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.

Aleaza is a baby from Haiti. She lives with her mother, grandparents, and three older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. Aleaza has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sick and short of breath. She also has a condition called pulmonary hypertension, in which the blood pressures to her lungs are higher than normal. As a result, before she can be considered for surgery, she needs to have a diagnostic catheterization procedure to ensure that surgery can be done safely. To determine if Aleaza's condition is operable, she must undergo a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, a procedure that is not available in Haiti. During the procedure, a catheter probe will be inserted into her heart to perform the necessary measurements and tests. On August 20, she will travel to the Dominican Republic to receive the scan at our medical partner's care center, Clinica Corominas. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to cover the costs of Aleaza's travel expenses, catheterization procedure, and lab work. Her mother says, "Our family has been working very hard to try to keep Aleaza healthy so that she can have a chance for surgery."

Dorcus is a student from Tanzania. She is the oldest child in a family of two children. Her father is a subsistence farmer, while her mother is a parish worker. Recently, Dorcus has been experiencing trouble breathing and eating and regular sleep apnea. She was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Dorcus, which is scheduled to take place on June 28. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Dorcus of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Dorcus’s father says, “I want my daughter to be able to go to school without being sick regularly.”

Pav is a barber from Cambodia. He has four brothers. He enjoys watching Chinese films. Four months ago, Pav was in a motor vehicle accident that left his left shoulder and arm immobile. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to move his left arm and shoulder. Pav traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 1, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $637 to fund this procedure. He says, "I hope my surgery is successful and I hope to regain function in my arm."

Ngwe is a 61-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, grandson and niece. Both Ngwe and her husband used to be farmers, but now her son supports the family. Since March 2018, Ngwe has been experiencing troubling gynecological symptoms. She has been diagnosed with a uterine prolapse. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ngwe's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ngwe is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on May 1. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience her previous symptoms.

Ayisha is a baby from Haiti. She lives with her mother and grandmother in Port-au-Prince. She is a happy, outgoing baby who enjoys playing with her relatives and neighbors. Ayisha 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 first passing the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sick and short of breath. Ayisha will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 4, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a catheter to insert a device into the hole, blocking it and preventing blood from leaking through it. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $14,000 to pay for surgery. Ayisha'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 Ayisha's family overseas. Her mother says, "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping my daughter to become healthy!"

Wadson is a student from Haiti. He lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince with his parents and younger sister. He is taking the year off of university because of his illness, but hopes to continue studying to become an engineer. Wadson has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart does not function properly because it was severely damaged by a rheumatic fever he suffered several years ago. As a result, his heart cannot adequately circulate blood through his body, and he is weak and in heart failure. Wadson will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 27, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will repair his valve so that it opens and closes more normally. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $60,000 to pay for surgery. Wadson'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 Wadson's family overseas. He says, "I am very excited to regain my health so that I can continue my studies later this year."

Dominick is a student from Tanzania. He likes studying and playing football. Dominick wants to be a pastor when he grows up. He lives in a family of five. Dominick’s father is a construction worker, and his mother is a small businesswoman selling vegetables in a kiosk near home. Since 2008, Dominick has been experiencing persistent flu and heavy snoring at night. Frequent illness causes him to miss school often. Dominick 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 Dominick, which is scheduled to take place on February 1. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Dominick of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Dominick’s mother says, “I will be very happy to see Dominick get treatment, get well, and attend school as required so that he can succeed in life."

Manilyn is a 26-year-old woman from the Philippines. The youngest in her family, she lives with her parents and takes care of the household. Last year, Manilyn began noticing swelling in her neck. Soon, she began experiencing headaches, neck pain, and the feeling that something was obstructing her throat. She was diagnosed with a goiter, a benign swelling of the neck's thyroid gland, and needs an operation to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), is helping Manilyn receive treatment. On August 4, surgeons will perform a thyroidectomy, removing the affected area of Manilyn's thyroid. ICM requests $1,222 for Manilyn's treatment. "I hope and pray that you will support my operation because I want to return to my normal functioning and, after my operation, I want to pursue my dreams in order to help my parents," says Manilyn.

Acelie is a 61-year-old woman who was originally from the southern part of Haiti but currently lives in Port-au-Prince. She is the mother of four kids. Acelie used to be a street merchant and sold food items but currently does not work. She enjoys going to church and likes to clean her house. One day, Acelie started to feel some pain in her back on her way home from work. She had to go to the hospital because the pain was so intense. She went to multiple hospitals, but she never received a diagnosis. She went to a maternity hospital, where she had a mammogram and a biopsy. The doctor there sent her to another hospital, where they officially diagnosed her with breast cancer. In January, Acelie had her consultations and started her treatment with chemotherapy. After four sessions of chemotherapy, Acelie will have a mastectomy on July 29. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is requesting $1,085 to fund this surgery to remove the tumor in Acelie's breast. Acelie hopes that she will be less dependent on her kids and will be able to start working again.

Mpapa is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya. He lives with his parents and five siblings in a small town north of Nairobi. His father is a motorcycle taxi driver who also raises goats. Recently, Mpapa was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the amputation of the fingers of his right hand. His father rushed him to a local hospital, where he was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Doctors recommended a debridement procedure and a skin graft in order to prevent infection of the bones and of the exposed tissue. Mpapa's father immediately sold eight of the family goats in order to pay for Mpapa's hospital admission, however the money is still not enough to cover the recommended treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,129, on top of the $206 subsidized by Mpapa's family, to cover the cost of Mpapa's operation. The procedures are scheduled to take place on June 29 and, once completed, will hopefully protect Mpapa's hand from infection. “I would like to see my son doing okay and being able to utilize his hand," says Mpapa's father.

Witzer is an eighth-grade student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and older sister in Jacmel, a city on Haiti's south coast. He is an excellent student and hopes to become an engineer. Witzer has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him short of breath. On October 2, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, Surgeons will close the hole by sewing a patch across it. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5000 to pay for surgery. Witzer'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. He says, "I am excited that I will be able to stop worrying about my heart any longer!"