Savy is a 34-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married with two sons and two daughters. He works as motorcycle taxi driver. In his free time, he watches boxing on TV in local coffee shops. Savy fell down the stairs in October 2016, injuring his right hip. He went to a Khmer traditional healer and took pain killers for treatment. When his symptoms did not improve, people in his village told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). He and his wife traveled for four hours to reach CSC for treatment. Savy was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the right hip and possible tuberculosis. Surgeons at CSC will perform a biopsy on May 11. Our medical partner is requesting $224 to fund the surgery. Savy hopes treatment will reduce his pain and allow him to walk again without difficulty.

McAdam is a retired 67-year-old teacher from Malawi. He has stayed very active in the education and Muslim communities. When he is free, McAdam likes to read books and spend time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Since last August, McAdam has been having trouble passing urine. This causes him discomfort and prevents him from having a good night's rest. Doctors at Nkhoma Hospital (a care center affiliated with our medical partner, World Altering Medicine) have diagnosed McAdam with benign prostatic hyperplasia. On April 20, McAdam will undergo surgery to treat his enlarged prostate gland and restore his urinary function. McAdam needs our help to pay for his $733 medical bill. This will cover his surgery, hospital stay, and follow-up care. McAdam is thankful for our help and shares that he is looking forward to having his operation and going back to his family and community.

Da is a 37-year-old farmer who is married and has three sons and one daughter. In his free time, he enjoys fishing by the sea. Da sustained a wound on his right foot from a snake bite. The bite caused a permanent contracture, causing pain and making it difficult for Da to walk. Da traveled five hours with his wife to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Surgeons proposed a below-the-knee amputation to help with Da's pain. On February 16, Da will undergo the surgery, which will allow him to feel comfortable again. He needs help to fund this $446 procedure.

Sot is a 77-year-old retired man. He is married and has two sons and 10 grandchildren. In his spare time, he likes to cook, watch the news, and see movies. Sot has developed a cataract in each eye. The cataracts are causing blurred vision, tearing, and photophobia (light sensitivity). These vision issues have made it difficult for Sot to work. In addition, he worries about his vision in the future. On February 15, he will undergo cataract surgery at our medical partner's care center. After removing the cataracts and and replacing the lenses with implants in each eye, Sot will be able to see clearly again. He needs $292 to fund this procedure.

Kunthea is a 35-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is married and has two daughters. He likes to play soccer, watch TV, and go fishing in his free time. When he was 10 years old, Kunthea developed an ear infection in his left ear, and the infection spread to his right ear. He developed chronic otitis media when both of his eardrums perforated. Kunthea has tried to use ear drops from a pharmacy, but his symptoms have not improved. He experiences ear discharge and hearing loss. It is difficult for him to work, and his wife is worried about him. Kunthea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Care (CSC), from a relative. He traveled with his wife to reach CSC and get treatment. ENT surgeons at CSC will perform a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear on January 19. CSC is requesting $399 for the procedure that will repair Kunthea's eardrum and improve his hearing.

Samuel is ten years old and lives with his mother in La Romana, a city in eastern Dominican Republic. He is an excellent student and would like to grow up to be a pediatric cardiologist. Samuel was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related defects. There is a hole between two chambers of his heart and a muscular blockage in one of his heart's valves. This condition prevents oxygen from fully circulating through his body, leaving him weak and short of breath. Although Samuel is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. He will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Samuel will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 13. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Samuel also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Samuel's surgical care. After his treatment, Samuel will be able to grow normally and be free from his condition. He will also be able to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. "I am excited to be a doctor when I grow up so that I can help other kids who have the same problem I have now," says Samuel.

Sarom is a 38-year-old factory worker who has one son, three daughters, and one grandchild. She likes to watch concert and music programs on TV in her free time. Twenty years ago, Sarom developed a pterygium in each eye, causing her blurred vision, irritation, and itchiness. It became difficult for her to see things clearly, work, and go anywhere outside. Sarom traveled for three hours with her sister to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. On December 23, eye surgeons at CSC removed the pterygium from each eye to allow Sarom to see clearly again. Now, CSC is requesting $148 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I look better and feel more comfortable," says Sarom, "because I want to continue my work at the factory to earn money to support my family."

