Veronica is a 12-month-old girl from Kenya. Veronica’s mother was a stay at home mother but now prepares and sells mandazi (pastries) while her father who used to farm now is a laborer in construction sites in order to make ends meet. Being the third born in a family of five, Veronica’s parents are not able to raise enough to pay for her treatment. Veronica underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Veronica's case, her colostomy requires closure in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $650 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Veronica. The surgery is scheduled to take place on July 13th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Veronica’s mother says, “Being Veronica’s last surgery, I’m looking forward to see her well.”

Ian is a class one pupil who is struggling with his hearing. He relies on lip-reading to communicate and though shy, he is learning sign language in school. When he was three years old, his mother noted his struggle with talking and hearing. She was advised to wait until he was five years old but unfortunately, at five, Ian could only say a few words. His mom delayed enrolling him in a special school due to financial struggle. Ian was referred to our facility whereupon review, he had hearing aids recommended. With the aids, his hearing will improve along with his social performance. Ian comes from a humble background. His mother used to sell charcoal to make ends meet but with a poor business environment, she has resorted to laundry labor where she makes about $2 daily. To get to our facility, she got a loan for bus fare. Ian’s father committed suicide in 2014, making life frustrating for his mother. Ian’s mother appeal for help. Ian’s mother says, “My prayer is to have Ian grow as a normal child. Please help him.”

Arthur is a child from Kenya. He is the second born in a family of two kids. His mother shared that she used to work in a hotel, but due to the COVID-19 crisis she lost her job and so now is unable to work. Arthur’s father is a seller of assorted small items. His job is just enough to put food on the table for his family. Arthur was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Arthur has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Arthur will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 20th. AMHF is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “It is very bad having a sick child and not being able to cover his medical expenses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I plead for your support so that he can continue to grow up normally like other boys,” shared Arthur's mother.

Neth lives with her mother, who is a rice farmer. Her parents divorced 24 years ago, and her father lives elsewhere. Neth has six siblings. She works hard to help support her family, but in her free time, she likes listening to music, doing exercises, and watching comedies on TV. Five months ago, Neth was in a car accident and injured her right hip. She was taken to a local government hospital where they determined she had a compression fracture. Now, Neth cannot stand or walk without crutches and is experiencing on-going pain. Fortunately, she was referred to Watsi's Medical Partner CSC for treatment. The doctors at CSC will perform a decompression surgery in order to re-join the fracture, heal her nerve damage, and free her from her pain. Once Neth fully recovers from the procedure, she will be able to walk easily again. Neth said, "Since this accident, I have been so worried about my mom and brothers and sisters since they have little support. I hope I can walk again quickly after this surgery, so I can work again and sell groceries."

Muzoora is a young student from Uganda. He is the third child in a family of five children. All are studying in both primary and nursery school classes. Muzoora’s father is a builder by profession but since he works in the village, he rarely gets sites for construction; he last got work six months ago. His mother is a small-scale farmer and she at times works in other people’s farms whenever a need for money comes in. Three years ago, Muzoora developed an inguinal hernia. Muzoora always complains of pain whenever he coughs or laughs, when he stretches as he is playing with others, and he has ongoing abdominal discomfort. Fortunately, on May 21st, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $241 to fund Muzoora's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Muzoora's father says: “I will be grateful once my child is free from this pain because it worries us as his parents.”

Joyce is the oldest of three siblings and likes helping her mother do household chores at home. She also has a green thumb and enjoys helping her father on his farm. She is in seventh grade and her favorite subject is English. Joyce dreams of being a future doctor. In June of 2019, Joyce's family noticed an unusual curving of her spine. Currently, Joyce has trouble balancing while she walks and has experienced lower self-esteem. Surgery will correct the curve in her spine, improve her confidence, and enable her to continue her education and achieve her aspiration of becoming a doctor. Joyce's family has raised funds for half of the cost of her surgery with the help of friends and well-wishers. They are asking for Watsi's support to cover the remaining cost of their daughter's surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the remaining cost of her surgery and care. “My joy would be to get treated so that I can continue with my studies without needing to hide my back,” Joyce shared. Her parents also expressed, “We are pleading for support so that our daughter can undergo surgery and continue with her normal life like other children.”

