Liliosa is 47 years old. She is a mother to five children. Her husband works as an ice cream vendor. She is a gospel minister and loves to serve the church. For one year, Liliosa has experienced irregular menstruation, headaches, and body fatigue. She has tried using herbal medicines, but her symptoms have not improved. Liliosa is a pastor for our medical partner, so she shared her condition with the medical staff. She was diagnosed with a uterine myoma, a benign tumor in her uterus. A hysterectomy to remove her uterus and the tumor was scheduled for February 15. Liliosa and her husband make enough money to sustain their needs and pay for their children's education. However, they cannot afford the surgery. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is requesting $187 to help Liliosa. The treatment will relieve her symptoms and prevent any complications from arising. "I am thankful for this opportunity to get treatment...I am excited to wake up one day feeling good and with no difficulty," says Liliosa.

Kengonzi is a 13-year-old girl from Uganda. She has four siblings: three brothers and one sister. Her father is a trader dealing in fresh food. She is in primary school, and her best subjects are mathematics and science. In the future, she wants to be a nun. Six months ago, Kengonzi developed a hard and painless swelling in her right breast. In November of 2016, her stepmother took her to the hospital, where she learned that the mass required surgery. They could not afford surgery, so they decided to use traditional medicines. Kengonzi's symptoms did not improve. "I am worried about my daughter because I don't know what will come out of her swelling," says Kengonsi's stepmother. Without treatment, the mass could continue growing and become more painful. Fortunately, Kengonzi visited our medical partner's hospital, Holy Family Virika Hospital. On December 21, Kengonzi will undergo a mass excision. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $196 to fund this treatment. After surgery, Kengonzi hopes to work hard in class and get good grades.

John Peter is a ten-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives in Port-au-Prince with his mother, father, older brother, and younger sister. He is in the fourth grade, and he hopes to become a teacher or an engineer when he grows up. John Peter has a condition called severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the valves of his heart became severely damaged by an infection and can no longer pump blood to the rest of his body. As a result, blood backs up into his heart. John Peter flew to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. Before surgery, he shared, "I am a little bit scared about my surgery, but mostly excited to travel to a new country and make new friends!" On December 9, he underwent open heart surgery, during which surgeons repaired the valve. This $12,000 surgery was subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. John Peter's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who accompanied John Peter's family overseas.

Meet Alejandro, a friendly 75-year-old man from Guatemala who loves to tell stories of the past. He often talks about the progress his community has made since the decades-long genocide back in the 1990's, which had affected indigenous communities of Guatemala for years. Now, after raising five children who have families of their own, Alejandro lives with his wife in the mountains where they work as farmers. To support his family, he walks nearly five hours to sell their oranges, sugar cane, and peanuts in the next town over. Alejandro has been steadily losing his vision for the past several years. After working many years as a farmer--everyday from sunrise to sunset--he assumed that his worsening vision was just a normal part of growing old. However, when Alejandro was referred to an eye specialist, he learned that he had developed cataracts-- a cloudy build-up of protein in the eye lenses. Though this condition is common and simple to treat with surgery, many rural Guatemalans do not have access to adequate medical resources. But for $1500, doctors at Wuqu' Kawoq will perform an operation to remove the cloudy lenses in Alejandro's eyes and replaces them with new artificial ones. This treatment will restore Alejandro's vision, giving him the ability to be more independent in doing what he loves: agriculture. He is already incredibly excited to have better vision, and he says that it has made him excited to be alive. "When I heard that there was a possibility that I could improve my vision, I got really happy," Alejandro shares, "I will feel like I am young again and that I will be able to continue working in what I love, which is agriculture."

Grace is an elderly lady from Kenya who lives alone as her husband is deceased. She is a mother to four children. Grace keeps a few goats and tends to her small farm to meet her daily needs. In February 2016, Grace noticed a swelling on her neck that became painful. She was brought to our facility and given medication. However, after several clinical visits, Grace was told her symptoms are due to a thyroid goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland. She was told that she needed a subtotal thyroidectomy, but unfortunately the cost of treatment is too high for her to afford. If not treated, Grace may suffer hyperthyroidism and further complications, such as pain and inability to work. “I want to be treated because the pain is affecting me," Grace shared. "I want to enjoy my old age."

