open flame. His wounds have healed but his skin has tightened and he is unable to fully flex for bend his finger. When Phearum learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 9th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him move and flex his fingers without difficulty. Now, he needs help to fund this $448 procedure. "I hope that my son will be able to move his fingers and write when he is older, and I won't have to worry about his condition. - Phearum's Mother

Nathan is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and two older sisters in Port-au-Prince. He has just started kindergarten. Nathan has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving him short of breath and causing heart failure. On October 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will tie off the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Nathan's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His mother says, "I am looking forward to letting my son play outside without worrying about him!"

Pamela is a 22-month-old girl from Guatemala. She does not have access to an adequate diet, so she is more than three standard deviations below the normal size for her age. Pamela is having difficulty learning to talk, and she is frequently ill. Pamela has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, she began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016. Pamela is the first and only child in her family. She loves to play and jump. Her mother says that even when she gets hurt, she stands back up and keeps jumping. Pamela also loves to eat watermelon and refried beans. Her father works as an assistant to a bricklayer and as a day laborer in a plantation. While Pamela's parents want the best for their daughter, their resources are already stretched thin. They cannot afford to pay for her $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Pamela recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Pamela a chance to grow healthy and strong.