Lorvenson is a 20-month-old Haitian boy who lives with his parents. According to our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), Lorvenson has a collection of pus in his lungs called an empyema. "Lorvenson started having trouble breathing, has a fever and severe abdominal pain, cries a lots during the nights and he has lost his appetite." His father took him to the hospital where CT scans revealed Lorevenson's empyema. Both of Lorvenson’s parents are unemployed and the family cannot pay for the surgery themselves. PM adds that, "his father says he is excited to find a job after the surgery of his baby in order to provide him a healthier life." With $1,500, Lorvenson will be admitted to the pediatric critical care unit where doctors will drain the pus from his lungs, and treat his infection with antibiotics. PM expects that after surgery, “Lorvenson will be healthy again and go back home with his family."

Meet Djouvensley, a 4-year-old boy from Haiti. “He is an only child and is very close to his mother, and shy around people he doesn’t know,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “He hasn’t started preschool yet, in part because of his cardiac condition, but his mother plans to enroll him as soon as he has healed from surgery.” “Djouvensley was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle, a birth defect in which both major arteries flow out of the same chamber of the heart, creating circulatory problem,” reports HCA. “This leaves him weak and at risk of death if not corrected.” It is important that Djouvensley’s condition is treated as soon as possible. The treatment for double outlet right ventricle is surgery. Upon looking at the heart to decide the best course of treatment, surgeons will proceed to connect the aorta to the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle. This will fix the circulatory problem and ensure blood flows through Djouvensley’s heart correctly. An organization called International Children’s Heart Foundation is helping with the costs of the surgery. With their generous subsidy, Djouvensley only needs our help in raising $1,500 for the surgery. After the surgery, doctors anticipate that Djouvensley will no longer experience any cardiac symptoms. He will be able to live a normal life and do the things he enjoys without complication. “We are so thankful to everyone who is helping my son,” shares Djouvensley’s mother. “I can never thank you enough but God will reward you.”

Say hello to Litzy! She's two years old and lives in Guatemala with her mother in a house owned by her grandparents with six other people. Since Litzy was born, she has experienced developmental delays due to cerebral palsy and malnutrition. Litzy’s mother is 20 years old, and raising her daughter alone. However, she committed to her only child’s health. She tells us, “my dream is that God gives my little girl the chance to live a full life.” Litzy’s mother works as a weaver, and she does not have any other family to take care of Litzy. She must miss work when Litzy is sick, which happens frequently because of her compromised immune system. Wuqu’ Kawoq adds that when Litzy’s mother misses work, it “compromises her economic productivity and ability to afford even the most basic necessities,” such as the nutritious foods Litzy needs to gain weight, strength, and energy. For $1385 Litzy will receive a full physical to properly diagnose her condition and treatment regimen including medications, physical and speech therapies, and followup medical visits. This treatment plan will improve Litzy’s immune system as well as her motor function, making it easier for her mother to care for her overall. This funding will also provide Litzy’s mother with the education and she needs to make healthy, informed decisions about her daughter’s health. Let's ensure that Litzy has the support she needs to improve her nutrition, mobility, and cognitive development to grow into a sociable and healthy young girl.

Meet Andres, an infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), tells us, "He is the youngest child in his family and he has six siblings." Andres was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. About one month after he was born, Andres began crying often. WK reports, "His mother started to notice that Andres’ appetite had decreased and he was losing weight. After a couple months it became clear he was not growing as well as the other children of the same age." Andres' parents were unsure how to proceed because they did not have the additional resources to supplement his diet. "His weight and height are far below the average for his age, and he is at for the risk for long-term negative effects of malnutrition," explains WK. As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $535 will fund the treatment Andres needs to address his nutritional deficit. This treatment intervention will provide Andres with the nutritional supplements he needs as well as one to four months of intensive nutrition education for his parents. This two-prong approach will give Andres' parents the tools they need to continue providing nutrition to their child after treatment is complete. Without these combined efforts, Andres will continue to have low energy and limited mental potential. This nutritional intervention has far-reaching benefits. Andres will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, thus allowing him to fight infection and illness throughout this life. Equipped with this new knowledge, Andres’ parents will also be able to support all seven of their children in attaining a healthy lifestyle.

