Jackyto is a six-year-old boy from southern Haiti. He is in the first grade and likes going to school and drawing. Jackyto has four siblings and his parents are farmers. Jackyto was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This means he has a hole between two chambers of his heart and a muscular blockage in one of the heart's valves. As a result, not enough oxygen is delivered to his body, leaving him sick and weak. Although Watsi has already funded Jackyto's [transportation](https://watsi.org/profile/e95b7420cae8-jackyto) to the hospital for his surgery, he is still in need of $1,500 to cover exams, heart surgery prep, and medications. Have a Heart Cayman is also contributing $22,000 to the costs of his heart surgery. "I am so thankful Jackyto will be able to travel for his surgery!" says Jackyto’s mother.

Darius is a 20-year-old farmer from Uganda. His crops consist of tomatoes and tea, which he produces for his personal consumption as well as for sale in his community. When he is not working, he enjoys watching soccer and visiting his friends and relatives. Darius has had chronic osteomyelitis for four years now. What started as a small swelling has become a painful open sore that is chronically draining. Osteomyelitis is the result of a bacterial bone infection that can have serious implications for Darius's health if left untreated. As Darius's condition has severely impacted his ability to walk and work, he traveled 45 kilometers to our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, to seek treatment. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that Darius will require extensive procedures to rid his body of the infection. Not only will surgery be required to remove the damaged bone and skin, but he will need a long course of antibiotics to prevent further infection. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is requesting $1,205 to help fund Darius's much-needed treatment, scheduled for April 25.

Meet Privato, a hardworking 42-year-old farmer from southwest Uganda. He and his wife, Stadia, are raising twelve children. For ten years, Privato has had an inguinal hernia but has been able to live with the discomfort. For the last several months, however, it has been so painful that he has not been able to work. On June 5, surgeons will correct his condition. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, requests $229 to cover Privato's treatment. Privato and Stadia grow food for their large family on a small plot of land. They also have a few coffee trees, which provide a small cash income. When he is not working on his own land, Privato finds extra work as a farm laborer and construction worker. Earning enough to pay school fees for all the children is a big challenge, and there is not enough left over to pay for surgery. He needs help to raise $229. Privato is grateful to those helping to fund his treatment, saying, “I thank the donors for the support very much. Getting help to fix my pain and help me be functional again is not something I take for granted. I will pray that God blesses the donors abundantly."

Jhapat is 70 years old and lives with his wife and children. His eldest son works in Japan to support his family back home, while his other sons work on the farm with him. The yield from the field keeps them fed for about seven months of the year. During the remaining months, they buy food from the market. Recently, Jhapat began to have pain in his right groin region. He has difficulty walking or lifting heavy weight. This prompted him to take the two-hour jeep ride to reach our medical partner's hub at Bayalpata Hospital. He will undergo hernia repair surgery on February 9. During the surgery, the bulging tissues in his abdomen will be removed. Jhapat and his family cannot afford this procedure, so our medical partner, Possible, is requesting $451.

John is a 15-month-old boy who lives with his five siblings. He loves to play and dance with his siblings. His father is a fisherman, and his mother stays home and takes care of him and his siblings. John has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 20. John will be 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 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. His parents say, "We dream that our son will someday finish school and become a good and respected person. We also hope that John recovers from malnutrition."

Meet Stephen, a one-year-old boy from the Philippines. Stephen lives with his family in a house made of bamboo. His father drives motorcycles to earn a living. Stephen loves to play with his brother. Stephen has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens Stephen’s growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 23. Stephen will be 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 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. His mother says, "I hope that my child will become healthy."

Meet Julio, a one-year-old baby boy from the Dominican Republic. Julio was born with a ventricular septal defect. In this condition, there is a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart, causing oxygen-rich blood to combine with oxygen-poor blood. This then forces Julio's heart to work harder than normal, making him feel ill. Although Julio is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. Julio will be one of the first children to receive this care. First, Julio will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 8. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Julio 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 Julio's surgical care. His mother says, "We would like to thank everyone who is helping answer our prayers for Julio to become healthy!"

