Irshad was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation a day or two after birth. This followed frequent vomiting, poor feeding and distention of his abdomen. A colostomy (a perforation on his abdomen to aid in passing stool) was put in place at day three and after six weeks a pull-through procedure was done. This was to create an anal opening. In order to keep the newly created anus from closing, Irshad’s parents were advised to do dilation which according to them, they faithfully did. Upon review, the doctor noted that the anal opening was not well dilated and would need a revision. The doctor then referred them to Watsi Medical Partner care center BethanyKids Hospital where surgery has been recommended. If not treated, Irshad will not be able to pass stool normally. The cost of buying colostomy bags has proven to be quite expensive for his parents and thus, they have resulted to using old clothes. This puts little Irshad at risk of infection and scarring at the colostomy site due to occasional leakages. Irshad’s parents hoped that the national health insurance fund would help fund the treatment, but since it is a repeat surgery, their request was turned down. Irshad’s father is employed casually as an office messenger while his mother is a full-time mom. Irshad is the second born of two children. He lives with his parents and elder brother in a two-room rental house in the coastal region of Kenya. His father assures that he can raise Kes15,000, but that is not enough to support the surgery needed and thus appeals for help.

Yohana is a five-year-old playful and friendly boy from Tanzania. Yohana's parents are peasant farmers. They keep a small herd of livestock which is their only source of income. He loves herding his parents' livestock with other children. However, due to ganu valgus, a condition where the knees bow inwards, he is unable to walk with ease. When he was three years old, his father noted the left leg bowing inwards and sooner his right leg. He thought the condition would clear on its own. However, it worsened with time. Yohana is set to start school in 2020 but his parents are worried that he might face difficulties walking. He was reviewed at a local clinic before being referred to our facility. Upon review, he had surgery recommended. Upon successful surgery, he will be able to walk with ease and less pain. The planned surgery is costly for his parents to meet and they appeal for financial assistance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Yohana. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 5th. Treatment will hopefully restore Yohana's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Yohana’s father says, “I have watched my son’s legs become deformed but there was nothing I could do due to financial challenges. Please help.”

Meskafera is a baby boy from Ethiopia. He already loves to play and laugh with his mom and is exclusively fed breast milk. Meskafera has three older brothers and two older sisters. His mom is a house wife. His dad is a farmer who plants sweet potatoes in their garden to feed his children, with limited income. Meskafera was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Meskafera is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on March 19th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Meskafera's procedure and care. After his recovery, Meskafera will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Meskafera's mom said, “It is my hope that my baby will get treated and be like other people. I will raise him well and educate him. ”

Inday is a two-year-old girl. She loves to sing, dance, and play with other children. She lives with her parents and four siblings in a small house made of concrete and wood. Their water comes from a manual water pump. Her father works hard as a driver. Inday has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens her growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 24. Inday will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Inday's mother says, "I hope my daughter will finish her studies, get a degree she likes, and be active in the church."

Peter is a 15-month-old boy from Tanzania. When he was three weeks old, his mother noticed that his head was increasing rapidly in size. He could not hold his head up on his own. They visited a hospital, but the facility lacked a pediatric neurosurgeon. Fortunately, a well-wisher offered to help them travel to Kenya. Peter and his mother traveled a long distance to reach our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital, in Kenya. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. On December 12, he underwent a shunt insertion to drain the fluid from his brain. Peter lives with his mother and older sibling at his grandmother’s home. His mother supports the family through subsistence farming. She cannot afford this expensive procedure, so our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 in funding. “Peter is my hope," says his mother. "I pray to God that someone will help fund his surgical care."

Akiiza is 45-years-old, a widow, and mother of three. Two of her children are studying at the University and one has a beauty salon. Akiiza has a fresh foods business where she gets money to educate her children and look after the family. Akiiza feels lucky because both of her children at the University have partial scholarships; otherwise she wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for their education. Akiiza started experiencing lower abdominal pain and bleeding in the year 2000. In the past five years, she started feeling numbness of the lower limbs. In 2013, she was diagnosed with fibroids, which were removed for free at a government hospital. After surgery, pain stopped but resumed at the beginning of 2016. Now, she is also feeling back pain and numbness of the lower limbs again. Akiiza has visited hospitals five times and each time she has been advised to have surgery but she is unable to pay for it. She was advised to come and seek for assistance at Virika hospital by a woman who received a total abdominal hysterectomy surgery from Watsi funding in the past. Due to pain she is unable to lift heavy items and to travel on trucks. For $250, we can provide Akiiza with total abdominal hysterectomy surgery to remove her uterus, relieving her of pain and discomfort. After surgery she hopes to resume doing her business, which she had stopped because it involves a lot of lifting and traveling. "My children look up to me for everything. I spend almost all the money I get on them. I want them to get good education," shares Akiiza.

Sok is a 77-year-old woman from Cambodia. According to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, “Sok is married with one son, one daughter, and eight grandchildren. She enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio.” CSC informs us, “Sok developed a cataract in each eye two years ago. This causes her blurred vision and tearing. She can't see everything clearly, do work well, or go anywhere outside on her own.” If she goes any longer without treatment, her vision will only worsen, which could possibly lead to blindness. Sok needs a small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. During surgery, her cloudy lenses will be removed, and replaced with clear prosthetic lenses. CSC ensures us that “Sok will be able to see clearly again” afterwards. Surgery costs a total of $225, which covers medical and surgical expenses, as well as a two day stay in the hospital, and a follow-up visit with an eye doctor. Let’s help Sok see clearly again.

