This is Lovian, a two-month-old girl who was born in Kenya. Lovian’s mother is a housewife and her father works as a laborer, but they have been unable to raise the funds for Lovian to receive the operation she needs to treat her occipital encephalocele. For Lovian was born with a neural tube defect that has caused a mass to grow at the back of her head. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, explains that “if this condition is untreated, the mass could cause Lovian’s brain to swell and cause severe mental delays.” Lovian’s mother says, “My dream is to have my baby get treatment as soon as possible. I have no resources to pay for the surgery, however I trust that we’ll get the help we need.” For $1500, Lovian will receive an encephalocele repair, a surgery that will significantly reduce her chances of abnormal mental development and will give her the opportunity to lead a normal life. Let’s give Lovian that chance!

This smiling fifteen-year-old is Erick. He lives in Kenya with his family, is the oldest of three siblings, and is in secondary school. Erick's father is a casual laborer while his mother runs a small green grocer kiosk. Recently Erick had an appendicectomy. A couple of weeks later he developed fluid in his abdomen. Erick had already been missing school, and now the abdominal pain and discomfort has been so much that he has lost his appetite and is continuing to miss school. ''I am worried that I have been missing school because I hope to be a doctor when I grow up," says Erick. "If Erick is not treated, the fluid may continue to increase, affecting other organs," Watsi's medical partner writes. For $560 we can provide him with the procedure, a laparatomy, needed to drain the fluid that has accumulated in his abdomen. Let's help Erick be free from pain, healthy, and get him back in school and caught up on his schoolwork.

Meet Hla Hla, a four-month-old boy who lives with his loving parents and three older siblings in Burma. Hla Hla was born with a condition that prevents him from passing stool normally. Although his parents travelled across Burma to seek treatment, they could not afford their son’s medical care and have both had to stop working as farming day laborers in order to care for Hla Hla. If his condition goes untreated, Hla Hla will not be able to eat normally and get the nutrition he needs to hit his developmental milestones. Hla Hla’s mother shares, “I am so worried about my son’s future, I think that if he cannot pass stool then he will die. I think that his future will be very difficult for him…In the future, I would like to send my son to a governmental school, however, if I cannot afford the cost then I will send him to school at the monastery.” For $1000, Hla Hla will receive a colostomy bag, a surgically installed device that collects waste. This operation will enable Hla Hla to pass stool in a healthy way so that he can eat and drink like other children. Let’s help Hla Hla get the treatment he needs to grow up to be a strong and health kid!

Claude earns a living by doing sewing jobs in his neighborhood. He is 62, has one child and lives in the countryside of Haiti; he loves reading the bible, praying and dressmaking. Recently, Claude started feeling pain in his belly, he stayed home at first, but he began experiencing such severe pain that he went to the hospital. A doctor did a biopsy, sonography and CT scan and then the results revealed that he had colon cancer. Our medical partner, Project Medishare of Haiti, tells us, "Claude already had surgery for his colon cancer and he is doing better, the only thing he needs now is the chemotherapy sessions to complete the treatment; chemotherapy will increase his chances and help him to be cured. Claude’s case requires 24 weeks of chemotherapy sessions, 8 sessions every 3 weeks." Unfortunately, Claude cannot afford the chemotherapy he needs, which costs $1000, and that's where Watsi comes in. Your donation will make sure Claude beats this cancer.

Wilson is just two-days-old! He is the last born in a family of two children and has two loving parents. Wilson’s parents own a small piece of land, which they till for domestic consumption. They fully depend on the farm’s produce to support their children's day-to-day needs. Wilson was born with spina bifida and has an open mass on his back. Our hospital partner writes, “If surgery is not done, Wilson is likely to get an infection and develop spinal conditions like tethered cord, scoliosis, or kyphosis.” With the little income Wilson’s parents earn from their farm, they have been unable to raise the funds needed for his surgery. “If I can only get support for my son’s treatment, I would be very happy,” says Wilson’s mother. For $980, Wilson will receive a spina bifida closure, a surgery that will prevent any possibility of a tethered cord or infection. Let’s work together to give Wilson the opportunity to live a normal, healthy life!

