Ruth is a 14-year-old student who lives in Haiti with her mother, grandmother, and sister. She enjoys going to school and to church, and Ruth would like to study to become a nurse. Ruth suffers from mitral regurgitation, which she contracted from a rheumatic fever several years ago. With this condition, blood leaks backward into the left atrium and could result in heart failure if not treated. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to fund Ruth's air transport to the Cayman Islands, where her treatment is scheduled to take place on July 5. Once there, Ruth will receive the care that she needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. "I am a little scared of my surgery, but I know that God will protect me and make everything go well," says Ruth.

“I really need this operation,” shares Michael, a native of Malawi. At 70 years old, Michael still works two jobs to earn a living—he cultivates a small farm, and he also builds fences for hire. He and his wife raised a large family of four children, and now they have five grandchildren. Since February of last year, however, Michael has not been able to keep up the fast pace of work. An enlarged prostate gland has made it difficult for him to urinate. This condition causes pain and impedes his ability to work. Prostate resection surgery has a high rate of success for cases like Michael’s, but he was previously unable to afford the procedure. Fortunately, he visited our medical partner's care center, and he will now undergo this operation on March 16. Surgeons will remove a small part of his prostate, allowing urine to pass freely through his urethra once more. $733 will cover the cost of this surgery, as well as his medications, seventeen-day hospital stay, and roundtrip travel to the medical facility. Once his operation is complete, Michael is expected to make a full recovery. Let’s help this busy family man get back to the work and people he loves.

Kesline is a 41-year-old mother of two who lives in Haiti. She likes going to church and is a strong believer in God. Although Kesline used to work as a street merchant, the interference of her illness with the heavy lifting required by her trade has forced her to stop. Two years ago, Kesline felt a small mass in her right breast. After a multitude of tests and exams, she was eventually diagnosed with breast cancer. Ever since, Kesline has undergone 12 sessions of chemotherapy and has experienced extensive discomfort. Kesline has spent all of her life’s savings on medical fees, tests, exams, and trips to different hospitals. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is therefore requesting $1,085 to fund a mastectomy for Kesline, which is scheduled to take place on June 14. Kesline is excited for this next step, hoping that, after surgery, she will have more energy, become more independent, and be able to take care of herself.

John is a father of one child who lives with his family in a rental house in rural Kenya. He is a lorry driver. In January, John sustained a fracture in his jaw. On the day of the injury, he was taken to a local hospital, where he learned that he needed surgery. However, John and his family could not afford the high cost of the surgery. If his fracture is not treated, John will be at risk of malunion or nonunion. In other words, his broken jaw may heal improperly, which will cause him continued pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $640 to fund a repair surgery. John's family will pay $52. He is scheduled to undergo the operation on March 10. After he receives the proper treatment, John will be able to live a healthy life again. He says, “I want to be well and continue providing for my family."

Tapesh is a nine-year-old student who lives with his grandparents. His parents live in India, and his father sends home money for Tapesh's schooling. Tapesh enjoys listening to music and singing. Tapesh was swinging on the branch of a tree when the branch snapped, and he fell to the ground and landed on his left hand. He has been in constant pain since then. He has difficulty writing in school, and he also cannot eat or dress on his own. Tapesh's uncle took a three-hour jeep ride to bring him to our medical partner's care center, Bayalpata Hospital. On February 19, Tapesh will be fitted with a cast to align the bones in his wrist. Now, Tapesh needs assistance in funding this $195 treatment.

Netra is a 15-year-old boy from Nepal. He lives with his parents and siblings. His father works in India to support his family, and his mother farms and looks after cattle. Netra is a student currently in the ninth grade. Netra was grazing his cattle when he stumbled on a stone and broke his left hand. Since his accident, his hand has been swollen, and he has been unable to go to school and be independent. On March 19, Netra will undergo orthopedic surgery at Bayalpata Hospital, our medical partner's care center, to repair his hand. Our medical partner, Possible, is asking for $541 to fund his surgery and accompanying medication, lab, hospital, and medical supply fees. Netra's uncle is looking forward to Netra's successful recovery!

Merlinda is a 51-year-old mother of four who lives in the Philippines. Her husband provides the majority of her family's income. However, Merlinda sometimes sells barbecue outside their home to supplement the household income. For over a year, Merlinda has experienced excessive blood loss due to gynecological problems, causing her headaches, body pains, leg cramps, and fatigue. These symptoms hinder her ability to take care of her home and children. If left untreated, the condition may cause Merlinda further complications. With the help of a health trainer from our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), Melinda was diagnosed with uterine leiomyomas, tumors that arise from the overgrowth of smooth muscle and connective tissue in the uterus. ICM's head medic recommended Melinda for surgery. Melinda is scheduled for surgery on February 17. It will cost $187. Your donation will help pay for Melinda's labs, medication, hospital food, and a follow up consultation. The surgery will alleviate her symptoms and prevent any further complications. "I am so happy for the help and support," Melinda says. She adds, "If I will fully recover, I will help my husband earn for my family by looking for a job so we can both sustain the needs of our children so they can finish their education. Thank you so much for this great opportunity."

Mariam is a 12-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is one of four children. She lives with her mother, who works as a cook at a local school. The family first noticed a problem when Mariam started feeling pain in her hips. For the first time, Mariam's family sought help from a hospital. At the hospital, Miriam was diagnosed with exostosis, a condition characterized by the benign outgrowth of cartilaginous tissue on a bone. If not treated, the mass may continue to grow. Mariam likes going to school, but she hasn't been able to attend recently. She will undergo surgery to remove the mass on January 12. For $920, we can fund this procedure. "We hope after surgery, Mariam will be able to return to school to continue her studies," says her older brother, "because education is the key to life."

Somaly is a two-year-old girl from Cambodia. She has one older brother and two older sisters. She likes to play with dolls and play games. Somaly was born with a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and cloudy lenses. She has difficulty walking around independently. When Somaly's mother learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 22, doctors performed a lens aspiration in each eye to remove the cataract. After recovery, Somaly's vision will improve. Now, her family needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope my daughter can see like other kids," says Somaly's mother, "so that I don't have to worry about her eyes having any problems. I want her to be able to play with her siblings and friends, and I want her to go to school to study like other children."

Froi is a four-year-old boy from the Philippines. He loves to draw and write. He is an only child, and his mother and father are salespeople. When his parents are at work, his grandparents take care of him. The family lives in a house made of cement and plywood. Froi has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. He began $268 malnutrition treatment on October 24. He is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope he can gain weight," says his grandmother.

Meet Andy, a two-year-old boy who loves to play ball with his neighbor. Andy and his parents live in a small house without access to electricity or water. Andy has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. He began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 19. He is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope Andy can recover from being underweight and become strong and healthy," Andy's mother shares. "I hope that he can go to school and finish college, so that he can have a good job someday."

Watison is a 69-year-old farmer from a village in Malawi's Central Region. He lives with his wife near their six children and grandchildren. To support himself and his family, Watison works as a farmer. In his free time, he likes weaving and spending time with his kids. For the past three years, Watison has been experiencing symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, such as difficulty with urination. His pain has prevented him from working, jeopardizing his and his family's well being. They are all eager for him to finally feel better and return to his daily life. In Watison's case, this is a benign condition [also known as prostatic hyperplasia] that is easily treated through surgery. The procedure involves the removal of prostrate tissue obstructing the urethra, effectively treating his symptoms and discomfort. Watison shared: "I want to be free from pain." Let's help make it possible.