At one-month-old, Ana is the youngest of eight children. Her father works as a laborer harvesting coffee in their native Guatemala, and “does not make enough money to even buy basic foods for his family, let alone expensive infant formula,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). Ana's mother cannot produce breastmilk, and because the family is unable to afford formula, Ana is now acutely malnourished. "Her life is in danger if she does not receive formula," explains WK. Ana’s hunger causes her to cry frequently, and she frequently has diarrhea, a common symptom of malnutrition. “In the long term,” WK explains, “she could face permanent brain damage, have developmental delays, and have stunted growth if she does not receive treatment.” For $1016, we can fund a multi-pronged treatment plan that will restore her health. “Ana’s mother will receive deliveries of formula every week for a year, and will have in-home motivational nutrition classes to teach her about what Ana needs to be healthy,” WK reports. “This treatment will help Ana grow, strengthen her immune system, and help her avoid life-threatening seizures and diarrhea.” Ana’s mother is optimistic about Ana’s future. “Now that we can receive your help, we are sure that our daughter will be able to grow healthy. We hope that she will be a very intelligent girl and will become a professional."

30-year-old Savann lives in Cambodia with her son and daughter. "Savann began having ear discharge when she was 10 years old from an ear infection," our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) reports. Her condition, cholesteatoma, has continued to cause her to experience daily ear discharge, pain, and hearing loss in her left ear over the past 20 years. As a factory worker, she often is unable to go to work due to her ear pain. She then spends her time working around the home and listening to the radio. She's hopeful that after being treated her hearing will improve so she can go back to work. After a fellow villager told her about CSC, she traveled with her father for two hours to reach the centre. In order to treat cholesteatoma, Savann will undergo a mastoidectomy surgery on her left ear. The surgery will remove the diseased mastoid air cells, which are behind the ear in a hollow section of the skull. The procedure will cost $809. After treatment, Savann's hearing is expected to improve, and her ear discharge and pain will stop. Her father shared in their pre-operative interview: "I hope that after the operation is done, my daughter will have better hearing and health."

Sophon is a 48-year-old man living in Cambodia. He lives with his wife, daughter, and two sons, and he works as a policeman. Before his hearing began to deteriorate, he enjoyed listening to programs on the radio. Sophon has hearing loss in his right ear due to a cholesteatoma he developed many years ago. Sophon’s condition started with recurring discharge from his ear, and since then it has been odorous and painful. "I get pain every day and my hearing is lost in that ear, which makes me unhappy,” Sophon shares. “I can't work anymore." A cholesteatoma refers to an expanding growth in the middle ear, which can eventually lead to damage in the bones of the ear. These growths are often infected, and can cause chronic drainage. Sophon needs mastoidectomy surgery to remove the cholesteatoma and remove either the posterior ear canal wall or the ossicles, depending upon the findings in surgery. For $809, Sophon can receive this life-changing surgery he needs. Funding also covers one day of post-operative care and three follow-up visits. After the surgery, he is expected to regain some hearing and no longer have drainage. “I hope after the operation the pain goes away,” Sophon adds.

Meet Delinor! At four years old, Delinor is the oldest child in his family. He and his parents live in Haiti, where his father earns a wage as a road-side vendor. His mother is currently looking for work to help support the family. “Delinor was born with a condition called severe subaortic stenosis, in which part of the heart new the aortic valve is unusually narrow, causing blood to back up and leaving him sickly and weak,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “If not stretched to a normal size, this condition could eventually become fatal.” The vast majority of Haitian people cannot access the care they need. The existing healthcare system was mostly destroyed by the major earthquake in 2010, and the services that are available are unaffordable to the average Haitian citizen. To correct his heart condition, Delinor needs care that is only available in the Cayman Islands. Pre-operative care, transport to the treatment centre, passports and visas, and the cost of the stay at the centre total $1500, a cost that is out of reach for Delinor’s family. Once there, the treatment centre will subsidize his operation that will restore normal blood flow to his heart. After the surgery, he should experience no more symptoms from his condition. “We have known that Delinor had a heart problem ever since he was a baby but we were very sad because we thought there was no way to fix it,” shares his mother. “We are glad that God is answering our prayers.”