Meet Yi, a 58-year-old woman from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Yi is married with a daughter and two grandchildren, and she spends her days doing housework and watching Thai dramas on TV.” For a decade now, Yi has been living with cataracts in both of her eyes. This is a condition that can develop with age as the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, and as it worsens it can lead to blindness. CSC says that Yi’s cataracts, “Really blur her vision and she finds it hard to do any work at home, difficult to go outside alone, and she thinks she will soon go blind.” Yi’s vision can be restored with cataract surgery. This procedure costs $225 and will remove the cloudy lenses in both of her eyes and replace them with a clear implant. CSC tells us that with this surgery, “Yi will have clear vision.” CSC continues, “After surgery Yi mainly wants to be able to do things independently and be able to go outside without any problems.” Yi’s goal is attainable with this surgery – let’s make it happen!

Meet 15-year-old Lah Naw from Burma. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us, “Lah Naw lives with her grandmother, father, brother, and sister. Her mother is deceased. Her father supports the entire family by running a snack shop out of their home and makes about 100 USD per month.” Though their father sometimes has to borrow money for school fees, Lah Naw’s father wants both his children to attend school. As BBP explains, “Lah Naw has completed grade 8, but she misses school frequently because of her condition and has not yet been able to start grade 9.” Lah Naw has a sinonasal papilloma, a benign tumor of the nasal cavity. BBP reports, “Lah Naw first noticed her problem two years ago when she started to get nosebleeds and could feel a mass on the inside of her nose. She went to a clinic in Burma and received medicine to ease the bleeding, but the mass has continued to grow since then.” Currently, Lah Naw has frequent and serious nosebleeds. BBP informs us, “She has to say home from school multiple times per month because of the nosebleeds. Lah Naw is scared that if her condition does not improve, she will not be able to return to school.” With $1,500 in funding, Lah Naw will receive surgery to remove the mass in her nasal cavity, putting an end to her nosebleeds. Funding covers the cost of pre-surgery and post-surgery outpatient visits, hospitalization for scans and surgery, transportation, and food allowance. “After surgery, Lah Naw will be able to go back to school and will be relieved of her symptoms,” confirms BBP. Lah Naw is eager to return to her daily life and looks forward to a bright future. She shares, “I want to go back to school, and after I complete grade 12, I want to continue my education further.”

Meet Sok, a 53-year old man from Cambodia who lives with his wife and three children. “Sok has cataracts in both eyes that make it very hard for him to watch TV, do work on the farm, see the faces of his family, and to go anywhere by himself,” explains our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Sok chooses not to ask anyone for help, so he is not as productive on the farm and moves very slowly.” For just $225, Sok will receive surgery to remove his cataracts and restore his vision. The surgery on the left eye will take place first, followed by the surgery on his right eye 1-2 weeks later. “After surgery, Sok looks forward to doing better work on the farm, watching boxing again, and going anywhere without worrying about his safety,” concludes CSC.

“I want the world for my children. I am alone, and at times it is hard, but not impossible," shares Alicia, a 33-year-old woman from Guatemala. "However, now, with this [diabetes], I am afraid of what will happen to me, but more importantly what will happen to my babies." Alicia is a single mother of six children who. She “supports her family by cleaning houses, washing clothes, and ironing,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). In her free time, she likes to embroider blouses and sashes. Alicia was diagnosed with diabetes one year ago, but has not been able to afford medication since then. According to WK, if left untreated, “diabetes can cause extreme weakness, exhaustion, vision loss, kidney failure, permanent nerve damage, and heart and blood disease.” As the sole caretaker of her family, Alicia is relied upon to earn an income. For $450, WK will be able to provide Alicia with medication and education to manage her diabetes. Laboratory studies will be performed to test Alicia’s glucose levels and track her progress, and she will receive a diabetes educator and case manager. “She will avoid the negative permanent effects of uncontrolled glucose levels, and will thus be able to work and provide for her family for years to come,” WK adds.

