Alex is the 3rd born in a family of four children and hails from Longonot, Naivasha, in Nakuru county. His mother told us he likes playing with other kids at home. Alex came to Cure Hospital accompanied by his mother, Grace, a housewife, and his father, farmer. Alex was born with multiple disabilities - spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and bilateral foot deformity. He underwent treatment for spina bifida when he was five days old, and hydrocephalus treatment was done at the age of eight months. Currently, he tiptoes as he walks and often falls. He is scheduled to undergo bilateral serial casting and then foot reconstruction surgery. The treatment will be impactful to the young boy because he will be able to walk, run, and play like other children and continue with his education uninterrupted. Alex's mother said, "I believe the joy of a mother is to see her children growing well and not with challenges, and therefore, I would love to see Alex walking normally like other children if given assistance."

Ratan is a 45-year-old man from Nepal. He was working on a road construction project when he slipped and injured his left knee. Since then, he has been in pain and has had difficulty moving the injured leg. To seek medical treatment, Ratan and his neighbor drove for three hours to reach our medical partner's hospital, Bayalpata Hospital. He underwent fracture repair treatment on December 25. Ratan lives with his wife and four children. While he works as a laborer, his wife works in the field and looks after their children. They need help to fund this $541 procedure.

Yang is a 76-year-old woman who lives with her granddaughter. She likes to join ceremonies at the pagoda and listen to monks pray. Two years ago, Yang developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly and going anywhere outside. When Yang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 21, doctors performed a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Yang will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope I can see everything more clearly," says Yang, "so that I can easily go to the pagoda."

Yen is a 49-year-old farmer with two sons and one daughter. She likes to cook for her family, look after her children, and watch TV. Five years ago, Yen developed a tumor in her left foot. Over time, it increased in size. It became difficult for Yen to wear shoes, and she was in pain. When Yen learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On December 19, surgeons at CSC removed the tumor to allow Yen to walk comfortably again. CSC is requesting $224 to fund this procedure.

This is Francis, a four-year-old boy from the Philippines. Francis loves watching TV and playing with his friends. He currently lives in his grandmother's house. Both of his parents are street vendors, but they don't make enough money to provide a nutritious diet. Consequently, Francis has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Fortunately, Francis began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 17, 2016. Francis 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.

Meet Saroeun, a 65-year-old woman from Cambodia. Saroeun is married with three sons, two daughters, and nine grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray. Eight months ago, Saroeun 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 hard for her to see clearly, do work, or go outside. "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again,” shares Saroeun, “Then, I can work at home and go anywhere outside." After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, Saroeun and her niece traveled seven hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure could restore Saroeun's sight. On October 19, 2016, Saroeun 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.

Jb is a three-year-old boy from the Philippines. He lives with his parents in a small bamboo house. Jb loves playing with the other children in his neighborhood. Jb's father is a fisher, but he does not earn enough to support the family. His mother stays home to take care of the family. Without nutritious meals, Jb is living with acute malnutrition. Jb began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 19. Jb 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.

Lon is a 73-year-old woman from Cambodia, married with two sons, two daughters, and 13 grandchildren. She enjoys watching Khmer and Indian dramas on TV and visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. She traveled 2 hours with her son to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. Lon developed a cataract in each eye two years ago. This causes her blurred vision, tearing, and photophobia. She requires surgery to restore her vision, which will cost $292. After a SICS and intra-ocular lens (IOL) implant in each eye, Lon will be able to see clearly again. Let's help make it possible!

Benjamin is 14-years-old and lives in Haiti. He was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, in which one of the four valves of his heart is too narrow to allow enough blood to pass through it. As a result, blood backs up into his heart, leaving him sickly and weak and causing heart failure. Benjamin was also born with developmental disabilities; he does not speak, though he is almost always smiling and makes friends easily with everyone around him. Benjamin lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince with his mother, father, and two younger brothers. He does not currently attend school because there is no special-needs school in his area, but helps his parents around the house and plays in the neighborhood with the other children. For $1,500, Benjamin will be transported overseas to undergo a $5,000 heart surgery that is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. "We have been hoping for a long time that Benjamin's heart problem could be fixed," shares Benjamin's mother. "We are so happy our prayers are being answered."

This is Sdoeurng, a 29-year-old woman married with a son and a daughter. She enjoys listening to music and cooking food. A few months ago, Sdoeurng fractured her left elbow when she fell down stairs. Since then, she has been unable to bend her elbow and is in pain. She has received Khmer traditional medicine, which has been ineffective. So, Sdoeurng traveled two hours with her mother to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for treatment. For $405, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Center will perform an ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) procedure to treat her fractured elbow. They will reduce her broken bones, reposition them, and using screws or rods, fixate them in the correct location to allow for proper healing. Over time, Sdoeurng's elbow will bend again.

20-year-old Sreynich is a Cambodian rice and crop farmer. She is the youngest of eight children and enjoys listening to hip hop music in her free time. One year ago, Sreynich started having blurred vision, and became unable to do her work or travel alone safely. She and her mother traveled for two hours to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). She was found with a cataract in each eye, and was recommended surgical treatment. Sreynich's doctors told her she was in need of a phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in each eye, which will replace her internal lenses and restore her vision to full clarity. In total, the procedure, supplies, drugs, and three days of inpatient care will cost $225. Sreynich's family needs financial assistance to complete payment. Sreynich will have her vision cleared after full recovery from her surgery, and will be able to resume her work.

"13 days ago, Isaac, a little baby boy, was born as the first and only child to his parents," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares. "He has a leaking mass on his lower spinal region." Isaac was born with spina bifida, a neural tube defect that occurs when the tube fails to develop completely, causing defects in the spinal cord and bones. Isaac is at risk of getting an infection, developing a tethered cord which may lead to scoliosis, and paralysis of his lower limbs. "Due to the risks associated with Isaac's condition, they were advised to seek specialized treatment immediately," AMHF details about the severity of Isaac's condition. His parents are eager for him to receive the necessary treatment so their son has the chance to excel in the future. Surgery is necessary to treat Isaac's spina bifida. The surgery involves closing the opening in the vertebrae and covering the exposed spinal cord with muscle and skin tissue. "Isaac's treatment will reduce the the risk of infection as well as development of tethered cord," AMHF explains. While Isaac's parents are contributing a small amount of money - around $10 - to the treatment, they cannot afford the $805 to cover all surgery and post-operative costs. "It is sad to know I cannot give my son the treatment he requires," Isaac's mother shares. "The best way I can avail it is through asking you to help us make it possible."