Ler Moo is a 32-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Mae La Refugee Camp, Tak Province. In his free time, Ler Moo likes spending time with his family. Ler Moo experiences abdominal pain, and his condition has not improved with medication. He was diagnosed with gallstones, and his doctor informed him that he requires surgery. Ler Moo has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Ler Moo's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Ler Moo is scheduled to undergo his cholecystectomy on October 4. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Ler Moo's procedure and care. “After surgery, if I feel better, I will try support my family as much as I can. I will apply for a suitable job in the camp so I can have an income to support my family,” says Ler Moo.

Aminiel is a primary school boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth born in a family of six children. Aminieli's parents are both livestock keepers, so they depend on selling milk and meat to meet their daily needs. They are trying to save money to send him to private high school. For three years, Aminiel has been experiencing breathing difficulties. Frequent illness causes him to miss school. Aminiel was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Aminiel, which is scheduled to take place on January 4. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Aminiel of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Aminieli’s mother says, “Please help my son get treatment. He is struggling to breathe. He has been getting sick frequently and he is not sleeping well.”

Amos is a one-month-old infant and an only child. His mother is a single parent and unemployed. She works to support both her son and her brothers, who are still in school. Shortly after he was born, Amos was diagnosed with myelomeningiocele, which is a birth defect where his backbone did not fuse and membranes surrounding his spinal cord did not properly form. This is the most severe form of spina bifida. Amos was admitted to a different hospital but could not be treated due to lack of funds. He was then referred to a Watsi care center in hopes of receiving treatment there. His mother was able to borrow $10 to cover the transportation costs for this visit. He will need $1,097 to fund a spina bifida closure procedure. This surgery will close his backbone and prevent him from getting further infections. Surgery is scheduled for September 6. Amos's mother hopes he will one day be able to live a normal life free of pain and illness.

Heidy is an 8-year-old girl from Guatemala's highlands who has suffered from seizures for her entire life. Her father works in the countryside doing agricultural work, while her mother cares for Heidy at home and sells handmade bracelets in the local market. Heidy loves when her older sister sings to her and shows her stuffed animals. Due to her persistent seizures, Heidy has experienced developmental delays. Moreover, she struggles with her eating and is severely underweight. Heidy suffers from seizures on a daily basis, and, without medication, her health will continue to decline. As Heidy's family cannot afford to pay for medications that would halt her seizures, our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,044 to help fund a full diagnostic examination and appropriate medications for Heidy. With the development of an appropriate treatment plan, the length and frequency of Heidi's seizures will hopefully be reduced, not only relieving Heidy's mother of her worries, but also improving the quality of Heidy's life as a whole.

Carlos is a two-year-old boy who lives with his family in rural Guatemala. He was born with Down's Syndrome and is a caring and playful boy. In school, his teacher says he is an intelligent child, and Carlos's parents do everything they can so he can grow and develop well. Carlos was also born with cryptorchidism, meaning he has an undescended testicle. This condition is frequently found in young boys who were born prematurely, as Carlos was. In order to treat this condition, Carlos will need to undergo surgery. If left untreated, Carlos could be at risk of a variety of reproductive illnesses in the future, including inguinal hernia, infertility, and testicular cancer. With Watsi support, Carlos will undergo a procedure called orchidopexy, which is a surgery to move an undescended testicle into the scrotum and permanently fix it there. He will need $1,500 to fund laboratory testing, medication, and travel to and from the hospital. His procedure is scheduled for September 8. After treatment, Carlos will be much less likely to suffer from cryptorchidism-related complications later in life, and his parents will have peace of mind. Carlos’s mother says, “Thank you all for your great hearts, thank you for donating so that our son can have this surgery."

12-year-old Dachka lives in a small town in the Dominican Republic with her mother, father, and two younger sisters. She is in the sixth grade and hopes to become a doctor one day. Dachka was born with a cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta, in which the aorta is abnormally narrow. As a result, the heart must pump harder to push blood, resulting in high blood pressure and risking heart failure. Although Dachka is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. She will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Dachka will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 17. 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 Dachka also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Dachka's surgical care. "I am excited to have my surgery," Dachka says, "so that I will no longer feel tired all the time and will have the energy to play with my friends."

Kauta is a 70-year-old maize farmer from Malawi. He and his wife have eight children and twenty grandchildren. When not farming and taking care of chores, Kauta enjoys going to church and fellowshipping with his friends. For the past four years, Kauta has been experiencing urinary dysfunction. He was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate gland is enlarged, blocking the urethra and making it difficult to use the restroom. On February 16, Kauta will undergo a prostate resection, a procedure in which part of the prostate gland is removed. He will receive care at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is asking for $733 to fund Kauta's hospital stay, physician's fees, and medication. "I give thanks to you," says Kauta.

Poe is a 34-year-old man from Burma. He works as a border security guard and protects the Burmese border. While on the way to get a haircut, Poe hit a patch of loose gravel and was thrown off his bike. Poe landed on the side of the road and was knocked unconscious. When Poe woke up after the accident, he knew that his leg was broken. He was unable to stand, and a passerby helped him get to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, for an X-ray. The X-ray showed displaced fractures to the tibia and fibula of his right leg. The X-rays revealed that Poe will need surgery to fix the fractures. On January 27, Poe will undergo an internal fixation procedure to mend his broken bones. He needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. "Thank you for helping me. I hope I will recover from this very soon so that I can play cane ball with my friends," he says.