“Natnaele is a very talented, sweet, little boy,” shares our medical partner, African mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Natnaele is a five-year-old who lives with his parents in Ethiopia. Natnaele was born with a condition called hypospadias. “Natnaele has an abnormal urination hole and an abnormal penis. As a result, he cannot pass urine normally," shares AMHF. "This condition puts Natnaele at risk of urinary tract infections and in future, the risk infertility.” AMHF reports, “While Natnaele is too young to grasp what is going on with his health, his parents are anxious about his condition and want him to get well quickly.” “Natnaele is a fast learner and he wants to be a teacher when he grows up,” shares his father. His parents, however, have been hesitant to send him to school because of the social stigma his condition might bring. Both of Natnaele’s parents work as day laborers. They work hard to support Natnaele, but are not in a position to raise the money required for corrective surgery. $1,155 will fund the surgical cost, medicine, and a hospital stay for Natnaele to have a hypospadias repair. This treatment will improve Natnaele’s health, confidence, and ability to pursue his goals. AMHF tells us, “He will no longer be at risk of urinary tract infections and possible infertility in the future. Natnaele will be able to grow up normally and healthy and go to school to work at his dreams.”

"Renette was diagnosed with breast cancer years ago when she felt a bump on her breast that caused severe pain," explains our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM). Renette is a 29-year-old woman from Haiti. "She is interested in cosmetology, and hopes to return to high school before pursuing a vocational education," continues PM. Renette's current focus, however, is recovering from breast cancer. "She is waiting to go to the Dominican Republic to receive radiation therapy and complete her breast cancer treatment," PM reports. Watsi previously funded surgery for the removal of Renette's tumor, but funds are still needed to continue treatment. $1500 will cover the remaining radiation treatment, as well as transportation, housing, and a visa to enter the Dominican Republic for treatment.

"Since 2010, Jane has been suffering from this condition. She went to a hospital and a scan was done which showed she has uterine fibroids and required surgery to treat," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "However, Jane did not have money for treatment." 44-year-old Jane is a single mother of three children from Kenya. She works as a tailor, but her small income is not enough to cover any additional expenses beyond basic needs. Jane needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to treat her uterine fibroids, and we can help make it possible. The surgery will cost $790. Included in the cost is Jane's hospital stay, meals, laboratory testing, imaging, and anesthesia. "I have been in pain for a long time and it is having a negative effect on my small business," Jane shares. "I look forward to the day when I will get well and be able to work and support my family.”

This little boy is one-year-old John Knox from Haiti. "John Knox lives with his parents and one older brother. His father is a fisherman, and his mother sells goods in the market," shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "John Knox was born with a heart condition called pulmonic stenosis, in which the valve carrying blood between the heart and the lungs is too narrow to allow blood to pass freely," continues HCA. "Because of this, the body is deprived of oxygen and blood backs up into the heart, causing heart failure." John Knox is a happy and curious baby, although he is small for his age because of his heart condition. His mother tells us, "I have seen that John Knox has been suffering ever since he was born, and it's very hard for me. I'm very happy that the doctors have agreed to help him!" Surgery for his condition costs $1,500, and it is expected to have a huge impact on his health and development. "John Knox's pulmonary valve should be stretched to a near-normal size, allowing blood to pass freely to his lungs. He should be able to live a full life without further cardiac issues," explains HCA.

“We very much want our daughter to be able to walk again so that she doesn’t become dependent as she continues to grow,” shares Brenda’s mother. Say hello to Brenda, a two-year-old girl from Tanzania! She is a happy child who likes to crawl and climb on things but after a recent accident, she is unable to do either. While at her grandparents’ house last October, Brenda stepped on the edge of a piece of burning fire wood and a pot of boiling soup came pouring onto Brenda’s right leg. “Brenda was rushed to the hospital and was admitted for three months” our medical partner, African Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “She now has a contracture on her right knee (posterior), which does not allow her to walk at all,” AMHF continues. “If not treated, she will end up being disabled and either use crutches for support while walking or in a wheel chair.” Brenda’s father supports the family, working as a small-scale businessman while her mother is a university student. “They have spent all their savings on hospital bills and now they have no way of paying for the surgery which Brenda badly needs,” explains AMHF. With $550, we can fund a successful single contracture release treatment that will allow Brenda to walk again! Let’s support Brenda’s parents and get this active little one back on the move!

“It is our prayer that our daughter’s health will be restored allowing her to have normal growth. She is our only child and we will be happy to have her alive and healthy,” says Jennifer’s father. Say hello to four-month-old Jennifer from Tanzania. "Jennifer cries a lot and has a fever. Her head circumference has been increasing fast and it's getting more difficult to feed her,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Jennifer is at high risk of losing her eyesight, convulsing, and eventually death if not treated,” they add. She has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that does not allow fluid to drain from her brain properly. Her parents make very little money by making and selling clothing items and keeping some livestock. For only $690, Jennifer will receive the treatment necessary to drain the excess fluid from around her brain and decrease the chance of further health complications. Let’s help put Jennifer on the right path to growing up healthy!