Meet Julia, a dedicated mother of three. Julia is 36 years old and lives with her family in Guatemala. She has been enrolled in a diabetes treatment program with our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), for the past five years. Recently, WK found out that Julia is pregnant with her fourth child. Julia’s diabetes could cause major complications with her pregnancy. Without the appropriate treatment and monitoring, high glucose in the mother’s blood “can increase the risk of birth defects, jaundice, microsomia, or miscarriage,” explains WK. Julia herself is also at risk of future medical complications: kidney and eye damage, as well as a potentially lethal condition of high blood pressure called preeclampsia—one that can lead to swelling, headache, seizures and disruption of blood flow in the placenta. According to WK, “Julia is the main breadwinner in her family” as she sells tortillas from her house to support her children. She wakes up at 5 AM to gather wood behind her house to prepare a fire for making the tortillas. With the financial strain of supporting her three young children and maintaining the household, Julia is unable to afford the medical care she and her new baby will need to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery. “With Watsi donor support our team will assist Julia in multiple ways,” explains WK. “She will receive extra attention from our nursing staff to ensure her glucose levels stay at a normal level. Our staff will work with her to prepare for a hospital birth, and up until the due date she will receive regular ultrasounds and prenatal check ups.” Blood work and transportation to the hospital will also be covered, ensuring that Julia and her baby have the appropriate health care for the whole birthing process. For $310, Julia and her new baby will have the care and attention they need for a safe pregnancy and delivery. With a healthy delivery and the care she needs to successfully manage her diabetes, Julia will be able support her young children as they grow up!

Meet Stephen, an adorable three-year-old boy from Kenya. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares: “Stephen is the second born child to a single young lady. Stephen's other sibling is only five years old. Stephen's mother has no permanent job; she works as a casual laborer cleaning clothes for neighbors. She is therefore unable to meet the hospital bill for this important surgery for her son.” Stephen was born with bilateral undescended testes, meaning that both of his testicles remain in the inguinal canal and cannot be felt in their usual location. According to AMHF, “If left untreated, the testes will remain high in the body cavity at higher temperatures, which may lead to cancer and infertility. Inguinal hernia is also a risk: rates of occurrence are higher in undescended testes and an incarcerated hernia can be dangerous.” Most boys born with undescended testes receive surgery before 18 months of age, so now, at three years old, Stephen is at greater risk of future medical complications as a result of his condition—making it even more imperative that he receive treatment soon. With $495 in funding, Stephen will receive an orchidopexy—a surgical procedure that implants the undescended testes in the scrotum. An incision is made over the inguinal canal and the testes are then brought down. "My child seems to be growing well physically but I know without this treatment his future life may be affected. I hope this time I will get help so that my child can be well and grow up like other children,” his mother shares.

“Victor is a class one pupil who enjoys running around with his friends and playing hide-and-go-seek,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Victor is a seven-year-old boy from Kenya. “Early last week, Victor was playing in school when he tripped on a rock and fractured his hand,” shares AMHF. Due to the fracture, Victor is unable to use his left hand. His arm was placed in a splint to manage the pain and keep it in place. Since the accident, Victor has been absent from school. ”If surgery is not done soon, Victor could develop infection, ulna nerve damage or malunion, which can lead to deformity," AMHF shares. $660 will fund the treatment Victor needs to correct his fracture. AMHF says, “Victor's doctors plan on trying a closed reduction in the operating room. Should that fail, they will perform an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).” A closed reduction is a non-surgical procedure where the bone is set into a position where the bone can heal. An open reduction involves surgically opening the area around the broken bone and re-aligning the broken ends, using metal hardware. After the surgery, Victor will receive post-operative care and medication. AMHF tells us, “the treatment would enable Victor's hand to heal well and he will be able to go back to school.” Victor is excited to heal, and shares with us: "I want to be a doctor when I grow up."

Rosario is a newborn baby girl who lives with her family in Guatemala. Rosario’s father is a day laborer on a farm nearby, and her mother helps her mother-in-law take care of the house and land. “Rosario is suffering from acute malnutrition due to lactation failure,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “When examined by our medical team, Rosario had very little energy. Her mother does not have enough money to pay for formula, and if intervention does not occur soon Rosario will be in danger of permanent mental and physical damage or death.” Rosario’s mother is 18 years old and had a very complicated pregnancy and birth, in which Rosario required critical care. Despite these previous complications, Rosario’s mother is extremely dedicated to the health of her baby. “When she realized she could not produce sufficient breast milk, she immediately came to our clinic asking for help,” explains WK. “She cries because she is hungry and there is nothing I can do,” shares her mother. “I feel so helpless and embarrassed. She is my first child and I just want the best for her.” Fortunately, treating lactation failure is easy and effective. With our support of $1,220, WK will be able to work with Rosario and her family to prevent future threats of malnutrition. Doctors will provide a combination of milk formula supplementation, growth monitoring and intensive nutrition education to give Rosario and her mother the tools Rosario needs to survive and thrive. “We believe our treatment plan will allow Rosario to recoup the weight she has lost and start to develop normally,” explains WK. “She will avoid the loss of developmental milestones, and grow to her full mental and physical potential.”