Johnsley is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents and siblings on a small family farm in the mountains of central Haiti. He likes playing with his neighbors and drawing. Johnsley has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This defect involves several related conditions including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent blood from circulating through the lungs, leaving him weak and short of breath. If untreated, the condition would be fatal. On April 10, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Johnsley's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His father says, "We are very happy that our son can have this surgery, and will pray to God for a good outcome."

Thoung is a 36-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and parents-in-law. Her husband, a day laborer, is the only family member who is working and supporting the family. In her free time, Thoung likes to clean her house and look after her parents-in-law. Last month, Thoung started to experience chest pain and vomiting. As her symptoms became more severe, she developed pain in her lower abdomen. She may have a tumor in her abdomen. Doctors want Thoung to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Thoung's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 6. Thoung says,“I really need to recover soon to be able to take care of my family again.”

Noel is a young child from Tanzania. He loves playing with his friends. Noel’s mother is a small businesswoman who owns a shop outside her house where she sells vegetables. Noel’s father is a motorcycle taxi driver. Since he was an infant, Noel has been experiencing trouble breathing, regular fevers, drowsiness, and sleep apnea. Frequent illness causes the family to spend a lot of time and money in hospitals. Noel 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 Noel, which is scheduled to take place on February 14. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Noel of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Noel’s mother says, “I am constantly worried about Noel. I do not sleep scared that he might stop breathing completely at some point. Please help him get this surgery. God bless you for wanting to help our son.”

Bo is a four-month-old baby boy from Burma. He lives with his family in a village in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State. Bo was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which has caused fluid to build up in his brain. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, he is at risk of developing severe, potentially fatal medical complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for Bo, which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17, and, once completed, will greatly improve Bo's quality of life. His mother says, "As parents, we are very worried about Bo's condition. We understand that he will probably have continued mobility problems in the future, but we are anxious to prevent any further complications."

Peter is a boy from Tanzania. He loves playing football and going to school. He lives in a family of five childrn. Peter has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Peter traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 19. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Peter's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and without pain. Peter’s father says, “Please help my son get treatment, it breaks my heart seeing him struggle walking.”

Mugisha is a five-year-old young boy from Uganda. He lives with his parents and has four siblings. Mugisha’s father is a journalist and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. Mugisha’s legs started to bend inward when he started walking. At the age of three, Mugisha was in pain and his parents took him to the hospital for further assessments. He was given calcium and vitamins but he still experienced pain in his legs. Having heard of Watsi’s program with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), they decided to seek help. Mugisha was told he has windswept deformity, meaning his left leg is bowed outward and his right leg is bowed inward, making it painful and difficult to walk. Our medical partner, AMHF, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Mugisha that will help guide future bone growth. Mugisha’s surgery is scheduled to take place on September 15. Mugisha’s father says, “I am grateful for this opportunity my son has received. Thank you all.”

“I need your help to support my child's medical needs,” says Mekliet's mother, a woman from Ethiopia. She lost her husband in a car accident when she was six months pregnant with Mekliet. The two now live with Mekliet’s grandmother, and have no income source of their own. Mekliet, who is now five months old, was born with anorectal malformation. As a result, she experiences bowel dysfunction. For $1,500, we can sponsor a procedure on September 21 to repair her condition. This will cover the costs of her lab tests, medications, and one-day hospital stay.

Meet Shaniff, a quiet four-year-old boy from Ndumberi village in Kenya. Shaniff was diagnosed with clubfoot of his left foot at birth, a condition that causes his foot to turn inward. To compensate, Shaniff walks on tiptoe, with unstable gait. If not treated, he will never be able to wear shoes or walk for long distances without pain and discomfort. Shaniff currently attends nursery school. There, he loves playing with his friends, but faces difficulty doing so as his foot condition causes frequent falls. On September 5, Shaniff will have clubfoot correction treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,224 for his medical care. His father, a casual laborer at construction sites, and mother, who takes care of the household, cannot afford Shaniff's treatment and are seeking assistance. “I would love to see my son walking well like other children, that’s my joy,” says Shaniff's father.

Dohn is a 21-month-old boy who lives in a village in Karen State, Burma with his family. Dohn’s grandparents work as subsistence farmers, his father works as car mechanic in Thailand, and his mother looks after the children. Following a persistent fever and vomiting, Dohn was admitted to the hospital last April. A CT scan revealed a fluid-filled mass in his brain and a possible tumor. Upon receiving the news that Dohn would need surgery, Dohn's father stopped working in order to look after Dohn at the hospital. The fluid around Dohn's brain was drained, but, due to an infection, no further procedure was done at that time. Dohn has now been transferred to our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, and is scheduled to receive a ventriculoperitoneal shunt on May 26 in order to drain any built-up fluid. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund Dohn's surgical care. With proper treatment, Dohn will be freed of potential cognitive complications and can hope to develop into a strong, healthy young boy.

Lucia is a 43-year-old single mother living in rural Guatemala with her five children. Lucia was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer, which is the leading cause of death among women in Guatemala. Most women in rural indigenous communities, like the one Lucia is from, cannot afford the therapy and do not have access to pap-smear exams and follow ups. As a result, cervical cancer prevention is almost impossible. Early stage cervical cancer is asymptomatic, but as the cancer grows it can induce abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain, anemia, and urinary problems, among others. Seeking assistance, Lucia traveled to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, where she is scheduled to begin her full radiation chemotherapy treatment plan on April 26. She is requesting $1,487 to cover the total cost of the treatment and hospital stays. Lucia says, “I have put everything into God’s hands. I know that with the help of the doctors and with your help, I will keep going. I still have much to do, and I wish more than anything for my children to continue on. I don’t want to leave my children. They still have family members, but it is not the same without their mother. I will continue fighting, and although I only have two children who are still in school, it is my dream to see them graduate.”

Derrick is a 13-year-old student living with his family in southern Kenya. Derrick is in the sixth grade and loves playing with his friends and expressing his creativity through drawing. Derrick's mother works as a vendor at a nearby market, and his father is a mason. About two years ago, Derrick injured his hand while playing with friends. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where they applied a cast. Unfortunately, Derrick's hand did not heal properly, turning the wrong direction and limiting his range of motion. Doctor's have recommended surgery to correct the condition so that Derrick regains the use of his hand. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,165 to fund Derrick's surgery, which will be performed on June 6. Derrick is eager to have this surgery so that he can get back to his friends and his art. He says, “I would like my hand to be treated so as I can continue to play with my friends both at home and at school, I also to advance in my drawing skills."

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.