Meet Petna, a quiet, four-year-old girl from Tanzania. “Petna is the second born in a family of three children. She used to be very active and enjoyed playing hide and seek,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). However, due to a lumbar spine tumor on her lower back, Petna has not been able to play or sleep on her back for some time. According to AMHF, last year Petna's mother "noticed a small swelling on her daughter’s lower back.” This swelling continued to grow until this September, when Petna was taken to a local hospital and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, the tumor was not completely removed "and the swelling is back to a big size and it is also infected,” reports AMHF. If not properly treated, Petna will continue to be in pain and face the risk of the swelling bursting, which can cause even more serious complications. Petna’s parents are young and rely on livestock keeping for income. It is difficult for them to come up with $920 for Petna’s operation. With help from Watsi’s donors, however, Petna can receive another operation to properly remove her tumor. She will no longer experience pain or face or other complications down the line. “I feel sorry for my granddaughter because she is in pain all the time,” says Petna’s grandmother. “I long to see her happy again, actively playing with other children.”

Erla is a 48-year-old woman from Haiti. In 2013, she felt a small pain in her right breast. Over time, the mass grew and Erla began to notice unusual secretions from her breast. “She decided to see a doctor in a neighborhood outside of Port-au-Prince,” says our medical partner, Project Medishare. “She could not unfortunately meet the doctor because there were too many people waiting. She stayed home all those two long years with pain until she heard a radio announcement about a hospital which has special services for people with breast masses.” “She decided to come and get diagnosed by having some lab tests done,” her doctor continues. “The result revealed that she had breast cancer. She spent six months following the process with a chemotherapy and now the time has come for her to be operated on to remove her cancer.” Erla needs a mastectomy to remove her breast, which will cost $849. She has very little money, especially since her husband passed away after the earthquake in Haiti. “She used to have a small business selling items of different sorts,” her doctor says. “Now, because of her sickness, she practically can’t do anything anymore. She is supported by her elder son who doesn’t have much money and can’t pay for the treatment.” “She wishes God to make the operation successful,” her doctor adds. “She hopes that you can help her take this important step in her treatment. Hopefully, she will be able to restart her small business.”

Paulino is a 55-year-old father to two sons and one daughter, and a pastor in his local church in Guatemala. Paulino has metastatic adenocarcinoma -- a cancerous tumor on his cheek. "Several years ago Paulino noticed a mass on his right cheek, and took himself to the doctor to get it looked at," shares our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "After some studies at this hospital, the medics sent him to another where he did more tests. All in all it took him six years to finally end up at Hospital Roosevelt (a government hospital in Guatemala) to start receiving chemotherapy." "He started in October with chemo, but came to us last week, because he no longer had any money to continue with treatment," WK shares. "He needs several more rounds of chemotherapy and perhaps surgery afterwards to remove the mass, but he and his family have already exhausted all of the funds they have paying for the labs, doctor visits, transport and first cycle of chemo." Paulino's three children have had to drop out of school to help work and pay for his treatment. His wife is currently working two jobs. "Without WK and Watsi assistance, Paulino will not be able to afford the rest of treatment, and the cancer will continue to spread." For $1475, Paulino will continue to receive chemotherapy. This will allow his children to return to school so that Paulino and his family have the opportunity to return to their lives as usual. "I just want to heal, to be able to be there for my family, continue with my life and preach the word of God," Paulino adds.