Rebecca is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her parents and younger sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; she graduated from a local college with a business degree but has been unable to work for the past ten years because of her heart condition. She enjoys cooking and listening to Haitian music. Rebecca has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of Rebecca's heart was severely damaged due to an infection she suffered as a teenager; her heart could not adequately pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery that she needs is not available anywhere in Haiti. Rebecca need to fly to the United States to receive treatment. She will undergo cardiac surgery, and doctors will remove Rebecca's damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, will contribute $26,000 to pay for surgery. Rebecca's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow-up care. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. Rebecca shared with us: "Once I am fully healthy, I would like to return to Haiti and adopt a child to start my own family."

Hapyness is a charming 9-month-old girl, born to hardworking farmers in the remote village of Igot, in the Ulanga district of Tanzania. Her family's daily life revolves around the cultivation of maize and millet, which not only sustains their meals, but also provides a modest income for the family’s necessities. Unfortunately, her father, who is advancing in age, cannot work extended hours, so her mother toils diligently on the farm, to ensure they yield bountiful harvests. Hapyness was born with a clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is abnormally twisted, making it difficult for her to crawl and eventuall to walk. At the time of her birth, the nurse in attendance recommended immediate medical attention. However, locating such specialized care in their isolated village proved to be impossible. After months of searching, Hapyness' father crossed paths with a young boy who had had a clubfoot which had been successfully treated, and he was able to provide Hapyness' father with the information he had been seeking. As a result of this meeting, Hapyness' parents brought her to the Plaster House, where her treatment will begin on October 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Hapyness' clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to crawl and to walk comfortably as she grows. Hapyness’s mother says: “I am glad there is a chance for my daughter to get treatment. I hope she doesn't have to live with this disability for the rest of her life.”

Sam Art is a 63-year-old retired rice farmer from Kandal province, Cambodia. She lives near her younger sister, who helps support Sam Art by working in a nearby rice field. They spend much of their time together and enjoy volunteering at the pagoda in their village. About four years ago, Sam Art developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Sam Art learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled two hours seeking treatment. On August 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Sam Art is able to contribute $50 to the cost of the surgery and is asking for help to raise the remaining $253 to fully fund the procedure. She shared, "After surgery I want to plant some vegetable to sell in my village and help support myself and my sister."

Jackline is a 17-year-old student from Machakos County in Kenya. She is in form three at AIC Kunikela High School and aspires to become a doctor in the future. Both of her parents are farmers. When she was one year old, Jackline was burned on her left elbow by hot water. After the burn healed, she developed a contracture of her elbow, preventing her from using her arm to help her mother around the house or play volleyball, her favorite sport. While she has been to different hospitals, the contracture remains, negatively impacting her self-esteem. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is here to help. On May 8th, surgeons at AIC Cure International Hospital will perform burn contracture release surgery, enabling Jackline to use her arm and hand more easily. Jackline and her family need your help to fund this $840 procedure. “My joy would be to use my hand like other people, and any help to correct this will be highly appreciated,” Jackline told us.

Kyi is a 57-year-old woman, living with her husband in Burma. They shared that together they do not have children and they love to dedicate their time to helping others in their community. Kyi's husband volunteers with the Karen Forestry Department, helps with household chores, and grows rice and vegetables, while also raising chickens for them to eat. Kyi works in a medical clinic helping patients and is training in emergency obstetric care in Thailand. Kyi experiences back and abdominal pain, fatigue and weakness, and other symptoms. Doctors determined that Kyi suffers from gallstones; she has been advised to have her gallbladder removed to heal her symptoms and prevent further complications with her health in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyi is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 7th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Kyi's procedure and care. Kyi is determined to have a big impact in her community and shared: "I want to be healthy so that I can devote my mind, body, and work to fully serving my people until my last breath.”

Riane is a four-year-old boy from the Philippines who loves playing with his siblings and friends. Born with a cleft palate, Riane experiences difficulty eating and speaking. Fortunately, Riane will receive correctional surgery at our medical partner's hospital, Mindanao Medical Center, on May 23. The procedure will cost $69. This surgery will help Riane lead a more healthy and normal life. His mother expresses her gratitude, saying, "We are happy for this opportunity and thank you for your help."