This bright-eyed baby is Asherlly, one of four children, and the daughter of a small-scale farmer and trained teacher. Recently, her mother has been unable to find a teaching job, so their family of six relies completely upon the income of Asherlly’s father. After Asherlly was born, doctors discovered a buildup of fluid inside her skull. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, explains “causes the brain to swell. Without treatment Asherlly is likely to develop brain damage and the condition could be fatal.” Asherlly's family needs our help to fund the surgery she needs to get better! Asherlly’s mother says, “I feel sad when I see my daughter in this condition and my only wish is for her to get help so that she can have a healthy life.” For $980, Asherlly will receive a shunt incision, a surgery that will treat her hydrocephalus and give her the chance to lead a happy, healthy life. Let’s give Asherlly the chance to grow up and play with her three siblings!

11-month-old Daniel is fighting excess fluid in his brain. He was born with hydrocephalus—a medical condition in which abnormal accumulation of fluid around the brain causes increased pressure in the head. Daniel’s loving mother says, “My prayer and hope is for Daniel to get treatment as soon as possible.” Daniel is the last-born of a family of three children. His father is a casual laborer, and his mother works on taking care of the family. They also both work on their small farm. With early diagnosis and timely treatment, most children with hydrocephalus recover successfully and go on to lead normal lives. If left untreated, however, this condition can lead to brain damage, a loss in mental and physical abilities, and even death. Daniel needs $980 for a shunt placement that will drain the excess fluid around his brain. His family cannot afford it. Let’s answer Daniel’s mother’s prayer and make this life-changing operation happen for him.

Kyaw Nyein is a playful six-year-old boy who lives with his loving parents and older sister and brother in Burma. Kyaw Nyein was born with Thalassemia, a disorder that causes the weakening and destruction of his red blood cells. Kyaw Nyein requires around the clock care as his condition makes it difficult for him to eat, stand up, walk, or breath normally. Kyaw Nyein cannot go to school because he requires frequent blood transfusions and constant assistance. His mother has had to stop working on their family’s farm and now his father and eldest sister must support the rest of the family which has put a great deal of stress on the family. Kyaw Nyein is eager to go to school and play games with his friends, but cannot do so until he receives treatment. For $1015, Kyaw Nyein will undergo a splenectomy. This operation will allow his abdomen to grow normally so that he can stand, walk, lie down, and breath without assistance or bouts of fatigue and weakness. Once Kyaw Nyein can eat and sleep normally doctors expect that he’ll grow rapidly and be strong enough to go to school where he can learn with his friends!

This is Amon's second time on Watsi. His first surgery didn't go as planned, so we're hoping to fund his second chance at health. Amon is a 17-year-old boy from Kenya who does well in school and hopes to become a policeman. He's been diagnosed with [cerebral arteriovenus malformation (AVM)](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/brain-avm/DS01126), a disorder caused by an abnormal cluster of veins in his brain. Amon suffers from severe headaches, dizziness, incoordination, and is at risk of sudden death if his AVM hemorrhages (bleeds into his brain). Last month, Watsi donors [funded surgery](https://watsi.org/profile/7c2ddbf717e5-amon) to remove Amon's AVM. Unfortunately, when Amon's doctors began operating, they realized that his AVM is much larger and more complex than they originally thought. Now, Amon needs a second surgery. His doctors warn that his case is extremely difficult. But they say that if he doesn't have surgery, it's only a matter of time before his condition "will cause his death." When Amon's father found out that Watsi donors were going to have the opportunity to fund his son's treatment again, he said he was "speechless that people who have never met me and my son would carry our burden in their hearts." Let's show Amon and his family that they're not in this alone.