Crecious is three years old and the first child to his mother. His mother describes him as a happy child who is always playing. As Crecious started to grow, his mother noticed that he wasn’t able to walk very well and would often fall over. They traveled to Arusha to seek treatment at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC). Crecious's legs have bowed outwards, so he was diagnosed with genu varus. Crecious's mother has high hopes for her son, but she only makes a small amount of money as a primary school teacher. She needs help to pay for his treatment. On January 19, Crecious will undergo corrective surgery for his legs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $940 to fund his treatment. Crecious’s mother says, "I hope that my son with be able to grow, play, and go to school like other children after his surgery. "

Elvis is a six-year-old boy from Kenya. He lives with his family in Nairobi. According to the staff at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, he is sharp, playful, and full of life. Elvis was born with penoscrotal hypospadias—a condition in which the urethral orifice is abnormally placed. If left untreated, he is likely to experience social stigma and impotence. Elvis is scheduled to undergo treatment on March 29. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the cost of the operation. After surgery, Elvis will be able to grow and develop normally. “You are heaven-sent because we could not do it without your assistance," his mother says.

“Life continues, so you should too.” This idea has been a source of much-needed strength for Midlyne, a 35-year-old woman from Haiti who has been living with breast cancer for several years. Midlyne earns money to support herself and her two teenaged daughters by selling used clothes (pèpè) as a street merchant. She enjoys the process of selling clothes, and she also loves watching TV dramas in her spare time. In December of 2015, Midlyne felt a small lump in her right breast. Over time, the lump began to swell and to cause her great discomfort. After a biopsy in January of 2016, Midlyne was diagnosed with breast cancer. Simple actions are now very painful, making it impossible for Midlyne to perform many of her domestic chores, from washing clothes to grinding spices. She has also lost her appetite. In December, Midlyne began chemotherapy, which decreased the number of cancerous cells in her body. However, her doctors have told her that in order to completely beat the cancer, she will also need to undergo a mastectomy, scheduled for March 18. Midlyne cannot afford to pay for this operation on her own. For $1,085, we can sponsor this life-saving procedure, as well as her lab tests, two-day hospital stay, and roundtrip travel to the medical facility. Once her health is restored, Midlyne looks forward to returning to commerce, and to one day expanding her business. Let’s give her the chance she deserves to pursue those dreams.

Yosef is a three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is a friendly child who loves to play. Yosef has a five-year-old sister, and both of his parents are teachers at the public school. Yosef was born with a condition that affects his urinary function. He experiences uncomfortable symptoms, and his parents worry that the condition will cause him trouble in the future. For the past three years, Yosef's mother has been out of work taking care of Yosef. His father's income only covers the family's essential needs. The family needs help to fund this $1,231 procedure. Yosef’s father says, “We can’t afford the medical bill because currently––and for the past three years––I was the one who worked to support our family, and my income is not enough to cover the medical bill.”

"Kishumwi is a happy and friendly six-year-old boy," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). His parents are livestock keepers who herd cattle in Tanzania, and Kishumwi is the youngest of four siblings. Two years ago when Kishumwi's father was looking for a school for his son to attend, Kishumwi got very sick. "He kept getting weaker and his left leg started to bend inwards," AMHF tells us. Doctors diagnosed him with a condition called genu valgus, also known as knocked knees. Kishumwi is now unable to walk properly and sometimes complains of pain in his left leg that goes all the way up to his hip. This is caused by abnormal bone development, and in Tanzania a major cause is due to an excess of flouride in the water. When Kishumwi first developed symptoms, "his parents gave him some herbs, which didn't help his leg, but after some time he was able to walk with a funny gait," explains AMHF. "With three children going to school and other extended family members looking up to Kishumwi's parents for support, coming up with enough cash to cover the cost of Kishumwi's operation has been difficult." "Despite his inability to walk properly, Kishumwi likes to socialize with other children, playing football and other outdoor games when he does not feel pain," says AMHF. He even will help his parents with their livestock work. $940 will pay for Kishumwi's treatment, which is a combination of surgery and casting to cut and realign his bones and joint. This will allow him to walk properly and pain free without knocking his knees, and will reduce his risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age. Despite Kishumwi's condition, his family does not lose sight of the importance of education. "Kishumwi is my only son and I will be happy to see him able to walk properly. I still plan to take him to school," says Kishumwi's father.

Natacha is a lively, outgoing girl, known for making people laugh with practical jokes. She is eight-years-old and lives in Haiti, where she loves dancing and playing with her friends. Natacha was born with a heart condition in which the walls between her heart chambers did not form correctly. This led to circulation problems, and eventual heart failure. “When she was four-years-old, Natacha went to Miami for donated surgery to correct the condition. The surgery was successful, but she experienced a complication called complete heart block, which required them to implant a pacemaker that she will need for the rest of her life," our medical partner explains. Now that she’s older, Natacha’s pacemaker needs to be refitted, and have new batteries implanted so it will continue to work well for her. It is expected that this procedure will keep her safe into her teenage years. By then, hopefully, medical technology in Haiti will have advanced enough that she will no longer need to travel for surgery. "I want to say thank you to everyone who is helping us, and I am so glad they have not forgotten about my Natacha!" says her mother. Caromont Health Center in North Carolina has contributed $6,000 towards Natacha’s procedure, but she’s counting on Watsi donors for $1,500 to fund her prep work and transportation. Let’s help Natacha get the care she needs!