“I just hope my baby will get well,” says Faisal’s mother, who recently had to close down her cafe business to care full-time for her son. Faisal's father is an independent contractor, and the couple is incredibly concerned for their son's health. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tell us that Faisal was born with a variation of spina bifida known as myelomeningocele (MMC). With MMC, the back bone and spinal canal do not fully close, causing the spinal nerves to protrude and form a bulge at the back. Faisal has also developed hydrocephalus, an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the head. In his current state, he “is at risk of contracting infection and losing his eyesight.” “Their first child did not survive because it was a stillbirth," AMHF continues, "so they hope Faisal will get the right treatment and live. They haven't been able to receive comprehensive care for their son as his condition worsens. AMHF can help Faisal with surgical repair of his spinal cord and brain. During surgery, his back bone will be fixed. Additionally, the fluid in his brain will be drained, and his skull repaired. This procedure will costs $1,200, which includes surgical and medical fees, ten days to recover in the hospital, two weeks in a rehabilitation center, and five sessions of physical therapy. AMHF adds that “the treatment will save Faisal’s sight, and he will no longer lose CSF through the lesion on his back.”

“Francis was welcomed into the world in August of 2010,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “He is the first-born child to his parents and they live together in central Kenya. Francis’ parents are subsistence farmers on leased land. They live day-to-day on the income they make from selling their produce and the income Francis’ father makes when he finds occasional casual work.” Francis has hypospadias, a condition when the “urethral opening is small and on the underside of the penis,” AMHF explains. “Francis does not pass urine normally.” “Francis’ grandmother was the first to notice the irregularities and that he had difficulties passing urine,” continues AMHF. “They went to the nearest hospital, where Francis was diagnosed, but they were unable to afford treatment.” $665 covers the cost of Francis’ hypospadias repair, which will allow him to pass urine normally. With treatment, he will no longer be at risk for urinary tract infections, infertility in the future, social embarrassment, and hygiene problems. “Francis’ parents, just as many parents, want what’s best for their five-year-old son,” says AMHF. “They only hope that he will be able to live a normal life, one with the least amount of difficulties possible.”

“Melany is happy child. She loves to play with a little doll given to her by a neighbor and she also likes to dance and imitate her mom singing, even if she cannot say the words,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). 14-month-old Melany is from Guatemala, and currently lives with acute malnutrition. "Melany has diarrhea and fever," says WK. "Her appetite is low and she is far below the average height and weight for her age. Frequent diarrhea prevents Melany from absorbing critical nutrients, and extreme poverty has prevented her mother from being able to buy protein and nutrient-dense foods for Melany. She is showing signs of developmental delays, and at 14 months she cannot sit or walk on her own." "Without intervention, Melany will continue to fall away from the growth curve, her immune system will continue to weaken and her physical and mental growth will be further limited," continues WK. "She is at risk of the long-term and detrimental effects of malnutrition.” Melany and many other WK patients are indigenous Guatemalans – one of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations in the world. They live in rural areas and suffer from high rates of food insecurity. For $512, we can fund a multifaceted treatment for Melany’s malnutrition. “This treatment will give Melany the growth monitoring, medication, micronutrient and food supplementation she needs to succeed. Her mother will receive nutrition education that will improve Melany’s health now and for years to come,” explains WK. Melany's mother shares, “I am so happy to be a part of this program and hope my little girl will be able to recover from malnutrition soon.”

Meet Samuel, a one-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the fourth born child out of a family of four children. Samuel was born with spina bifida -- a birth defect in which the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord are not completely closed. "Due to financial constraints, his parents delayed bringing him to the hospital," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. "Samuel's father is a public service vehicle driver, while his mother is a small scale farmer." Because of this, they are unable to raise the money for his surgery. With the leaking mass on his lower back, Samuel may develop an infection if not treated soon. He may also develop spinal complications, such as scoliosis and/or tethered cord. "It has been stressful seeing our son suffer with this rare condition and not be able to do anything due to the lack of funds to bring him to the hospital," Samuel's mother tells us. "We are hopeful that our son will get the treatment he requires soon!" $805 will fund treatment to close the mass on Samuel's back, and reduce his chances of having an infection or spinal cord complication. Let's help make it happen!

"My wish is for my son to grow equally to the other kids, to become big and to go to school," shares Fredy's mother. One-year-old Fredy is from Guatemala, and is the youngest of seven brothers. "When work is available, Fredy’s dad heads to the mountains to tend to cornfields, or collect firewood to sell," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "Fredy’s mom did not realize she was pregnant again, and because of their poverty, she was not taking suffient care of her health. When Fredy was born a couple weeks early, he was so small his mom was very scared that he might die. Now, she is not producing enough milk to feed Fredy and she cannot afford formula as it is too expensive, and she has many mouths to feed in her family." "For a new born baby, access to maternal milk is critical," continues WK. "If milk supply is poor, the baby will begin to lose weight. This almost immediately begins to have impact on potential brain development and, if it is not caught quickly and reversed, it can lead to death." For $1,220, we can treate Fredy for malnutrition and dehydration, and ensure that he develops normally. "This treatment will save Fredy’s brain and his life," WK adds. "It will promote normal growth of the brain, and guarantee he has a chance to lead normal and highly functional life at his full potential."