Ariel is a 13-year-old boy from the Dominican Republic who lives with his parents and three brothers. He is currently in the seventh grade and aspires to become a farmer, just like both of his parents. Ariel was born with a heart condition called coarctation of the aorta. His aorta is abnormally narrow, making it difficult for blood to pass through it. This causes his heart to pump harder to push the blood through, which leads to heart failure. Although Ariel is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. He will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Ariel will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 15. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Ariel also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Ariel's surgical care. "I am excited to get my heart fixed so that I can play baseball with the kids in my neighborhood!" says Ariel.

Sopheaktra is a 13-year-old student in the 7th grade, and has one brother. He likes to draw pictures and read books. Sopheaktra heard about Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from a relative. He traveled for two hours with his father to get here. Sopheaktra has been having bilateral ear discharge with hearing loss since he was 5 months old, most of the infection being in the right ear. In addition to ear discharge and hearing loss, he experiences a ringing or buzzing in his ears. Sopheaktra will undergo a myringoplasty operation to stop ear discharge and regain hearing in his left ear. Six weeks following his surgery, he will return to CSC for the same procedure in his right ear. "I hope to stop having ear discharge and have good hearing," Sopheaktra shared. "I want to be a doctor."

Meet Mackilin, a nine-month-old girl from Uganda. “Mackilin was found abandoned crying in the bush and rescued by a local family,” says our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation (KF). Mackilin has acute malnutrition, which is causing her to have lethargy and diarrhea. She also has an increased susceptibility to infections. KF tells us, “Mackilin’s adoptive father is a soldier and her adoptive mother is a border guard at the border of Uganda and the Congo.” KF continues, “they have a large family of their own and are unable to pay for the hospitalization of Mackilin.” Malnutrition is treated with hospitalization to administer therapeutic foods to rehabilitate the body as well as antibiotics to fight off infections. For $375, Mackilin will be hospitalized for ten days to receive the necessary medication to bring her back to good health. Mackilin’s mother tells us, “we believe Mackilin is a gift from God and thank you very much for helping her.”