Der Lwel is an 18-year-old boy who lives with his parents and two younger brothers in Ta Kue Khee Village, Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, Burma. He and his parents work as subsistence farmers, while his two younger brothers are students. Two years ago, Der Lwel broke his lower back bone. The next day, he received internal fixation surgery. After the surgery, he learned that he would need to come back in two years to have the metal screws removed. Now, he is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the metal screws on February 13. This procedure will cost $1,500. Der Lwel said, “I feel very uncomfortable and I have pain when I bend over while planting or harvest rice. I want to receive treatment and work comfortably like I did before I got injured.”

Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. His grandparents and mother are subsistence farmers who own two cows. Emmanuel was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Emmanuel is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 23. This procedure will hopefully spare Emmanuel from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I feel at home at BethanyKids where everyone I meet treats me well and this makes me garner hope that my son will recover,” says Emmanuel’s mother.

Bikolimana is a student from Tanzania. He is the fifth born child in a family of seven children. Bikolimana’s parents are both subsistence farmers. Bikolimana has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Bikolimana traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 31. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Bikolimana's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Bikolimana says, “I wish to be able to walk to school without difficulty and be able to play.”

Aye Chan is a five-year-old preschool girl from Thailand. She lives with her family in a village in Mae Sot Township. In October, Aye Chan slipped and fell, breaking her right forearm. Currently, she cannot sleep at night, and she is on painkillers to manage the pain. She cannot lift her left arm. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Aye Chan will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for November 1 and will cost $1,500. The treatment will help her to use her left hand again. She will be able to go to school, allowing her mother, who is currently caring for her, to return to work. Her mother says, "I'm looking forward to seeing her recover...I would like to thank your organization for helping my daughter. I will never forget what you have done for my daughter. When she recovers, I will continue to send her to school no matter how difficult it is."

Jibens is a student from Haiti. He lives in a very rural area in the mountains of southwest Haiti with his parents and three siblings. His parents are farmers. Jibens is in the second grade and enjoys going to school. Jibens has a cardiac condition called pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in his heart is too narrow, preventing blood from flowing through it and causing the blood to back up into his heart. Jibens will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On November 14, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will insert a catheter with a balloon on the tip into his valve, and then inflate the balloon to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery. Jibens's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Jibens's family overseas. His mother says, "I am very happy that Jibens can have this surgery so that he can walk to school without getting tired."

Levis is a young boy from Kenya. He is an only child and lives with parents in a one-room house in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. His mother is a stay-at-home mom, while his father operates a motorbike taxi to support the family. Levis was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Levis is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 27. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I am happy we can finally get help at BethanyKids," says Levis’s mother.

Blessing is a baby from Kenya. She is the youngest in a family of six children. Both of her parents are casual laborers. Blessing has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Blessing has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Blessing will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Blessing that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 29 and will drain the excess fluid from Blessing's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Blessing will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. “I am glad Watsi could come through for the first surgery and hopefully they can help us again," Blessing’s mother says.

Sarah is a student from Kenya. Her parents are farmers. They plant maize in a small farm. Two years ago, Sarah began to experience troubling symptoms, including weight gain, dizziness, and a neck swelling. She was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sarah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 12 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $641, and she and her family need help raising money. Sarah says, “I want to be treated so that I can join my friends in school. I also look forward to good results after full recovery."

Tariq is a baby from Tanzania. He is the first child to his parents. Tariq has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Tariq has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Tariq will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Tariq that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 6 and will drain the excess fluid from Tariq's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Tariq will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Tariq’s mother says, “I will not be able to forgive myself if Tariq grows up with a damaged brain just because I couldn’t afford his surgery cost. Please help our baby.”

Nathan is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his mother and grandparents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He attends preschool, and loves learning about trucks and planes. Nathan has a cardiac condition called severe pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in his heart is too narrow, causing blood to back up into his heart and leading to hearth failure. If left untreated, this could be fatal. Nathan will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery. During the procedure, a balloon will be used to stretch Nathan's valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $15,000 to pay for surgery. Nathan's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Nathan's family overseas. His mother says, "Our family is so excited that Nathan can have this surgery and will no longer be in danger!"

Lackson is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife on their small farm, and they have four grown children and many grandchildren. Lackson raises livestock to supplement the family income, and in his free time he enjoys attending church with his family. Since June 2017, Lackson has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Lackson's surgery. On April 3, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Lackson was thrilled to learn his surgery would be funded and he is looking forward to going home pain-free. He says, "Thank you for this, Watsi."