Bona is a ten-year-old boy in grade four from Cambodia, who enjoys reading books, playing games, and watching television. When Bona was only six months old, his left foot and lower leg were burned in a mosquito net fire. His left foot remains deformed due to the fire, and his toes were amputated as a result. Now, his leg still has burn contractures, and it is difficult for him to bend his leg. These often result from second or third degree burns and long term scarring. Bona traveled six hours with his mother to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for treatment. Surgeons will release the contracted skin and utilize skin grafts or flaps to help him heal - a treatment that will cost $194. After physiotherapy, Bona will easily be able to move around with no issues. "I hope I can walk well and not be in pain after this operation," shares Bona.

"I wish to become an accountant when I grow up so I can help my mother with her business," shares Phyu Zin, a 13-year-old girl who is quick to smile and laugh. In school, she likes her math courses, and in her free time, she enjoys watching movies and spending time with school friends and her cousin. Phyu Zin lives with her parents, two older sisters, brother in-law, and niece in Burma. Her father works in the lumber industry, felling trees and sawing them into construction planks. The family’s average income is sufficient for their day-to-day needs, with limited savings and funds for healthcare expenses. At two months of age, Phyu Zin developed pneumonia with a fever and nasal drainage. Her parents took her to Kawkareik Clinic for medication. Upon examining the girl, the doctor detected a heart condition known as tetralogy of Fallot—a congenital disease comprising four different heart defects that cause oxygen-poor blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Phyu Zin returned to the clinic three times in her first year of life for repeat incidents of fever. On each occasion, she was medicated for her immediate symptoms. When Phyu Zin was eight years old, her symptoms worsened. She was always tired, and exercise easily fatigued her. She was tired at school and could not walk far or fast. In addition, she experienced several spells of dizziness at school. Until two months ago, Phyu Zin was a student in the sixth grade. However, her declining health forced her to drop out of school, as she could not keep up with her class work and the large, noisy classes made her uncomfortable. Her current symptoms are difficulty breathing—especially when active—and she is easily fatigued. Her mother places cold compresses on her when her breathing is labored. The past several years have been very difficult for Phyu Zin's family, as so much time, energy and resources have been dedicated to Phyu Zin. They have been worried about their ability to secure treatment for her and were glad to learn about Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) from a family member. Phyu Zin's parents brought her to MTC, and the medics referred her to Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) as a surgical candidate. For $1500, Phyu Zin will receive a complete diagnostic workup to assess her heart function and undergo corrective surgery to restore normal blood flow within her heart. Funding also covers the costs of 12 pre- and post-operative consultations, transportation to and from the hospital, and three weeks of hospital care during assessment and recovery.

Sokhim enjoys cooking and taking care of her two sons at home. The 38-year-old weaver from Cambodia traveled two hours with her nephew to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Since she was a child, Sokhim has experienced right ear discharge caused by chronic otitis media, or ear infection. She received an operation on her right ear in 2003, but it was unsuccessful. Sokhim still experiences discharge, hearing loss, and pain. Recently, doctors at CSC discovered a cholesteatoma in her right ear. A cholesteatoma is an abnormal growth that occurs in the middle ear behind the eardrum. Sokhim now requires surgery to remove the growth and treat the infection. For $809, Sokhim will receive a mastoidectomy surgery, during which surgeons will open up the mastoid bone to remove diseased cells and drain the middle ear. After her surgery, Sokhim's discharge will stop and she will be pain-free once again.

