Chance is a six-year-old boy from Uganda. His lives with his parents and sister. His parents work as seasonal farmers and depend on favorable climate conditions to produce abundant crops. When Chance was two years old, his mother noticed a swelling in his groin. She took him to the government hospital but could not access a doctor. In order for Chance to receive proper medical care, his mother needed to take him to a private hospital, but it was too expensive. After learning about Watsi, Chance's mother took him to our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital. On January 25, Chance will undergo a hydrocele repair, in which the fluid will be drained from his groin. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is asking for $185 to cover the cost of labs, medication, and surgical supplies. Chance enjoys nursery school, and he particularly likes learning English. He is excited to get well so he can continue school in February of 2017. He also looks forward to playing soccer with his best friend, Allan.

“Dominic is our only son and we wish for him to have straight legs, strong bones and the ability to walk properly so that he can walk to school when the time comes,” says Dominic’s father. Meet Dominic, a three-year-old boy from Tanzania who has bilateral genu varum, a bow-legged condition that can lead to osteoarthritis. “Dominic wiggles when walking and he falls down easily when playing with other children. The deformity is limiting his ability to walk properly and energetically involve himself in playing games,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “At home, Dominic likes to sit down and play with tins and cars and sometimes he will try to run around with other children,” continues AMHF. He enjoys the company of other children and would like to play with them unaffected by his condition. Dominic’s parents are both maize farmers. “The little they get from farming is not enough to cover their daily needs as well as pay for the corrective surgery which Dominic needs,” says AMHF. For $940, we can fund surgery to straighten Dominic’s legs so that he will have normal mobility as he grows up. AMHF concludes that after the procedure, “Dominic will have straight legs, a better gait, and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age.”

“I hope Watsi will support me,” says Rahab, “so that I can get well and be able to care for my little children and to see them grow into adulthood.” Rahab is a 32-year-old mother of two living in poverty in Kenya. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer and an ovarian cyst after seeking medical attention for severe abdominal pain. Rahab does laundry for neighbors while her husband sells secondhand items in the city, but even together they cannot afford any treatment for her condition. For just $790, we can help Rahab receive the life-saving treatment she needs, and greatly improve her and her family’s quality of life in the process. “We expect that after treatment, most of the cancer cells will be removed, halting the spread of cancer" says our medical partner at the African Mission Healthcare Foundation. "Rahab will be relieved from bleeding and pain caused by the ovarian cyst.”

When Rejoice was developing in the womb, her skull did not close completely. This caused a growth between her nose and forehead, known as a frontal encephalocele. The mass not only causes discomfort, but puts her at risk of serious infection. Rejoice lives with her mother and two siblings in Kenya. Her mother does her best to support the family, but since her father passed away, she relies on friends for support. Rejoice’s mother cannot afford surgery to help Rejoice, but she deeply wants her child to get healthy. “I have waited for so long for my daughter to be treated, and I look forward to her getting the help that she needs. I appreciate any support that my daughter would get towards her surgery.” For $1,500, Rejoice will receive an encephalocele repair. The procedure involves closing the gap between the skull and removing the mass that has formed. Surgery will allow Rejoice to develop normally and prevent life-threatening infection. Let's make it happen for Rejoice!