Michael is a baby from Tanzania, and the last born child in a family of five. He is a jovial boy and happy most of the time. Michael’s father has been away to a different city working as night guard while the mother is a stay home wife looking after their five children. His father is able to send some little money every month to help support the family. Michael has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Michael traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Michael's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk without difficulty. Michael’s mother says, “Please help correct my child's foot so that he can learn how to walk like other children.”

Philomena was diagnosed with ARM at birth. With this condition, the little one was found to lack an anal opening and instead was passing stool through her vagina. A few hours after birth, Philomena, one in a set of twins, was noted to have a distended abdomen. The doctor quickly checked on the baby and discovered she lacked an anal opening. To keep Philomena from getting a fistula, the doctors put in a colostomy at three days. Philomena’s parents paid for this through some family savings they had. When they left for home, Philomena’s twin sister developed a persistent cough which was later found to be a hole in the heart. "I have never felt this drained ever in my life. Since I gave birth I am always in hospitals with either one of my two babies,” says Philomena’s mother. Due to lack of finances, Philomena’s parents shared their plight with their church members and one of them advised that they visit Watsi Partner Care Center BethanyKids Hospital. At BethanyKids a surgery to create an anal opening has been recommended. If not treated, Philomena will not lead a normal life and will be forced to use a colostomy for life. The surgery is a cost Philomena’s parents cannot bear. Philomena’s father is a carpenter while her mother closed her grocery store to tend to the children. Together they have five children with three currently in school. With very limited income and having exhausted their savings, Philomena’s parents are not able to raise the funds needed. They had defaulted on paying the national health insurance premiums as they could not keep up, but they’ve been advised to try to maintain this coverage in the future given their family's health needs. “Please help us. It is quite a stressful time for us but we believe we will come from it as victors,” says Philomena’s mother.

Narith is a 3-year-old boy from Cambodia. His father is a rice farmer and his mother is a factory worker in Phnom Penh. He has one sister. He likes watching the cartoons on TV, and playing with his toys. What he enjoys most is hearing his mother tell him a story at night. Last week while playing he accidentally lodged a small rock in his nasal passage. His parents tried to remove it but were unable. His nasal passage has become swollen and painful as time goes on, and he is constantly irritated. Narith traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 8th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Narith needs help to raise $231 to fund this procedure. Narith's father said, "This accident could be very dangerous for my son, and since I could not help him I worry so much. I hope the doctor will stop the pain and irritation he feels before the problem gets worse. I want him to start primary school in the future."

Rena is a five-month-old baby girl from Kenya who has an inguinal hernia. From her parent’s description, the hernia seems to be quite painful for her and she has been crying a lot since Friday, March 27th. Rena was taken to their local hospital and diagnosed with a hernia. Her family was then referred to Watsi Medical Partner's Care Center Bethany Kids Hospital where hernia repair surgery was recommended by the medical team. Without the appropriate treatment, Rena will be at risk of complications such as strangulation. Rena’s parents are peasant farmers from central Kenya living on their ancestral land. They rely on seasonal farming with limited income. Rena has an elder sibling who is five years old. The family is not able to raise the funds required for her surgery. They would require several weeks of saving which might be too late for the young child. They appeal for financial assistance. Fortunately, on March 31st, Rena will undergo repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Rena's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Rena’s mother says, “We came here hopeful that Rena will be treated. Thank you for your willingness to support our child.”

Ashley is a baby from Kenya. Ashley’s father is employed casually in a company in the Coastal region of Kenya. Her mother on the other hand is a full-time mom. Ashley lives with her parents and elder sister in a two-room house with an income that barely sustains their needs. Ashley underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Ashley's case, her colostomy requires closure in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $619 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Ashley. The surgery is scheduled to take place on October 29th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. “The journey has been long and tedious, but hopefully we will make it through soon,” says Ashley’s mother.

Magdalena is a 4-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She is the last born child in a family of three children. Her parents are small-scale farmers selling vegetables for a living. Magdalena has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Magdalena traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Magdalena's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily and wear shoes when she grows up. Michael’s mother says, “We are unable to afford her treatment cost due to financial challenges please help our daughter.”