“I had lost hope of getting treated,” explains 44-year-old Mary from Kenya. “I look forward to getting well, and back to work so that I can assist my husband.” Married with eight school-aged children, Mary works hard to care for her family while her husband works as a casual laborer at construction sites. They do not own any land, livestock nor investments that can help them in times of financial need, which is why she has been unable to pursue treatment for the early stage cervical cancer diagnosis she received last year. As a result, Mary continues to experience abdominal bleeding that prevents her from leaving the house. “If surgery is not done soon, the cancer could spread and affect Mary’s other organs which would lead into premature death,” explain our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. For $800, we can cover the cost of a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove the cancer and cease the stigmatizing bleeding. Let’s help Mary to return to work and realizing her hopes of assisting her husband as they raise their family.

“My hope is for my daughter’s leg to be straightened so that she does not become completely disabled and dependent on other people,” shares three-year-old Naning’oi’s father. Naning’oi is a quiet and very serious three-and-a half-year-old girl who lives in Tanzania with her family. She likes to run around and play in the mud with her twin sister, whose left leg also bends inward at the knee. Naning’oi’s parents earn a seasonal income by farming and selling maize, which they use to support Naning’oi and their six other children. With the daily demands on their income, they are unable to pay for surgery to correct Naning’oi’s left genu valgum, or “knock knee.” “Naning’oi will be at high risk of developing early osteoarthritis if not treated,” report our medical partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “The capacity to perform daily activities effectively will also be low due to mobility restriction.” For $940 we can fund treatment for Naning’oi that will improve her gait, increase her mobility and decrease her risk of osteoarthritis. Let’s help Naning’oi continue to run and play without complication as she grows up to be the independent young lady her parents dream she will become!

Meet Andres, a one-year-old from Guatemala! Andres is the youngest of 7 children and loves to sing and play with his sister, who is 4 years old. Our partner, Wuqu Kawoq (WK), tells us that "Andres is growing very poorly due to malnutrition. His height is especially delayed. His motor and language development are also very delayed. He suffers from chronic diarrhea which limits his ability to eat and gain weight. If his growth problems are not corrected he is at risk of permanent decreased height and decreased cognition." His parents are also worried. They tell WK, "We want Andres to grow as well as our other children and to grow up to have a future." Fortunately, we can help with this! For $535, Andres will receive chronic malnutrition treatment. Doctors are confident this will lead to resumption of growth and development and preservation of brain potential.

“Hugo is a highly motivated man who dreams of getting back to his old life, being able to work, hang out with his friends and family without stigma or shame, and being able to be independent,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, shares. Hugo, a 45-year-old man from Guatemala, has a bilateral arm amputation. In January, he lost both arms in a severe electrocution accident, which has made him unable to continue working and unable to care for himself. For $1255, Hugo can receive two prosthetic arms so he can regain his independence. He tells us, “this injury was the worst thing that has ever happened to me, but I’m happy to be alive, and I’m excited to have prosthetic arms and get back to work.” Let’s help him out!

Meet Eda, a 32-year-old mother of six with her seventh child on the way. She speaks Mayan Ki'chee' and lives in central Guatemala with her family. Now in the homestretch of her pregnancy, Eda has suddenly begun to experience severe headaches, swelling in her legs, and blurry vision. Her blood pressure is also steadily rising. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), tells us that these are signs of preeclampsia. Without care, Eda is susceptible to serious complications, including seizures, for the duration of her pregnancy. "She's never had trouble with preeclampsia before, and all of her other pregnancies have been uncomplicated," the WK teams says of Eda. "For these reasons, she is quite frightened about what might be going on, and she's come to us for help. She and her family have limited financial resources, and they can't afford to pay for medications or hospital appointments." With $310, we'll be able to cover Eda's care and help WK to manage her health during this important time.

Makirini is a one-year-old Ugandan girl, who used to be a very playful baby; she was constantly laughing and smiling. However, Makirini is now malnourished and is losing weight rapidly. As a result, she is irritable and has little appetite; without nutritional care she could experience severe developmental delays. “Makirini’s father refuses to take any responsibility for her and so her single mother is working hard to care for her family and daughter, but she is not able to come up with the money required for the food and care Makirini needs to recover and grow healthily,” writes our medical partner, The Kellerman Foundation. For $360, Makirini will receive nutritional care to help her become healthy and develop normally. Let's help Makirini get the help she needs for a happy, healthy childhood!