Meet Sao, a 40-year old father from Cambodia with a wife and three sons. Sao used to be an “avid runner, competing in several marathons,” shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). One year ago, Sao was in a car-moto accident that left him with a variety of fractures. Unfortunately, he has a fractured and infected left femur which hasn't properly joined back together because of a poorly done operation. “He walks with two crutches and cannot do anything to support his family,” says our CSC. For $405, we can fund an ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) surgery that will put the broken bone in place as well as place an internal fixation device on the bone. With the treatment, “the patient's femur will be able to heal properly and he eventually will be able to walk under his own power,” says CSC. “Sao wants to be able to work again to support his family,” concludes our medical partner. Let's help Sao get back on his feet!

Meet Cho Than, a 53-year-old seamstress and mother from Burma who enjoys planting vegetables in her garden. Known within her community for her generosity, Cho Than often gives the vegetables that she grows to her neighbors and friends. Cho Than has a myoma, more commonly known as a uterine fibroid. Fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the muscle tissue of the uterus, or womb. They can be very small (invisible to the naked eye) or very large (melon-sized) and can present as a single mass or a cluster of several masses. An estimated 80 percent of women have uterine fibroids in their lifetime. While some women who have fibroids have no symptoms, others experience heavy periods, abdominal pain, or constipation. “Cho Than experiences severe pain in her back and lower abdomen,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She has difficulty urinating and it is painful for her to do so. Her condition makes it impossible for her to work and requires her daughter to care for her and support her financially.” The recommended treatment for Cho Than is a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy (surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries). $1500 covers the cost of the surgery as well as a seven-day hospital stay and one outpatient appointment post-surgery. “With surgery, Cho Than will be able to live without pain,” reports BBP. Cho Than looks forward to being healthy again and hopes to be able to return to work as a seamstress. She dreams of owning a small house where she and her daughter can live peacefully.

Vailet is a 42-year-old woman from Malawi who currently lives with cervical cancer. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM), runs a screening program for women in Malawi, and met Vailet when she came in for a routine visit. “The aim of the cervical cancer screening program is to find ladies like these in the early stages of the disease when they can receive surgery," shares WAM. "They can be prevented from developing disseminating cancer later on." Vailet’s case, however, is already developed and spreading. “There is no radiotherapy available in Malawi and chemotherapy is not recommended and not available either in Malawi," WAM adds. "The best option to manage her is therefore surgical intervention." Valiet is “very eager to have the surgery done, having traveled 80 miles to get the surgery done, but sees the financial aspect as a big hurdle to overcome.” Vailet is married with eight children and her family lives off a small piece of land that Vailet “cultivates herself by hand with a hoe with no tractor or any other equipment to assist,” WAM continues. Vailet needs a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) for $613. A TAH is the removal of the uterus and cervix, which WAM hopes will fully heal Vailet of her cervical cancer. If left untreated, Vailet's cancer will continue to spread, causing pain and other unpleasant symptoms. With a successful surgery, WAM expects that Vailet will be fully cured. She is an extremely hardworking woman, and she will be able to continue supporting herself and her family.

"We knew for a long time that Jefferson had a problem, but we didn't know what it was,” Jefferson’s parents share. “We're so glad to know what's wrong, and that there is a way to fix it!" The first-born child to office workers in Haiti, three-year-old Jefferson is an intelligent boy who asks a lot of questions and is learning to read. Jefferson’s parents have not put him in preschool yet due to a congenital heart condition known as tetralogy of Fallot. The condition involves a combination of related defects, including a hole between two chambers in the heart that results in blood passing through without being oxygenated. The lack of oxygen in the blood can cause Jefferson to faint, feel weak and be prone to sickness. Without treatment, tetralogy of Fallot can be fatal. Health City Cayman Islands is subsidizing Jefferson's heart surgery, and Watsi donors can support Jefferson with $1,500 to cover the overseas travel expenses and medical preparation he needs before surgery. “Following surgery, Jefferson should be able to lead a normal life with near-normal blood flow through his heart, and no ongoing risk of death from this condition,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance. “He will probably never need another surgery in his life.”

Meet Salma, a one-year old girl from Tanzania. Salma is her mother’s only child. Her father left the family when he saw that Salma has a disability. Salma has an imperforate anus, which means that the opening of her anus is blocked. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports: “Salma is currently passing stool through her vagina. To develop as a girl, teenager and a woman she needs to have this defect corrected.” For $1500, AMHF can perform a 3-stage surgery to fix Salma's condition. The surgery will allow Salma to pass stool normally, and develop without complications. “This treatment will give me the chance to improve our lives," shares Salma's mother.

