Elibariki is a playful and friends 10-year-old boy. He is the third born child in a family of five children. Elibariki has not started school yet because his parents shared that he cannot walk for a long distance due to his foot. The only school in their village is a long-distance walk for Elibariki and too far for him to manage. Elibariki’s parents are small-scale farmers who depend entirely on their harvest for their food and sell a few of the harvest to get money for other commodities. Elibariki was involved in a fire accident when he was three years old. At home, they have an open fireplace outside their house that serves as a cooking area. His mother had prepared breakfast that morning and there were still a few charcoals burning below the hot ashes. Elibariki and his siblings were playing around the fireplace when Elibariki accidentally stepped into the fire with his left foot. Access to medical care was out of reach for their family, so his parents treated him using herbal medicines. Now he is having difficulty walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Elibariki receive treatment. On March 15th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery and he will be able to walk much better and without pain and discomfort. Now, their family needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Elibariki’s father says, “We always hoped one day we would find the money to take him to a hospital.”

Meet 53-year-old Meng from Cambodia. “Meng is married with two sons, two daughters, and three grandkids. He works as a rice and crop farmer," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "In his free time he enjoys watching boxing programs on TV. He traveled 5 hours with his wife to reach CSC.” “Two years ago Meng developed a cataract in each eye.” explains CSC. “This causes him blurred vision, some pain, tearing, and he is afraid of the bright sunshine.” Cataracts are caused by the lens inside the eye becoming cloudy, causing decreased vision and functional blindness. For $225, Meng will receive a phaco procedure and IOL implant. During surgery, the cloudy lens is taken out of each eye and replaced with a clear, artificial one. This treatment will relieve his painful symptoms and allow him to see clearly again. Meng is eager to heal properly and return to daily life, and his wife remains hopeful that his pain will soon come to an end. She shares,"I hope my husband can see everything clearly again, so he can do work at the farm field to support our family. I hope I will not have to worry about his eyes having more problems in the future." "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly as normal again," Meng adds. "I would like to do my work at the farm field and go anywhere outside too."

Meet Emilly, a 22-year-old woman from Kenya! She lives with her hardworking husband, who works as a barber and farmer, and their firstborn child. Emilly recently found out some exciting news – she is four months pregnant with her second baby! Emilly, like all mothers, wants the best for her unborn child. “I go to church every Saturday to pray for my family. God willing, he will let me see my children grow healthy, strong, and educated up to their full potential,” Emilly tells our medical partner, Lwala Community Alliance. She is hopeful that with our help, she will have access to professional prenatal care, a proper delivery at a health facility, and postnatal care for herself and her child. Emilly is excited to have her baby at the health facility, “I feel I am blessed for the first time in my life, I never knew that such wonderful people like Watsi donors exist in this world.” It will cost $290 to get Emilly the resources she needs. Together we can ensure that Emilly has a healthy delivery and that her baby is brought into the world safely!

“Hugo is a highly motivated man who dreams of getting back to his old life, being able to work, hang out with his friends and family without stigma or shame, and being able to be independent,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, shares. Hugo, a 45-year-old man from Guatemala, has a bilateral arm amputation. In January, he lost both arms in a severe electrocution accident, which has made him unable to continue working and unable to care for himself. For $1255, Hugo can receive two prosthetic arms so he can regain his independence. He tells us, “this injury was the worst thing that has ever happened to me, but I’m happy to be alive, and I’m excited to have prosthetic arms and get back to work.” Let’s help him out!

This is Leonel, a 49-year-old man from Guatemala. Leonel is a paraplegic and is confined to his wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury. His disability prevents him from finding work in his community. Leonel has a catheter permanently placed into his bladder to help with urination. Recently, he has developed a serious urine infection that is resistant to most antibiotics. Leonel is experiencing a significant amount of pain and if his infection gets out of control, it has the potential to be life-threatening. By raising $500, we can provide Leonel with treatment that includes an extended course of aggressive antibiotics to get his infection under control. He will also need input from a specialist to figure out how best to manage his catheter. Our medical partner at Wuqu’ Kawoq says, “We anticipate that this will get him much more comfortable and eradicate the infection.” Let's make it happen for him!