Paul is a four-year-old boy from Kenya. He has a twin brother. Paul lives with his family in a rental house in Nairobi. Paul was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes uncomfortable urinary symptoms. Without treatment, Paul risked infertility or social stigma. Fortunately, he visited our medical partner's hospital and underwent a repair surgery on December 28. Paul's parents are unable to pay for his treatment. His mother is a greengrocer, while his father works at a milk bar. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to fund Paul's treatment. "I try to give my children the best," says Paul's mother. "I’ll appreciate any support."

Yan Pai is a 16-year-old boy from Burma. He left school one year ago because his family could no longer afford tuition. Since then, Yan Pai has been working as a day laborer. For a few months, Yan Pai was experiencing pain in his leg. He tried to continue working, even taking a new job in a furniture shop. Recently, however, the pain grew so severe that Yan Pai found walking difficult and he began using crutches. X-rays showed an abnormal growth in his leg. Yan Pai was referred to a Watsi medical partner for further investigation. He received an MRI on October 17, 2016. The MRI results will help doctors make a diagnosis and plan treatment. Yan Pai's mother supports the family, but her income as a day laborer does not cover his medical costs. She has already sold a piece of land, and Yan Pai is sad that his condition is affecting his family. The family needs help to fund his $814 MRI. Of the future, Yan Pai is hopeful. "I want to be a businessman someday," he says.

Jonica is a 10-month-old girl from the Philippines living with her parents and two siblings in a small house made of nipa and bamboo. Her family shares electricity with the neighbors and gets water from a deep well. Jonica's father works as a pineapple planter and struggles to provide enough food for the family. As a result, Jonica is moderately acutely malnourished and has a tiny body and a slightly bloated belly. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. Without proper treatment, Jonica risked delayed development and potential long-term physical and cognitive impairments. Fortunately, on October 17, 2016, Jonica began receiving treatment from Watsi's medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). ICM's $184 home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to help malnourished children regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. In addition, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to check up on the child's progress. To help sustain the child's health, ICM staff also educate family members about proper nutrition, organic vegetable gardening, sanitation, and hygiene. With this treatment regimen and educational component, Jonica will be able to recover from her condition. "I hope that Jonica will recover from malnutrition so that she will grow to become healthy and strong," says Jonica's mother. "I want her to be a teacher someday." Let's help Jonica achieve these goals!

Samrach is a 20-year-old boy in 12th grade from Cambodia. He has three brothers and one sister. Samrach enjoys watching TV and reading his books at home. Samrach traveled four hours with his mom to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. Samrach fractured his left forearm in a car accident on February 19th, 2016. He can't use his left hand, and is in a lot of pain. Surgeons at CSC will perform an open reduction internal fixation plate procedure, which realigns his bones, so he can use his arm again. The cost of the surgery will be $411. Samrach's family needs financial assistance to complete payment. After the surgery, his fractured forearm will heal and he will be able to use his left hand again.

Meet Blessing, an adorable baby girl born to loving parents in Kenya. Her mother is a housewife while her father works in a hardware store. Ever since she was born, Blessing has had a series of health complications. Born with a mass swell on her lower back, Blessing underwent surgery which repaired her back two weeks after birth. A few weeks later, Blessing developed an infection and was readmitted in hospital for care. Just as she was getting better, the doctor diagnosed her to have hydrocephalus, a condition where one is found to have excess fluid in her skull. This condition is associated with a progressive increase in head circumference, headaches, and irritability. The resulting increased intracranial pressure can lead to brain stem compression. All the while, Blessing’s parents have been looking for financial support from family and friends, so that Blessing can receive the treatment she needs. Her parents are now in a dilemma as they are not in a position to raise the funds required for surgical care, let alone repay the debts. Watsi's medical partner will provide the surgery she needs to divert the excess fluid from her brain to her abdomen. The excess cerebrospinal fluid will then be drained and can relieve the overwhelming pressure on her swelling brain. In tears, Blessing's mother shared: "Blessing has spent most of her life in the hospital. We have incurred so much debt and we are not even close to clearing any of it. Watsi will be life saving."

Feckson is a 55-year-old farmer living in Malawi with his wife and four children. He works as a small-scale farmer to support his family. Eight years ago, Feckson started experiencing urinary hesitancy. He visited our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, and was found with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate. His symptoms worsened such that he was unable to pass urine, and had a catheter placed. Feckson had to stop working, and was unable to afford further treatment. For $742, Feckson can have the prostate resection surgery he needs. The surgery would alleviate the strain on his urethra and bladder to allow urine to pass more easily. The total cost will cover the procedure, supplies, medications, and three days of inpatient care. It is expected that Feckson will make a complete recovery after surgery, and will be able to discontinue use of his catheter. "I look forward to leading a normal life again, without the catheter," he shares.

Augustino is a cute, nine-year-old boy from Tanzania, born on November 1, 2006. Augustino is the first born in a family of four children. He was born without any problems, but when he turned five-years-old, his legs slowly started to bow inwards causing him to knock his knees when walking. He now complains of feeling pain on the knees especially when climbing up a hill. He can’t run as fast as he used to. Augustino enjoys playing with cars and lego blocks. His mother does a bit of farm work and his father is a self-employed carpenter. What they both earn is not enough to cover their day to day expenses as well as the cost of surgery which Augustino needs. For $940, Augustino will have surgery to treat his knocked knees, allowing him to walk properly. "I hope my son’s legs can be straightened to allow him to walk properly so that he can go to school," his father shared, "and later on get a good career and ability to live an independent life."

Meet Naing, a 42-year-old former soldier in the Burmese army who lost his right leg in combat 15 years ago. He was released from duty and returned to his home in Karen State, Burma. His family consists of his wife and five daughters, and he is a patient with our medical partner, Burma Border Projects. Naing works occasionally doing a variety of odd jobs including weaving bamboo roofs, crafting bamboo products and supporting his family from income from a snack stall at his home. The income is sufficient for the family’s basic expenses but there isn’t enough for savings or health care. Naing began to experience pain some months ago. He was diagnosed with a bladder stone and Watsi and other entities supported surgery to remove the stone. However, at that time he was also diagnosed with kidney stones which now require further surgery. $1,500 funds surgery that will remove Naing's kidney stones. The cost of the treatment includes surgery and a post-operative visit. Let's help Naing get back to normal and fund this treatment.

Meet Leandra, a one-month-old girl from Guatemala with a severe case of malnutrition. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) explains, “Leandra has been losing weight and getting sick frequently, due to her severe case of malnutrition. She has lost weight since she was born because her mother cannot make enough breastmilk to help Leandra grow.” “This has made her mother very stressed and upset, because Leandra cries all the time due to her hunger. In an effort to make her stop crying, she has been giving her sugar water, which has made her gain a little weight, but puts her at risk of diarrhea, starvation, and seizures due to the lack of calories, antibodies, and electrolytes,” WK shares. “Leandra is the second child in her family. She lives with her parents and older sister in a one-room house made of wood. Her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids. Sometimes, she goes out and helps her husband look for wood to chop and sell, all the while carrying Leandra on her back. Her husband also works fishing in the nearby lake, and sells the fish he catches. Although they work hard, they often do not have enough money to buy even basic foods for their family, and often make less in a month than what formula costs," WK continues. $1,016 will cover the cost of Leandra’s treatment, which involves supplying Leandra with formula and her mother with health education. Her mother said, "I am so thankful to the donors that think of my daughter and want to help her."

Blessing is a 35-year-old seamstress from Nigeria who has one older and four younger siblings. Our medical partner, Hope for West Africa, tells us she has a "sweet personality" and likes to cook. Blessing was recently diagnosed with uterine fibroids, painful noncancerous growths in the uterus. As a result, she has been having painful, prolonged menstrual periods and difficulty urinating. "Due to the pains and prolonged menstrual flow she hasn't been concentrating in her business of making clothes," shares Hope for West Africa, our medical partner. Blessing is unable to pay for treatment, as she contributes part of her income to help her siblings attend school. For $1,500 we can fund surgery to remove the growths, relieving Blessing's pain. The funding will also cover hospitalization and recovery. "Blessing looks forward to when she can concentrate and spend most days in her shop without pain and heavy flow," the staff at Hope for West Africa adds.

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.

Edna is a mother of seven from Haiti. Four years ago, she lost her husband and now raises their children alone. Until recently, she managed a small business selling clothes on the street. Two years ago, Edna noticed a lump in her breast but did not seek treatment for some time. Recently, she visited our medical partner, Project Medishare, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. “She is scared of the cancer diagnosis and can’t wait to have the treatment,” they share. The cancer made her ill to the point she could no longer work, and now has no income for her family and the treatment. “She has significant physical limitations as a result of the cancer,” explains Project Medishare. “Her children are in school and cannot help her with everything and she is unable to afford her treatment.” With our support of $1,500, Edna will undergo a mastectomy to remove the cancer in her breast and chemotherapy to ensure that it does not come back. These funds will cover the necessary pre-operative care, surgical costs, chemotherapy drugs, and hospital stay. “She hopes to get back to work selling clothes and to get back to caring for her children,” Project Medishare shares. “Since her husband died, she is their sole caretaker.” Let’s help Edna get well and return to enjoying time with her family.