Betty is a brave 16-year-old girl from Kenya. Her region in the Eastern province is dry, and they rely on grazing to make ends meet. Betty's home is close to a national park. With scarcity in the grazing fields, communities venture into the park to graze their cows, despite the risk of wild animal attacks. Betty was grazing her mother’s livestock when she decided to drive them by the river to quench their thirst. What she did not know is that the river was infested with crocodiles. She quickly realized that her goats were running away and ran to assess the situation. Unfortunately, she was bit and hurled into the river by a crocodile. Betty bravely fought the crocodile alone and managed to escape—albeit without her right thumb. Betty was given first aid at a nearby dispensary. She was then referred to our medical partner's care center to get the treatment she needs. Betty needs surgery to remove the dead tissue from her wound to expose healthy tissue. She will also need a skin graft. Her mother works as a cook at a local lodge, while her siblings work in casual labor, with no steady means of income. The family is unable to afford Betty’s surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,129 to fund Betty’s surgery. Betty says, “I want to be treated for the excruciating pain, and be able to go back to school."

Emily is a 45-year-old widowed mother of seven. She is an active member of her community, serving as the treasurer for the community savings and loan association, and always attending church on Sundays. Emily has been living with a painful hernia in her left leg for the past five years, making it hard to support her family. She works as a tailor in her village, but recently the pain from her hernia has been so intense that she has had to stop. She could not afford surgery to have it repaired, but when the village health worker told her about the Watsi program, she came to our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, for help. On May 4, Emily will undergo hernia repair surgery, and is requesting $229 to cover the total cost of her procedure. “I would like to tell all the donors my appreciation for their help. I did not have enough savings to pay for the hospital. This is a great gift and I will use it well," says Emily.

This is Punlouk, an 11-year-old boy from Cambodia. “Punlouk has one brother and six sisters, and is the youngest in the family of eight children. He enjoys eating all kinds of fish and meat, and likes to play football,” says our medical partner, the Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Punlouk has had congenital meningoencephalocele (MEC) — a neural tube defect — since birth. This means he has sacs of brain tissue and fluid protruding through a defect in his skull. Punlouk is shy to go outside because of his symptoms. For $390, we can fund surgery that will reposition the protrusions back in the skull and correct the deformities, which could otherwise delay normal brain development. After treatment, “Punlouk will be able to go outside and play with his friends without being shy,” says CSC.

Debendra is a hardworking and caring 11-year-old boy from Nepal. He takes on a lot of responsibility in his household as his father is usually gone, working in India, and he is the eldest of his five siblings. He works in the family's field and sells their cow's milk. Debendra told our medical partners at Nyaya Health that "he really loves his mother" and "he wants to complete his studies and get a good job, so that his mother may not have to toil so hard for a living." Recently, Debendra fell down from a tree and fractured his leg. If left untreated, the fracture will affect his daily activities like walking and also impair growth of his leg. Let's help fund his $1040 corrective treatment so this well-deserving boy can continue helping his mother.

Tek Bahadur is a seven-year-old cricket enthusiast from Nepal who recently fell on his outstretched arm during a match. The resulting break was severe and could cause permanent disability if left untreated. Tek Bahadur is the youngest son of his family of seven. His parents work as manual laborers for most of the year, as their small farm provides only enough resources for a few months. Tek Bahadur's father is worried that his son won't get the proper care because the family cannot afford to pay. For $1,040, Tek Bahadur can have surgery to allow his arm to heal properly. Let's help him enjoy a healthier future - and get back on the cricket field!

Mu Lar is fourteen-years-old and lives with her family in Burma. She is a very happy girl who always wants to play with other kids. She loves school and hopes to be a teacher someday. Because of her heart condition, she has had very little energy and her fingers and toes show signs of clubbing. It is hard to play with other kids because she gets exhausted easily, and walking to school tires her. Her heart condition also causes her to eat very little and has stunted her growth, so she looks much younger than she actually is. For $1500, Mu Lar can receive an artery shunt that will correct her congenital heart condition. This will alleviate her constant feeling of exhaustion. Mu Lar looks forward to being able to walk to school and helping out around the house. Let’s get Mu Lar back to being a normal girl and playing with her friends!