Nan Htwe is a 21-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents and older sister. When she is not helping with household chores, Nan Htwe spends her time reading. Nan Htwe was born with ventricular septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Nan Htwe is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on May 11 to correct his condition and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Nan Htwe's procedure and care. She says, "I would like to finish school and become a medic when I feel better so that I could be a good medic, with a smiling face and a smiling heart.”

Stessie is a toddler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and older brothers in Cap Haitien, a city in northern Haiti. She likes listening to music and going to church with her family. Stessie has Down syndrome. Stessie also has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sickly and short of breath. On April 8, she will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will use stitches to close the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Stessie'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. Her mother says, "We are looking forward to this surgery so our daughter can play and be more active."

Paw is an eight-month-old energetic baby girl from Burma. Both her siblings attend school. Her family rents a piece of land, where they grow crops that provide them with food throughout the year. In March 2018, Paw fell off a stack of leaves her father had collected to thatch their house. The leaves were on top of bamboo sticks. When Paw fell, she hit her right thigh on one of the bamboo sticks and fractured her femur. Paw's thigh is swelling and she cannot move her leg. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Paw will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for March 7 and will cost $1,500. Receiving this procedure will allow Paw to heal properly and learn to walk. “I hope my daughter will get an easier life and become an educated person. We will support her in whatever she wants to do. I do not want her to be a farmer like me, because it is a hard and difficult life," said Paw's mother.

Aye is a 30-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, and they work together in the same electricity factory. With her salary, she supports her parents, who live in Burma. For four months, Aye has been experiencing back pain and lower abdominal pain. She visited Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center, and had an ultrasound. She has been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. She has been advised to undergo an oophorectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her ovaries. Fortunately, Aye is scheduled to undergo her oophorectomy on January 16. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $913 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Aye says, “I feel stressed because of my condition. I worry that I will not be able to work and get my full salary. If I don’t get my full salary, I cannot send money to my parents and they will not be able to survive."

Sim is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has four children and four grandchildren. She likes watching Cambodian comedy TV shows in her free time. Two years ago, she started experiencing pain in her knee. She can only walk about 15 meters, and it's causing pain and discomfort. Fortunately, Sim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Sim of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 10, and Sim needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I hope I can help the pain on my knee and take care of my grandchildren."

“I am not scared to get surgery,” Nandar shares. “I believe that it will help me, and that my body will heal fast.” Nandar is a 16-year-old girl who lives in Thailand with her mother. Currently, Nandar works in a textile factory. But Nandar says that she likes to read books and even writes her own stories. She dreams of writing a book someday or becoming a teacher. Earlier this year, Nandar began to experience multiple nose bleeds and heart palpitations. Concerned, her mother took her to the hospital. There, an echocardiogram revealed that Nandar has a condition known as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). This means that her arteries are not properly moving blood from her lungs to the rest of her body. Because Nandar tires so easily now, she has not been able to work as much as she would like to, which has put financial strain on her and her mother. If left untreated, PDA could also cause Nandar lung damage. Nandar has no choice but to undergo surgery if she hopes to avoid this outcome. However, she and her mother cannot afford the $1,500 needed to pay for her operation on December 11, as well as the associated lab tests and hospital stay. With your help, Nandar can receive her surgery and once more have a functioning heart and lungs. With her health intact, Nandar will be able to pursue the writing and teaching career she dreams of.

Mohamed is a three-year-old boy Tanzania. He loves giving hugs to people and is often laughing and playing around. He loves to learn and is always sounding out words, counting, and finding out how things work. Mohamed has genu varus, commonly called "knock-knees." This is a condition in which the knees angle in and touch each other when the legs are straightened. For this reason, Mohamed finds it difficult to walk. He makes his best effort to get around, but he tires quickly and ends up sitting most of the day. Mohamed needs treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery, scheduled for August 18. If not treated, Mohamed will continue to experience pain and tiredness when walking or running. This will prevent him from playing and attending school. However, with this surgery, the hope is that he will be able to walk, run, and play with his friends. “Mohammed is a bright young boy with the world at his fingertips. My hope is that he will have it within his grasp when he receives his surgery,” says Mohamed’s caretaker.

Thu is a 14 year-old boy who lives with his family in Karen State, Burma. The income the family earns from selling chicken and vegetables is hardly enough to feed the whole family. In the last six years, Thu has suffered from a number of abdominal infections. Thu stopped going to school after second grade, partly due to the difficulties of his recurring medical problems. This year, he was finally diagnosed with bladder stones, which require surgical removal. On September 3, surgeons will operate to address his condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 to fund Thu's medical treatment.

Andy is a 12-year-old boy from Dominican Republic. He lives with his parents. His mother works as an office administrator, and his father works as a chef to support their family. Andy enjoys going to school and watching baseball on TV. Andy was born with a complex congenital heart condition that involves many defects including one heart valve that does not open and close properly, causing blood to back up into his heart, and leaving him feeling weak and short of breath. Throughout his childhood, Andy has undergone many heart surgeries to repair his heart. This surgery is the last one he needs to repair his mitral valve. Andy will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On August 31, he will undergo cardiac surgery. This $27,000 surgery is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman. Andy'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 Andy's family overseas. Although Andy is not from Haiti, Haiti Cardiac Alliance is collaborating with partners to make his surgery possible. "I would like to share my entire family's gratitude to everyone who is helping my son become healthy!" says Andy's mother.

Wendy is a 14-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is the first child to her parents. Her father works as a day laborer to support their family, and her mother stays at home to take care of the household. Wendy loves to play with her mother, and her favorite food is papaya. Every Sunday, their family enjoys going to church. Wendy has been diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. Beginning on April 27, Wendy will be monitored at Clinic Tecpán, our medical partner's care center. There, she will receive micronutrients and food supplementation to help her recover. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Wendy's nutritional supplements and care. Funds will also go towards an educational program that will teach her mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet using limited resources. “I am excited to be a part of the program because I wish for my daughter to grow well,” says Wendy’s mother.

Liza is a 12-year-old fourth grader from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and brother and sister. When not studying, Liza enjoys reading books, drawing pictures, and chatting with her friends. When Liza was four, she developed an ear infection in her right ear that perforated her inner ear membrane. In 2015, she travelled to Vietnam twice seeking treatment. Her condition did not improve, and she has been experiencing ear discharge, hearing loss, and ringing sensations. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a relative, Liza's parents took her for treatment. On April 27, ENT surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, CSC's care center, will perform a myringoplasty procedure on Liza to correct her hearing. CSC is asking for $423 to cover the cost of her treatment. Liza is looking forward to recovery and hopes to one day be a doctor!

Foster is a 13-month-old little boy who lives with his family in Malawi. He loves playing with his siblings and going exploring. His favorite meal is rice and meat. Since birth, Foster has developed an inguinal hernia. The discomfort and pain from his hernia prevents him from playing. Foster will undergo hernia repair surgery on May 9. Foster's parents work hard as farmers but do not have the financial means to pay for their son's surgery. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is asking for $334 in donations to help Foster. Foster's mother thanks Watsi and the donors!