"Fredrick is a playful, four-year-old boy from Nairobi. He lives with his parents. His mother is a tailor while his father works as a shop attendant," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "The family lives in a single rental house on a larger urban estate. Due to their low income base, Fredrick's father supplements their income by selling fruits within their estate." "Fredrick is a playful boy but due to poor sound perception, he is not able to communicate as efficiently as any other 4 year old child," continues AMHF. "He had fluid-like discharge from his ears in December 2015, prompting his parents to bring him to our facility. The doctor advised Fredrick’s mother to get hearing aids." Fredrick's ear drainage is caused by a perforated left ear drum, a condition known as otorrhea. "If not assisted with the hearing aids, Fredrick may have poor performance academically and even socially as he grows up," explains AMHF. With $208, Fredrick can receive proper hearing aids to prevent further damage and allow progression of his development. Fredrick’s mother shares, “I want my child to have the hearing aids and be able to lead a normal life."

This is Felix, a two-month-old boy from Kenya. At birth, Felix was diagnosed with spina bifida. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us this condition causes "a mass swelling on the lower backbone area. If he is not treated, Felix is at a risk of developing a tethered cord that can lead to scolisis or kyphosis." Felix's father is a construction site laborer often depending on availability of work while his mother used to be a casual laborer washing clothes for pay but since she delivered Felix, she has not been able to work. With these financial restraints, Felix's family struggles to afford the treatment Felix requires for his congenital spina bifida. With $805, a surgeon will perform a procedure where a shunt will be implanted in his abdomen, allowing fluid to be drained from Felix's body with little to no harm. The funds will also cover medications as well as physical and behavioral therapy. After this surgery, AMHF asserts that "Felix will have reduced risk of infection, developing tethered cord, or paralysis on his lower limbs." Felix's mother shares, "I want my child to be well and lead a comfortable life." With our help, Felix will receive the treatment that he needs to get healthy.

Meet Namayani, a baby girl born in mid-March who lives with her family in Tanzania. "Namayani was born with a lesion on her lower back, which is leaking cerebrospinal fluid," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. "She also has hydrocephalus." As many as 90% of children with spina bifida also present with hydrocephalus. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect where part of the tube fails to develop properly, causing defects in the spine. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is a build-up of fluid in the brain, causing the head to swell. Because Namayani has both conditions, she is in need of treatment to prevent her head from increasing in size, as well as to protect her from contracting infections. If she goes untreated, "Namayani could end up blind or completely disabled," says AMHF. Though she's living with two serious conditions, Namayani is a sweet and quiet baby. "She is feeding well and only cries when hungry, wet, or held in a position which is uncomfortable," AMHF shares. To treat both of her conditions, Namayani will undergo surgery to repair the spine defect and will need a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt to drain the excess fluid from the brain to to the abdomen. The procedures, and her hospital stay, will cost $1,200. After treatment, Namayani will no longer be at risk of contracting an infection, and her head will cease to swell. Her parents, who have seven other children, are concerned for their new baby, and are eager to get the correct treatment for their daughter. "We just hope that our daughter will get well and grow up like other children," Namayani's father shares.

Mayda, a 10-year-old girl from Guatemala, is the fourth of seven children. "Mayda's father works as a farm hand, harvesting coffee on their neighbor's plantation," our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us. “Mayda’s mother cooks, cleans, takes care of the children, and helps harvest coffee.” Two years ago, Mayda underwent successful surgery for a heart murmur, which was funded by Watsi. Recently, she was also diagnosed with epilepsy. Mayda was doing well until last December. "She came home one day from school with a note from the school nurse saying that she had a seizure that lasted several minutes,” WK explains. “She had lost consciousness and did not remember anything. Since then she has had two more seizures at home." Because of these seizures and the resulting symptoms, Mayda has been unable to attend school. With $967, Mayda can receive the medical care and anticonvulsant medications that she requires for a healthier life. She will receive a brain MRI and other diagnostic workup for preliminary testing. She will also receive anti-epileptic medication to control her spastic episodes and to improve her mobility and independence. With treatment, “Mayda will gain control of her body,” WK continues. “This will increase her quality of life and put her on track to receive the education she deserves and live a healthy and productive life.” "We want her to grow well and be healthy,” Mayda’s parents share. “She has already been through so much with her surgery and now her seizures. We just want her to get better."