Samich is a sixteen-year-old student. He has two brothers and one sister. His father is a construction worker and his mother farms rice. He is in grade nine at school and shared that his favorite courses are mathematics and literature. He told us he would like to become a doctor when he grows up. Samich has recently developed nasal polyps in his sinuses. These obstructions make it difficult to breath, and put him at higher risk of chronic infections that cause high fever. Left untreated, Samich would experience persistent pain and irritation. He would miss school more often and his family would have to spend their limited income for medicine and treatment. Fortunately, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) can perform a nasal polypectomy procedure, and remove the polyps. After the procedure, Samich will able to breath normally and will no longer be at risk of any infection in his nose. Samich's mother shared, "I hope that he can have this nose problem stopped quickly, so that he can breath easily, have no pain, and continue his studying for his dream of being a doctor."

Cristel is an only child from Guatemala, and a joy to her parents. Cristel loves to eat beans, which are her favorite food, color and paint, and play with her dolls. Her father works in a clothing factory in Guatemala, and her mother takes care of Cristel, cooks, and cleans. Cristel lives with her mother and extended family in one-room house in a Maya Quiche village in the mountains. The family loves to spend their free time going to church, where Cristel has joined the choir. Cristel was born with several heart defects. One of them is a hole in her heart, which makes her heart work twice as hard to pump oxygenated blood into her body. She also has a defect in the veins that take blood from the lungs to the heart, which connect to the heart in the wrong place, meaning that oxygenated blood enters and leaves from the wrong part of the heart, depriving her body of oxygenated blood. If she does not receive immediate treatment, she could go into heart failure, have high blood pressure in the lungs (which is damaging), dangerous irregular heart rhythms, or a stroke. Although Cristel's father works hard, he makes only a couple dollars per day, making this life-saving surgery a luxury they cannot afford for their daughter. This surgical intervention will repair the defects in Cristel's heart and veins. $1,169 in funds will allow Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, to provide surgeons and necessary medication for Cristel's condition. Once her heart can function properly, she will be able to run and play like a normal child, and her mother will be able to send her to school without worry. She will be able to run and play for long periods of time, and be more independent, allowing her to attend school. This treatment will greatly improve her quality of life now, and prevent her from facing the life-threatening consequences of her defects later on. Her mother shares: "I hope this surgery helps Cristel to go to school, so she can study and one day be a secretary."

Marbella is one year old, and is the second daughter in her family. She lives with her parents and older brother in an adobe house in Guatemala. Her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Marbella. Her father is a day laborer in the fields, who often does not have work. While her mother is working, Marbella loves to play with plastic dishes and pretend to make food. Although her parents work hard, they do not have the resources for her to reach a healthy height and weight. Marbella is suffering from malnutrition, meaning that she is much too small for her age. Not only has her physical growth been stunted, but she also has a weak immune system—in the past two weeks alone she has suffered from a cough and a high fever. Unfortunately, malnutrition also decreases her appetite--Marbella's mother says that she almost never finishes the food she gives her, and that she gets tired quickly when she plays. If Marbella does not receive treatment, she could face the consequences of stunted mental and physical growth for the her the rest of her life, making it more likely that she will have lower-paying jobs as an adult and have children who are also malnourished. Marbella will receive growth monitoring, food supplements, and deworming medication which will help her grow, develop healthily both mentally and physically, and overcome malnutrition. Her parents will receive nutrition education so they can learn how to best feed Marbella, even with the little resources they have. If she receives treatment now, she will be able to have normal mental and physical development. This treatment will give Marbella a better chance of escaping the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that she is caught in. Her parents share, "We dream that our daughter can go to university."

Meet Karla, a nine-month-old girl from Guatemala. Karla is the youngest of three children in her family and lives with her parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. She enjoys playing with a soccer ball. Her mother works at home, cooks, cleans, and takes care of the children. Her father is a day laborer in the fields, who makes only a couple dollars per day. Karla is below the average height and the average weight for her age due to malnutrition. She currently is not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result her physical growth is stunted, and we worry her mental growth will be stunted as well. As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Karla needs to address her nutritional deficit and improve her low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Karla of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for her parents. With these combined efforts, Karla will recoup her weight and height and strengthen her immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

Alejandra, a nine-month-old baby, lives with her parents and her older in a one-room adobe house in Guatemala. Her favorite thing to do is to play with her dolls. Her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her and her siblings as well as helping Alejandra’s father cultivate corn in the nearby mountains. Although her parents work hard, they do not have the resources to feed her even one vegetable, piece of fruit, or egg—the minimum that she needs to reach a healthy height and weight. Alejandra’s parents are worried because they have noticed their daughter is not growing as well as the other children in their village, and almost never has an appetite. This is because she is malnourished, and her diet lacks the nutrients, calories, and protein she needs to grow and be healthy. If Alejandra does not receive treatment, she could face the consequences for the rest of her life—such as short stature as an adult, lower IQ, a harder time focusing, and trouble in school--all making it more likely that she will have lower-paying job as an adult and have children who face the same challenges. For $512, Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will provide Alejandra with growth monitoring, food supplements, and deworming medication which will help her grow, develop normally both mentally and physically, and overcome malnutrition. Her parents will receive nutrition education, so they can learn how to best feed Alejandra, even with the little resources they have. If she receives treatment now, she will be able to have normal mental and physical development, giving him a better chance to be a successful student and to one day be qualified for a well-paying job. "We hope that one day, she can have a university degree," says Alejandra's mother. With our help, this treatment will give Alejandra a better chance of escaping the cycle of malnutrition and poverty.

"I hope after surgery I can walk again and work to support my family,” says Rin, a 36-year-old husband and father from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tell us Rin works in a garment factory, and enjoys listening to Khmer music, and watching the news and volleyball during his spare time. On December 30th, 2013, Rin got in a motor vehicle accident, which left his left tibia, or shin bone, fractured. Even after two months of treatment from a local hospital, Rin is still in a lot of pain from the fracture. ”It is difficult for me to walk because it is painful,” shares Rin. In addition to pain, he has difficulty walking. Without treatment, not only will these symptoms persist, he risks future injuries due to improper healing. CSC can provide Rin with ORIF, open reduction and internal fixation, surgery. During surgery, his tibia will be realigned and set in place so that healing can occur properly and quickly. This procedure will cost a total of $405. “After surgery, Rin will be able to walk properly and return to work again. His left leg will not experience any more pain and redness,” states CSC.