Meet Edegeline, a one-year-old girl from Haiti who is the first and only child in her family. Edegeline’s mother is a teacher and her father is currently unemployed. Both of them work very hard to make sure their beautiful daughter grows up healthy and strong. Our medical partners at Project Medishare first met Edegeline when her parents sought help for her cleft lip and palate. “This condition prevents her from eating and drinking normally in addition to leaving her with a facial deformity,” they write. “Edegeline’s parents cannot pay for the surgery she needs because they don’t have enough money or anybody to help them.” For $960, we can help Project Medishare provide Edegeline with reparative surgery to her mouth which will “give her access to a better life and good health”. “She is my joy and we do the best we can to help her and provide her with a good future," her mother says. Let’s do our part to help Edegeline out!

Meet Manita, a courageous 46-year-old mother of two from Haiti, where she and her husband are teachers. Some time ago Manita noticed a lump in her breast, which was initially diagnosed as a cyst. She was given medication and sent home. The lump grew very big, very quickly. After a sonography and biospy, Manita was diagnosed with breast cancer. Manita shares, “I wasn't thinking it would be something so bad. I was not thinking it could be a cancer; I don't know what to do.” Our partners at Project Medishare in Haiti are optimistic that surgery and chemotherapy will help Manita to become well again: “The surgery will remove the infected tissues of the breast and treat it, and then she will require chemotherapy sessions to complete the treatment; then she will be able to save her life.” Unfortunately, since becoming ill, Manita has had to discontinue working at the primary school where she was employed because the pain in her breast and armpit prevents her from lifting her hand to write on the board for her students. A physician at Project Medishare notes, “Manita loves her children and her family; she said she would love to finish with the treatment, go back to work and raise some money to make a small shop to sell things as food and drinks.” For $1,500, we can fund the treatment Manita needs to beat breast cancer.

This guy is two-month-old Kaung from Burma. His father works as a driving assistant, earning just enough to meet the family's basic needs. Kaung was born with hydrocephalus as well as a cleft lip. “The pressure of the liquid in his brain pushes Kaung’s eyes downwards," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "Because of his cleft lip his mother isn't able to breastfeed him...so he has to use a little slit in the teat of the babies milk bottle to help him feed.” In addition to the potential for longer term cognitive developmental challenges, Kaung is experiencing heart palpitations and difficulty breathing. While Kaung's parents are worried about their child and being unable to cover the cost of his care, they are doing the best they can to give their son everything he needs in life. "Once Kaung gets better, his mother hopes that he will be educated in the future," the BBP team writes. "His father hopes that Kaung will be able to go to international school, and he says that he will try his best to provide a good life for his son." $1200 will cover the cost of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery which Kaung needs to drain the fluid accumulating in Kaung’s head due to hydrocephalus. "After treatment, the size of Kaung's head will reduce to normal size," BBP tells us. "Once the fluid is drained he will be able to support his head unassisted. His eye condition will improve and he will have more energy. When he has healed from the shunt operation, he will be able to receive treatment for his cleft lip.”

Meet Delfiane! Delfiane is a 52-year-old woman from Haiti who lives with her husband, a carpenter, and her two children. Delfiane used to work in a shop where she sold cold drinks, but the earthquake caused her shop to collapse. Recently, Delfiane discovered a bump on her breast during a self-examination. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, reports that after “a mammography and a couple other breast exams, the results revealed that she has breast cancer. She has symptoms such as high blood pressure, pain on her breast and joint pains.” Currently, Delfiane explains that "we are living a tough life and we cannot afford the treatment I need; my family members are also unable to help me." For $1,500, Delfiane’s infected tissue will be removed and she will receive chemotherapy. Let’s fund Delfiane's chance to beat breast cancer and continue supporting her two kids!

Belaynesh is a quiet 15-year-old girl living in Ethiopia. She is currently in grade eight and enjoys reading and helping around the house. Her parents are both farmers. She has three sisters and two brothers, all of whom she gets along with well. Belaynesh also likes to play with her friends in her village. Belaynesh was born with a club foot, which prevents her from walking normally. Instead, she walks on the sides of her feet. The condition causes her pain and self-esteem problems. Belaynesh says, “I always feel inferior as a person when I compare myself with my friends and it always worries me. I am so glad and thankful that I have a chance to be healed.” For $1,000, Belaynesh will undergo a left foot triple arthrodesis surgery. She will be able to live life pain-free and without the stigma that this condition can cause. Belaynesh wants to be a doctor when she grows up so she can help kids like herself. Let's help Belaynesh achieve that goal and more!