Anderson is eleven months old and has malnutrition. He lives with his family in rural Guatemala. He likes to eat papaya and play cars and is learning to stand up on his own. In the short term, malnutrition means Anderson has little energy to grow and that his immune system is weak. If Anderson does not receive treatment, he will also face malnutrition’s long-term consequences, such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients and food supplementation will help Anderson recover. He will begin treatment on February 16. While Anderson’s mother cares deeply for her son and is eager to keep learning about nutrition, she cannot afford Anderson's care. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $437 to fund his treatment. During treatment, Anderson will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake.

Keo Mony is a 38-year-old soldier who is married with one son and four daughters. He likes to watch TV, read magazines, and go fishing in his free time. Keo Mony has been diagnosed with bilateral hip avascular necrosis (AVN), which causes his bone tissue to break down. He experiences pain in both of his hips. In December, Keo Mony traveled for two hours with his wife to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Surgeons successfully performed a total hip replacement on his right side. His right side feels better, but he still experiences pain on his left side. Therefore, surgeons at CSC will perform a total hip replacement on Keo Mony's left side to relieve him of this pain. His surgery is scheduled for February 9. Keo Mony's family cannot afford to pay for this treatment, so CSC is requesting $781 in funding.

Ponna is a 36-year-old driver who is married and has two sons. In his free time, he likes to drink coffee at a cafe, watch boxing on TV, and listen to the news on the radio. In July 2016, Ponna was in a motor vehicle accident, which caused a dislocation of his right hip and a fracture in his left humerus. He was treated at a local hospital, where surgeons performed a closed reduction procedure on his right hip to allow the bone to grow back together. However, his symptoms did not improve, and he began to experience pain in his right femur. Ponna traveled for four hours with his father to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. On February 3, surgeons at CSC fixated a traction pin in his right femur. Now, Ponna has returned for a follow-up open reduction internal fixation procedure, which will heal the dislocation and allow Ponna to walk easily again. This procedure is scheduled for February 10. Our medical partner is requesting $411 to fund the procedure.

Youbendjy is a four-month-old baby who lives in a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince with his mother, father, and older sister. Neither parent is employed full-time, but both of them work as day laborers when they can. Youbendjy was born with a cardiac condition called total anomalous pulmonary vein return, in which the pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium of the heart. Typically, these veins should connect to the left atrium. This condition deprives his body of oxygen and leads to heart failure. Youbendjy will undergo a surgery in which the veins are disconnected from the heart and reconnected in the appropriate location. First, he will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 9. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Youbendjy also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Youbendjy's surgical care. "I thought from the time my baby was born that we would lose him," says his mother. "It is like a dream for me that we have a chance for surgery."

Diogenes is an 11-year-old seventh grade student from Elias Pina, a town on the border between Haiti and western Dominican Republic. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and two younger sisters. Diogenes enjoys playing soccer. Diogenes was born with a cardiac condition called partial atrioventricular canal defect, in which a hole exists between the four chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. On February 7, Diogenes will begin receiving treatment at our medical partner's care center, Hospital Pediatrico Robert Reid Cabral. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to fund a full cardiac assessment, which includes physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital for Diogenes. The funding also covers the cost of medications and social support for Diogenes and his family. Diogenes's surgical care is being subsidized by Gift of Life International for $7,000. "I am excited for my surgery so that I can play soccer with my friends without getting tired!" says Diogenes.

Ma Nyein is a dressmaker who lives with her son and extended family in Burma. In early 2016, Ma Nyein had an accident in her home, which resulted in chronic, severe pain on the left side of her head and numbness in her left eye. She was no longer able to work as a dressmaker. After the use of prescribed painkillers did not help, she consulted an eye surgeon. After numerous diagnostic procedures, Ma Nyein was found to have a large cyst on her optic chiasm. The optic chiasm is the point in the brain where the optic nerves cross. The optic nerves are pathways that carry information from the eyes to the brain. The cyst on Ma Nyein’s optic chiasm needs to be surgically removed. On February 8, Ma Nyein will undergo a cyst excision procedure. She needs help to fund this $1,500 surgery. Ma Nyein says, "I am excited to have surgery and get well soon. I plan to start sewing as soon as I recover from this illness."

Htwe is a 35-year-old wife and mother from Burma who works as an agricultural day laborer. She lives with her three-year-old daughter, husband, and extended family. Two years ago, Htwe began to feel a lump developing in her lower abdomen. As the lump progressed in size, she began to experience severe back pain, eventually finding it unbearable to work. After two and a half years of intense pain, Htwe and her husband decided to seek treatment in January 2017. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital (MSH), where an ultrasound and other tests revealed that Htwe has a myoma, a benign, non-cancerous tumor in her uterus. It was recommended that she undergo surgery to remove her entire uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a total abdominal hysterectomy on February 2. Due to Htwe and her husband’s inconsistent sources of income, they are unable to pay for the surgery without support. This family-focused mother hopes to return to her job after her surgery and support her daughter’s future. “I want to work hard to save money for my daughter’s education. I want my daughter to become a teacher or a nurse when she grows up. I don’t want her to do hard work like me,” she shares.

Maung Chit is 43 years old and the father of a large family. He lives with his family in Burma. He works very hard as a day laborer, employed by several large farms. In April 2016, Maung Chit experienced an accident while unloading timber from a wagon. A portion of the load fell on top of him and broke his right leg above the ankle. In June 2016, he made the four-hour journey to a clinic, where an X-ray of his leg was taken. He was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), to examine the large bulge on his leg, which was preventing him from walking. In December 2016, Maung Chit underwent an internal and external fixation surgery. Maung Chit now needs another surgery to remove the rod placed during his first operation. Our medical partner, BCMF, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure.

Win Than is a 32-year-old housewife who lives with her husband and three children in Burma. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver and deliveryman and is the sole earner in the family. Her youngest child is in school, and her older children help her around the house. The family income is just enough for their daily expenses. About three months ago, Win Than began to experience lower abdominal pain. An ultrasound confirmed that Win Than had an ovarian cyst on her left ovary. She will undergo an oophorectomy to remove the ovary on February 3. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure.

Poe is a 34-year-old man from Burma. He works as a border security guard and protects the Burmese border. While on the way to get a haircut, Poe hit a patch of loose gravel and was thrown off his bike. Poe landed on the side of the road and was knocked unconscious. When Poe woke up after the accident, he knew that his leg was broken. He was unable to stand, and a passerby helped him get to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, for an X-ray. The X-ray showed displaced fractures to the tibia and fibula of his right leg. The X-rays revealed that Poe will need surgery to fix the fractures. On January 27, Poe will undergo an internal fixation procedure to mend his broken bones. He needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. "Thank you for helping me. I hope I will recover from this very soon so that I can play cane ball with my friends," he says.

Meet Julia, a stay-at-home mother of nine children from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After the birth of her ninth child, Julia noticed that a large mass had developed in her left breast and formed a ball under her armpit. Julia experienced extreme pain, resulting in loss of sleep and limited function of her left arm. After a consultation at a local hospital, Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer. Julia was referred to our medical partner's care center, St. Luc Family Hospital, where she received four sessions of chemotherapy. On February 15, Julia will undergo a mastectomy to remove all the breast tissue and cancerous cells. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is asking for $1,085 to fund Julia's surgery. Julia says that her husband is her biggest supporter and that their family encourages her to keep fighting.