Prakash is an eight-year-old boy living in Nepal with his family. He is a fourth grade student and an avid reader. Our medical partner, Possible, says that he enjoys learning new things, studying Nepali, and playing cricket. Prakash recently fell and broke his hand. Due to the injury, he is unable to move his hand, preventing him from being able to write and participate in school. To support the family, Prakash’s father earns his income as a labor-worker in India. The family operates on a very modest income that is currently not enough to afford the cost of Prakash’s medical care. For $579, Prakash will receive four days of hospital care to repair his broken hand. After undergoing advanced orthopedic surgery, his hand and arm will be set inside a plaster cast. Prakash will also receive several sessions of physiotherapy--offering him specialist support to help facilitate the beginning of his recovery. After surgery, “Prakash will live a normal life, play with friends, go to school, study, and sleep," Possible adds.

Three-year-old Neymarah lives in Haiti with her mother, who works as a tailor, and her grandmother. She likes to help her mother prepare the fabric for the school uniforms that she makes. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Neymarah was born with a condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect, in which blood mixes between all four chambers of the heart without fully obtaining oxygen. This leaves her weak and out of breath and would eventually be fatal.” Neymarah needs surgery to create two functioning valves between the upper and lower chambers on both sides of the heart and to place patches over the existing defects (holes). “Following surgery,” says HCA, “Neymarah should have normal circulation restored to her heart. She should not need further surgery in the future.” For $1500, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Neymarah’s surgery. MECENAT is donating $5000 to cover the remaining treatment costs. Neymarah is excited to start preschool after surgery. Her mother shares, "I want Neymarah to be able to walk to and from school like the other children."

This is Clinton, a 30-year-old husband and father of two children from Kenya. His family lives on a one acre farm where they grow maize and beans. Clinton broke his right tibia in a motorcycle accident. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares: “Early this year, Clinton was riding his motorcycle when he was involved in an accident with another motorcyclist. Clinton suffered multiple injuries including internal bleeding, a chest injury, and his broken leg.” AMHF continues, “Clinton is not able to walk on his own, which has prevented him from working on his farm. If not treated, Clinton may suffer severe infection, which could result in amputation of his leg.” Clinton's family and friends have already joined together to pay for the many hospital bills that have incurred, but Clinton is now struggling to pay for his next procedure. With $1,500, Clinton can undergo surgery to fill in the gap in his tibia and restore the bony tissue. AMHF reports, “We expect that after the surgery and recovery, Clinton will be able to walk on his own again and go back to working on his farm with his wife.” "I have not been able to work and support my family for a while now. My friends and relatives stepped up and made sure that my family had meals and my children stayed in school," Clinton shares. "I am very grateful for the support that I have received thus far and hope that I will get the next treatment so that I will be well again."

This is Elia, an eight-year-old boy from Tanzania. Elia is a previous Watsi patient who first presented with a swelling in his left cheek. He was subsequently diagnosed with a giant cell tumor, and underwent curretage, marsupialization and reconstruction, followed by weekly intralesional injections for six weeks. The procedure was a success as the mass decreased in size. However, while it was expected that Elia’s face would have regressed and bone healed, Elia's swelling did not completely disappear. He needs another surgery to completely remove this mass so as to avoid a pathological fracture of his mandible. For $920, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can perform a mass excision surgery to help Elia heal properly. "We saw some good changes after the first surgery," his mother shares. "We hope that the second surgery will show even better results, leaving Elia with his normal face."

