Tabitha is a business lady from Kenya. She is a single mother of three children. Tabitha sells camel soup in the capital to make a living for herself and her three children. Two of her children are in school, which demands school fees. From her small business, she makes about $5 daily, which she saves to meet the her family's needs. Tabitha has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Tabitha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 20. After treatment, Tabitha will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Tabitha says, “I wish to be treated and be free from the stressful experience I am in.”

Musa is a farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of six children. For two years, Musa has been experiencing chronic pelvic pain. She has been diagnosed with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $268 to fund Musa's surgery. On March 14, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Musa will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. She says, "After surgery I will be happy and resume working in my fields.’’

Aye is a seven-year-old girl from Burma. She is a first grade student, and she lives with her grandmother, aunt, uncle and four cousins while her parents work in Bangkok, Thailand. Aye was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which has caused fluid to build up in her brain. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, she 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 Aye, which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in her brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 28, and, once completed, will greatly improve Aye's quality of life.

Srey Nith is a 15-year-old aspiring dancer from Cambodia. She has six sisters and likes to watch TV and relax. When she was nine, Srey Nith had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Srey Nith experiences tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear discharge. She has difficulty going about her daily tasks and no longer goes to school. Srey Nith traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 7, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Her mother says, "I hope that after surgery, my daughter will feel better and will be very happy."

Fridah is a young woman from Kenya. She is the eldest of three children. Fridah has clubfoot of her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Fridah traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 28. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Fridah's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be ale to walk easily. Fridah says, “I am praying to God that I can undergo surgery and resume my normal life and studies without pain.”

Srey Nuon is a teenager from Cambodia. Her favorite subjects to study in school are chemistry and math, and one day she hopes to become a chemistry teacher. Srey Nuon was born with scoliosis, which is progressing with age, making it difficult to sit in school for long periods, and causing a lot of discomfort. Surgery can help correct the position of her spine, and prevent further worsening of the condition. Fortunately, spinal surgery has been scheduled for March 11. Our medical partner needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure. Srey Nuon says, "I hope that after my surgery I will no longer have any pain and I will be able to take care of myself and sleep better."

Four-year-old Princess lives with her family in a bamboo house in the Philippines. She loves to play doll with her friends. Her father is a farmer, and he has difficulty providing for the family. Princess has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. She began $268 malnutrition treatment on October 20. She is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. "I hope and pray that Princess will recover from malnutrition and become healthy," says Princess's mother.