Uoy is seven years old and in the first grade. He has two brothers, and he likes to play games. Uoy has a type of congenital strabismus in both eyes called exotropia. This condition causes his eyes to turn outward. When Uoy's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 1, doctors performed a corrective eye surgery. After recovery, Uoy's vision will improve. Now, his family needs help to fund this $264 procedure.

Vinz is an eight-month-old boy from the Philippines who lives with his family in a small bamboo house. He is a happy little boy and smiles at everyone, including strangers. Vinz's father is a fisherman, and his mother sells the fish at the market. They do not make enough money to support Vinz, who has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. Vinz's malnutrition potentially threatens his life, and could also lead to heart problems and mental development issues. Fortunately, Vinz is receiving the care he needs from Watsi's medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). Vinz began ICM's $268 home-based feeding program, which provides nutrient-enriched food packs to malnourished children, on October 19. This will help Vinz regain a normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. In order to monitor Vinz's progress in the program, ICM staff and volunteers will make weekly visits to check up on him. They will also educate his parents about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening to ensure that Vinz's health can be sustained in the future. "I hope Vinz will finish his studies and get a good job," says his mother. Let's help to fund her son's care!

Lilibet is a one-month-old baby girl and her parents’ first child. She lives with her mother and father in rural Guatemala. Her mother is a homemaker, and her father works in construction. Her family earns less than three dollars per day, putting treatment for Lilibet out of her family’s economic reach. Lilibet was born premature in September and spent the first fifteen days of her life stabilizing in the hospital. Lilibet’s mother’s milk has not come in, a common occurrence in premature births, leaving her unable to breastfeed Lilibet and provide her baby with the nutrition she needs. Lilibet’s mother has been feeding her sugar water and occasionally milk from a neighbor. As result of Lilibet’s limited diet, she is underweight and small at just over a month old. To stabilize her condition, Lilibet was given a preliminary supply of formula which will last until a nutritionist can create a personalized nutrition plan and begin formal treatment. Lactation failure can lead to starvation, cause dehydration, and provoke electrolyte imbalances that result in seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised and Lilibet is at risk of long-term damage. By supplying Lilibet with formula and the mother with health education, Lilibet will receive the calories she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one motivational education with Lilibet’s mother will prepare her for Lilibet to start eating solid food, as well as help her watch for further signs of malnutrition and other illness. Lilibet’s immune system will strengthen and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. $1,107 will cover the costs of the care Lilibet needs. Let's help raise the funds!

Carmelle lives in Cap Haitien, a city in northern Haiti, with her mother, father, and younger sister. She attends school, and likes helping her mother with chores around the house. Carmelle was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to get oxygen, leaving her sickly and weak. Carmelle also has Down syndrome. $1,500 in Watsi funding, and an additional $10,000 subsidy from Have a Heart Cayman Islands will fund the life-saving heart surgery that Carmelle needs to grow up healthy. "We are excited for Carmelle to be able to have surgery so she can be stronger and healthier," her mother shared.

"Sometimes I just can't find anything to do for my daughter because I don't have the resources to give her what she needs,” shares Nataly’s mother. 17-month-old Nataly lives with her mom, her two siblings, and her grandparents in a wood home in Guatemala. Nataly loves to play with her siblings, and with a little teddy bear that a neighbor gave her--it is the only toy she has. Nataly's mother has noticed that her daughter is not growing like she should. Her baby’s height is nearly three standard deviations below what's healthy, but she is still losing weight. Nataly also gets sick with fevers and diarrhea almost every week. These are symptoms of Nataly’s malnutrition, a problem that could stunt her neurodevelopment, weaken her immune system, and put her at risk of chronic diseases in the future. Nataly's mother is raising her by herself, and has not had much support from family. She has been having a hard time finding work to support her kids, and cannot afford the vegetables and eggs that Nataly needs on a daily basis in order to grow. But for $512, we can provide Nataly with the growth monitoring, micronutrients and food supplementation she will need to recover from malnutrition. She will gain weight to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger, preventing her from having any life-threatening situations with diarrhea and fevers. The increased caloric intake will also help Nataly develop mentally. Lastly, the requested funding will also sponsor nutritional training for Nataly’s mother, tailored to help her give Nataly a healthy diet that fits the family’s budget. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition. “ I appreciate the help that my daughter will receive so that she can improve and grow well,” Nataly’s mother adds. “I want my daughter to study so she can be a nurse." Let’s give Nataly the chance to someday finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition.