Patrick is a child from Tanzania. He is two years old and the fourth in a family of five children. Patrick parents are farmers. Patrick has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Without treatment, Patrick will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Patrick that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 5 and will drain the excess fluid from Patrick's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Patrick will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Patrick’s aunt says, “Please help my nephew get better."

“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!

Meet Zin Mar, a 32-year-old newlywed from Burma. Zin Mar lives with her husband, who is a shop keeper, and his family. Zin Mar has a uterine myoma, a large and uncomfortable mass on her uterus. This condition has greatly worried Zin Mar, who wants to have children more than anything, as it can cause infertility if left untreated. $865 will remove the mass and send Zin Mar home, happy and ready to have a baby whenever she and her husband decide is right. “In Burma, no one can support my medical care,” shares Zin Mar. “I am very lucky to have found this program. All I want in the future is to recover quickly and to be able to give my husband a baby. I want to live with my family – my husband and my children and be happy.”

Meet Alice, a 32-year-old pregnant mother of five from Kenya. Alice loves sports, watching football, and music -- "even as we interview her there is a soft music playing in the background," says our medical partner, Lwala Community Alliance. Alice's pregnancy has been particularly difficult. She experiences lower back pain, abdominal pain and intense fatigue. She is a farmer, and notes that she is unable to do any weeding to allow for a good harvest. Her husband often stays in a nearby town, as it is closer to his work, so Alice must take care of her five children and the farm. With her limited finances, Alice currently cannot afford a safe and hygienic delivery in a hospital. For $290, Alice can deliver her baby in a safe health facility. "She can return to the farm so that she can get a good harvest to supplement their family needs," says our medical partner. Alice shares, “I hope my newborn will be an engineer if he is a boy and a nurse if she will be a girl. I also hope for a safe and healthy delivery for my baby.” Let’s help Alice gain access to the healthcare she and her baby will need to live full and happy lives!

This is Lydia, a 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her half-brother and parents, who work hard as casual laborers. Lydia’s journey to Watsi began when she started experiencing severe, recurrent headaches and convulsions. She has not been able to go to school this semester because her symptoms worsened during the August school holidays. In addition to the headaches and convulsions, her limbs have weakened and she can no longer sit or stand without support. Lydia was admitted and later discharged from a local hospital, however her mother noticed that there was no improvement in her health. Eventually doctors diagnosed Lydia with a brain tumor and determined that she would need surgery. “If the surgery is not done,” our medical partners share, “Lydia could suffer permanent brain damage or even premature death.” Lydia’s loving mother says, “my daughter is very intelligent, however this sickness has really affected her schooling. My prayer and hope is that she gets well soon, so that she can go back to school. We hope that we will get support for her treatment.” $1,260 will pay for the craniotomy, a surgical procedure that will allow doctors to remove the tumor. After surgery Lydia will be able to resume school and she will no longer suffer from headaches or convulsions. Let’s help Lydia get well!

Debendra is a 33-year-old breadwinner for his family of nine in Nepal. He owns a small piece of land that feeds him, his wife, and his kids for around three months each year. But Debendra has to travel to India every year to work as a laborer to earn enough to make up the difference. Recently, when he was climbing the stairs in his house, Debendra tripped and fell down the whole flight of stairs. He was unable to stand up and felt "a sharp pain in the left side of the hip" immediately afterward. Now, he can't work. His family relies on Debendra and his work to meet day-to-day expenses. But the cost of care Debendra needs right now is prohibitive for his family - even if they sell off the land they own. That's where we come in. For $1,415, we can pay for Debendra's surgery and support the care he needs to walk normally again.

Say hello to Mashvin, a special 14-month-old baby boy who lives with his young mother and great aunt in Kenya. Mashvin was born with hydrocephalus, causing enlarged head size, increased intra cranial pressure, and sun-setting eyes. Mashvin’s family is unable to raise funds for Mashvin’s surgery. If surgery is not performed, Mashvin is likely to develop brain damage and blindness. “The growth of my baby’s head has really troubled me. I hope that Mashvin can get treated soon,” says Mashvin’s mother. Let’s raise $980 so Mashvin can receive a shunt incision. “We expect that the surgery will reduce the intra cranial pressure in Mashvin’s head and he will not suffer brain damage nor become blind,” our medical partners write. Let’s join together to help Mashvin and his family!