"I am hoping that Watsi will help me so that I can be well again," Jacinta tells us. "This way, I could meet my dream of starting a green grocery to supplement my husband's income.” Jacinta is a 50-year-old mother of four from Kenya. Her husband is a public vehicle driver, but does not have a stable income. For years, Jacinta has dreamed of opening a grocery store to supplement her husband's income and support her family. But for the past two years, Jacinta has been unable to pursue this dream. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids -- benign tumors in the lining of her uterus. "Jacinta has been experiencing lower abdominal pain, heavy bleeding and body weakness," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "If not treated, Jacinta will continue to bleed and the body weakness will get worse. She is also likely to suffer from anaemia due to the heavy bleeding." “I have struggled a lot with this condition and it is by God’s grace that I have been directed to come to Nazareth [our partner hospital]," Jacinta shares. For $790, we can fund Jacinta's total abdominal hysterectomy. This procedure will remove her uterus and cervix, and relieve her pain and bleeding. “We expect after treatment, Jacinta will recover fully," AMHF adds. "She will be well again to take care of her family and achieve her dream of starting a business."

Say hi to Thet Mhu, a 20-year-old man from Burma! “Thet Mhu lives with his three siblings and mother. His mother works as a day laborer in a rice storage factory and his father passed away a few years ago. His big sister helps the family by working as a day laborer with his mother.” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Unfortunately, Thet Mhu also deals with a leaking heart valve which causes extreme fatigue. “He cannot walk far at all without having to rest – he is thin and has mild jaundice. When he sleeps on the bed, he cannot lie down on his back or else he cannot breathe; he has to sleep sitting up and he has to change position often. He cannot eat well.” says BBP. For $1,500, Thet Mhu will receive heart surgery to repair his defective valve, alleviating his extreme fatigue and restoring his health. Thet Mhu says, “Because of my condition I am not able to work or study. I am not able to play football, ride a bike, or perform difficult household chores. I can only help a little bit around the house. In the future, I want to work in agriculture and raise livestock, earning money to help provide for my family.” Let’s help Thet Mhu get his health and independence back!

“I want to go to school like my brother,” says Elisifa, a shy six-year-old from Tanzania who likes to color pictures and play with Lego blocks. The youngest in the family, she lives with her parents and her one older brother. “Elisifa’s gait has been affected due to the congenital deformity of the right foot,” reports our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Elisifa walks by using the lateral aspect of her right foot, which will lead to an early development of osteoarthritis if not treated.” Elisifa’s parents are small scale farmers who rely on seasonal income and need financial support to treat their daughter’s condition. For $1,160, AMHF will be able to provide Elisifa with clubfoot surgery. With this treatment, “Elisifa will be able to walk properly allowing her to walk [a] long distance to school and her chances of developing early osteoarthritis will decrease.” With our help, Elisifa can grow up strong and healthy.

“He was okay when he was born, but now he is very bad. I wish God to save his life," says Ladouceur’s mother. Ladouceur is a sweet one-year-old from Haiti where he lives with his parents and three older siblings. Two weeks after Ladouceur was born, his family noticed the size of his head was growing abnormally and took him to a hospital where he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition causing an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain, massive head size and sun setting eyes. If left untreated, this condition can lead to brain damage, a loss in mental and physical abilities, and even death. With all they have spent on clinic visits, Ladouceur’s parents cannot afford his treatment. We can fund a successful treatment for $1,260. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, writes, “doctors will drain the excess fluid in Ladouceur’s head and prevent more fluid from accumulating. This will give him access to a healthy life.” Let’s help Ladouceur and his family by funding this surgery!

"Lensley was born with a heart condition called tetralogy of fallot, which involves several related defects and holes in the heart that together prevent blood from adequately flowing to his lungs and throughout his body," our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), writes about this baby boy from Haiti. "Lensley has been very sick since birth, and although he is 12 months old he only weighs nine pounds." Clinicians will be able to perform surgery to address Lensley's heart defects thanks to the generosity of the International Children's Heart Foundation. $5000 will cover a majority of the cost of the procedure, but things like the cost for Lensley's overseas transport remain unfunded. With $1500 we can fund the rest of Lensley's care and get him back on track. "We have been so worried because Lensley won't grow no matter what we try to do," says Lensley's mother. "We are excited to see him start to get bigger after surgery!"