Meet Abednego, a cute, two-week-old baby boy. “He is the fourth born in his family,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). According to AMHF, “Abednego was born with a deformity on his lower back, which at times leaks cerebral spinal fluid.” This deformity is called a myelomeningocele and it occurs when the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. “Apart from the deformity on his back, Abednego is healthy and feeds well,” AMHF reports. However, if his condition goes untreated, Abednego will continue to be at risk of contracting a fetal infection, or could lose full use of his lower limbs. “Abednego’s parents are small scale famers.” They mainly grow vegetables, but also support avocado and papaya trees when they are in season. The family sells their produce at an open market in the village. Though they have a small income, Abednego’s parents are unable to afford their son’s treatment. In addition, AMHF shares, “Abednego’s sister also has a medical condition which requires a lot of money they do not currently have.” With $1,200 in Watsi funding, Abednego’s spinal defects will be repaired. The spinal cord will be connected to its protective tissue and the buildup of cerebral spinal fluid will be rerouted to the abdomen, where it can be absorbed into the body. After surgery, AMHF explains, “Abednego will no longer be at risk of contracting fetal infection and he may have the ability to use his lower limbs.” “I really hope that my son will get well. I want to be able to hold him without fearing that I’ll hurt him in any way. I want him to be able to sit, crawl and walk as time goes on,” expresses Abednego’s mother.

Meet Set, a 62-year-old farmer who lives in Cambodia. Set is married with three daughters and five grandchildren. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) says, “He enjoys the life on his farm, where he likes to feed his cows.” Unfortunately, Set has a hypermature cataract in his left eye. Cataracts are an ocular condition in which a thin cloudy layer grows over the lens of the eye. A normal, unobstructed eye lens will allow light to pass to the retina in order to process a clear image. However, an eye with a cataract is unable to absorb as much light, which ultimately can lead to blurred vision. Since he can no longer see anything out of his left eye, Set is worried that he will go blind. CSC tells us, that Set’s blurred vision, “makes it very difficult for him to work on his farm or travel to faraway, unfamiliar places.” For $150, we can fund surgery to remove Set’s cloudy lens, replacing it with a clear artificial one. Funding will also cover two days in the hospital and all of Set’s medication. Following surgery, Set’s vision will be restored. “Set looks forward to spending time on his farm and enjoying his newfound independence,” says CSC. Let’s help make Set’s dream a reality.

Peninah is a 57-year-old woman from Kenya and the mother of two children. Her daughter was recently married and her son helps support the family financially. “For about one year Peninah started experiencing lower abdominal discomfort, and then she noticed her tummy had begun to increase in size,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “After numerous hospitals visits, an MRI revealed a huge ovarian mass that was already pressing on the bowel loops (intestines) and needed to be removed.” Before her diagnosis, Peninah stayed busy farming and socializing with friends and family. Her condition, however, causes her to experience symptoms of pain and discomfort — preventing Peninah from working, making money and having leisure time. $790 will fund the treatment she needs to remove the mass. The procedure includes a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) along with a five-day hospital stay and post-operative medications. A TAH involves the removal of the entire reproductive system, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Without treatment, “the mass will continue to grow and press more on Peninah's other organs leading to other complications,” adds AMHF. The treatment will “alleviate her discomfort and reduce the risk of the mass turning cancerous.” Peninah shares, “the doctor said the mass is growing fast and I need surgery soon. I am worried and hope Watsi will help me so that I can be operated and gain my life back.” Let’s help Peninah and fund this life-changing surgery!

"Over two months ago, Sinoeun was in an accident while riding his moto that resulted in his femur being fractured," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "He has been consigned to a wheelchair since then and cannot work or do anything at all to earn money for his family." 23-year-old Sinoeun is a young man from Cambodia. Prior to his accident, he was living on his own and working to support his family. However, since the accident, he had moved back home with his parents and is unable to work. "Before his injury, he enjoyed playing volleyball and watching Khmer music channels," CSC tells us. Sinoeun and his family cannot afford the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure he needs to correct the fracture. The surgery will cost $405. This cost includes anesthesia, laboratory testing, post-operation care, physiotherapy and x-rays. After surgery, "Sinoeun will soon be able to walk again and return to work," CSC adds.