Meet Chek, a 61-year-old woman from Cambodia. Chek is married with four sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray. Three years ago, Chek developed a mature cataract in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is difficult for her to see clearly, do work, or go outside. "I hope my eyes can see everything and recognize the faces of everyone more clearly...so that I can continue my work on the farm," says Chek. "I want to be able to go anywhere outside by myself too." After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, Chek and her sister traveled two hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure could restore Chek's sight. On October 19, 2016, Chek underwent cataract surgery, during which her old lenses were removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants. Now, she needs help to pay for this $292 surgery, which should allow her to see again immediately.

Jackson is a 30-year-old man from Kenya. He used to work on a construction site, and he used his savings to pay his sister's school fees. Unfortunately, a road accident in 2014 left Jackson with fractures in his right tibia. After the accident, Jackson underwent two surgeries. Unfortunately, he could not afford the additional surgery required to complete his treatment. Since then, he has been walking on crutches. Fortunately, Jackson was referred to our medical partner's hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital. On December 7, he underwent a bone transport procedure. This surgery will allow him to use his leg and will prevent severe infection. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has requested $1,500 to fund his healthcare. “I want to be able to walk again and provide for my sister," says Jackson.

Immaculate is a 21-year-old woman from Uganda. She used to work as a maid, but she just finished a course at a local salon and now works as a hair dresser. While giving birth, Immaculate experienced complications and developed an uncomfortable condition in a sensitive area. This condition causes her discomfort and urinary dysfunction. On October 27, Immaculate underwent a repair surgery at our medical partner's hospital, Bwindi Community Hospital. Now, she needs help to fund this $547 procedure. "I am hoping that one day I will be able to work, save, and be able to support myself," says Immaculate. "I am so grateful to the people donating towards my care. May God bless you."

Srey Ol is a 29-year-old farmer who lives with her husband and daughter in Cambodia. In her free time, she likes to stay at home, cook food, and clean her home. On July 9, 2016, Srey Ol was hit by a motorbike, fracturing her left lower leg bones (tibia and fibula). After the accident, she was seen in a hospital in her hometown, where she got a cast. Srey Ol then traveled to Vietnam for further treatment and an external fixation was placed. In an external fixation, pins are inserted through the skin into the bone and held in place by an external frame. Even after treatment, Srey Ol is in pain, and it is difficult for her to walk. She heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from her brother. She traveled for six hours with her brother to reach CSC for evaluation and treatment. For $411, Srey Ol will undergo a tibial fracture treatment in which CSC doctors will use a frame to correct her tibia, allowing her to walk normally and without pain. Funding for Srey Ol also covers the costs of two weeks of hospital care, including X-rays, lab tests, food, and physical therapy. After the procedure, Srey Ol will be able to go home and continue her work as a farmer.

“I want to resume my schooling,” shares Bwe Paw. “My dream is to become a medic or a schoolteacher.” Bwe Paw is an 18-year-old girl from Burma. When she isn’t dreaming about her future career, Bwe Paw enjoys watching movies with her friends and playing volleyball. Lately, though, health concerns have made it hard for Bwe Paw to relax. In 2013, she started feeling pain in her stomach. Although Bwe Paw took medications from a local pharmacy, the pain only worsened, and she was soon experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, and fatigue as well. After making several long journeys to multiple clinics, Bwe Paw was eventually diagnosed with a benign tumor in her abdomen. Bwe Paw’s doctors say that she needs to have her tumor surgically removed in order to relieve these symptoms. Meanwhile, her condition’s impact on her life continues to worsen: she is losing weight due to eating and sleeping disturbances, and has had to drop out of school despite her high academic aspirations. Bwe Paw’s family cannot afford to pay for her surgery. The money they make as farmers is barely enough to sustain the daily needs of Bwe Paw and her three siblings. But with our help, she can receive the tumor removal surgery she needs. $1,500 will pay for her operation, as well as her lab tests and recovery time at Mae Sot General Hospital. Without the setbacks of pain and fatigue, Bwe Paw will be back on track to pursue her high hopes of working in medicine or education.