Ruth is a 14-year-old girl living in Haiti with her mother, grandmother, and sister. She enjoys going to school and church, and would like to study to become a nurse when she's older. Several years ago, Ruth contracted rheumatic fever, which caused damage to her heart. She developed a condition called mitral and aortic regurgitation, where blood backs up into her heart and does not properly circulate through her body. This condition causes Ruth to experience shortness of breath, painful breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the legs. If left untreated, her condition could be fatal. Seeking treatment through our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, Ruth is scheduled to undergo heart surgery to correct her condition on July 10. Although Ruth's [transportation](https://watsi.org/profile/7b224fb3153e-ruth) to our medical partner's care center has already been funded by Watsi, she is still in need of $1,500 to cover the cost of her heart surgery prep. The organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is also subsidizing Ruth's surgery, donating $22,000 to cover the rest of her medical bills. "I am a little scared for my surgery, but I know that God will protect me and make everything go well," Ruth says.

Estherline is a 14-year-old girl who lives with her parents and four siblings in Haiti. Before she became sick, Estherline enjoyed going to school and church, and playing with her brothers and sisters. Several years ago, Estherline contracted rheumatic fever, which caused damage to her heart. She developed a condition called mitral and aortic regurgitation, where blood backs up into her heart and does not properly circulate through her body. This condition causes Estherline to experience shortness of breath, painful breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the legs. If left untreated, her condition could become fatal. Seeking treatment through our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, Estherline is scheduled to undergo heart surgery to correct her condition on July 6. Although Estherline's [transportation](https://watsi.org/profile/b6c83c8bebe1-estherline) to our medical partner's care center has already been funded by Watsi, she is still in need of $1,500 to cover the cost of her heart surgery prep. The organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is also subsidizing Estherline's surgery, donating $27,000 to cover the rest of her medical bills. "I will pray that God blesses everyone that is helping our family through our daughter's illness," her mother says.

Jeremiah is new to this world and already fighting for his life. Born without an anal opening, his body cannot digest food properly. As a result, he cannot breastfeed without throwing up. Jeremiah's mother brought him to our partner hospital when he was just a few days old because she knew something was wrong. "It will just break her heart if he doesn't survive," our partner writes. A preliminary colostomy will help Jeremiah temporarily digest food until a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty procedure, a new technique used to repair anorectal malformations, will be performed to help Jeremiah eat and pass stool normally for the rest of his life. The only pediatric surgeon in the entire country of Tanzania will perform the procedure. For $1,200 Jeremiah can receive life-saving healthcare. Let's make it happen for him.

Phoebe is a 21-year-old mother living in Kenya. Pregnant with her fourth child, Phoebe has been suffering from abdominal pain and leg cramps. Additionally, she says, "I feel dizziness during evening hours, and this does not allow me to carry on with my daily activities." Although she is eager to welcome her fourth child into her family, Phoebe cannot afford basic maternal care. Her family owns a small farm and grows maize, beans, groundnuts, cabbages, and sugarcane. The earnings from their farm are put toward living expenses and school fees for her children. Let's help Phoebe raise $215 for regular maternal checkups and for a safe delivery in a health facility. Phoebe has a bright outlook on life, saying "I hope and wish that one day things will be better but knowing very well that it can be better if I and my husband have faith. Hope and patience are the key things to getting better." With your help, we can show Phoebe how right she is to believe in better days.

Gladys is a 53-year-old widow and mother of four. Since her husband passed away two years ago, Gladys' life has considerably changed. Previously a housewife, she is now head of the household and sole caretaker for her children. A job like this requires the utmost strength, something which Gladys currently doesn't have. She suffers from uterine fibroids, which cause heavy and painful bleeding, anemia and general body weakness. With $885, we can provide Gladys the funding necessary to receive an abdominal hysterectomy, allowing her to lead a healthy and productive life.

Say hello to Isaac, an adorable four-day-old boy from Kenya. Isaac is an only child and lives with his mother, a college student and an only child. His mother is still supported by her parents because at this time, she is unable to take care of Isaac on her own. Isaac has spina bifida, which has caused an open mass on his back. “I had never seen nor heard of spina bifida and when I had Isaac, I did not know what to do. I have no means of paying for his surgery but I pray and hope that my son will get support for his treatment soon,” says Isaac’s mother. For $980, Isaac will receive a spina bifida closure, a surgery that will enable Isaac to live a normal, healthy life. With treatment, he is less likely to develop a tethered cord, which can lead to kyphosis or scoliosis. Let’s work together to help Isaac and his mother!

Catherine is a curious four-year-old girl from Tanzania. She loves to play with other kids even though she has trouble walking properly due to a burn scar contracture (tightened skin) on her left foot. Catherine's mother was still in school when she had her, so Catherine lives with her grandmother. Her grandmother is taking care of many other children and cannot afford to pay for Catherine's operation. Catherine's grandmother dreams of seeing her granddaughter walk again. Let's raise the $505 needed for the contracture release surgery and help Catherine walk again!

Mariam is a bright 17-year-old girl from Tanzania. Unfortunately, the physical disability she developed after a fire accident has prevented Mariam from continuing with secondary education. A severe burn scar contracture (areas of tightened skin) on her neck, elbow, and wrist have left her unable to use her left hand and unable to move her neck freely. Both of Mariam's parents work hard as casual laborers but, with a family of six children, it is hard for them to support the whole family. They cannot afford the $505 needed for a contracture release surgery for their daughter. Let's come together and raise the money needed to allow Mariam to go back to school!

Paulina is a talented young girl with dreams of becoming a singer. She is the second born in a family of six children from Tanzania. Unfortunately, Paulina is unable to use her left hand due to a burn scar contracture (tightened skin) on her wrist. Paulina loves singing in her school choir and enjoys drawing. Her hardworking parents just earn enough to pay for their children's school fees. Paulina's mother works in a kiosk and her father is a casual laborer. A contracture release surgery and skin graft will give Paulina a functional hand again. Together, we can raise the $1,080 needed to help Paulina!

Say hello to Dainess! This sweet girl is seven years old and has seven siblings. She loves playing handball with other kids but can’t anymore due to her condition. Dainess has a flexion contracture and infection in her right knee, which severely limits her ability to walk. Her mobility will not improve without treatment. Unfortunately, her parents can’t afford the necessary operation as they are small-scale farmers and have already spent quite a bit of money taking their daughter to various hospitals. Dainess is ready get her mobility back. “I wish to be able to walk and run like I used to and go to school like my brothers and sisters,” she says. For $500 she will receive a knee fusion on her right knee, enabling her to walk normally. Let's rally and get Dainess back to school and playing handball like she used to!

Florence and her husband are farmers. They dream of expanding their farm and earning enough money to grow their family and education their children. Florence says that in the future, she hopes to invest in better farming techniques and equipment to ensure a sterile environment, free from water-borne diseases such as cholera. In addition to her work-related ambitions, Florence's chance to grow her family is here! She is pregnant and excited to give birth. However, after attending a maternal health program that gave her a lot of important medical information about pregnancy, delivery, and her future baby’s health, Florence wants to give birth in a hospital. Many women in Florence's community lack access to basic maternal healthcare and experience life-threatening complications as a result. We can help Florence delivery safely by funding her pre-natal care, attended birth, and post natal care.