Janeth is a two-year-old girl and the youngest in a family of two children. Her father is a small-scale farmer, while her mother has a few cattle whose milk she sells to buy food and other commodities. They also harvest and sell some of their crops to earn money. They are living in a harsh environment, but they try to manage on a day-to-day basis. Janeth was involved in an accident last year where she sustained severe burns. Her mother had made porridge for breakfast. She took the pot off the fire and placed it at a corner to cool down so that she could feed Janeth. As she went out to clean the plates Janeth took a cup and tried to take porridge by herself from the pot. She dipped her hand in the pot of hot porridge and while pulling her hand out, some of the porridge spilled on her left foot. Her mother ran inside when she heard Janeth crying, but she had already been badly burned. Her mother gave her first aid and rushed her to the nearest clinic where she got treatment that helped with the open wounds. The wounds have healed, but left her with scars that make her left-hand fingers hard to use, and the toe on her left food was disfigured. A relative who saw Janeth advised her mother to seek treatment at our medical partner's care center ALMC (The Plaster House). Janeth was diagnosed with burn scar contracture on her left hand and left foot. Her hand needs a release surgery with skin grafting because her fingers are webbed, and the fifth toe of her left foot needs to be amputated because it causes pain when she tries to wear shoes. Her mother cannot afford the $1,088 cost of treatment and is asking for help. Janeth’s mother says, "I had to convince my husband to let me come and seek treatment for our daughter. I am not at peace every time I think of her.”

Bb Lafleur is a newborn baby from Haiti. She has an older brother and two loving parents. Bb Lafleur 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, Bb Lafleur has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, she will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Bb Lafleur at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat her hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on April 7th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Bb Lafleur's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Bb Lafleur will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Her family hopes that this early treatment of their baby's hydrocephalus will allow her to grow up without any health problems and have a full life ahead.

Mary is a nine-year-old student from Kenya. She lives with her parents and has six siblings. Mary’s mother is a subsistence farmer and housewife, and her father is a farmer. Mary has a spinal deformity whereby her spine is curved backward. Two years ago, she visited a hospital for treatment but did not have the funds required to receive treatment. Mary has difficulty with walking and standing. The pain has also impacted her studies. Having heard of Watsi’s programs with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), they decided to seek help. Our medical partner, AMHF, is requesting $1,500 to fund Mary’s surgery. An anterior/posterior spine fusion is scheduled for October 18. “I am appealing to Watsi to help my daughter get treatment as this will brighten her future and improve her self-esteem. I will be happy to see her growth and I wish her the very best in her life," Mary’s mother says.

Ariel is a 13-year-old boy from the Dominican Republic who lives with his parents and three brothers. He is currently in the seventh grade and aspires to become a farmer, just like both of his parents. Ariel was born with a heart condition called coarctation of the aorta. His aorta is abnormally narrow, making it difficult for blood to pass through it. This causes his heart to pump harder to push the blood through, which leads to heart failure. Although Ariel is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. He will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Ariel will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 15. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Ariel also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Ariel's surgical care. "I am excited to get my heart fixed so that I can play baseball with the kids in my neighborhood!" says Ariel.

Chit Sandar is 21 months old and lives with her older brother, mother, and grandparents in a village in Burma. Her father works in Bangkok to support the family. At six months of age, Chit Sandar became sick with a fever. She was brought to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. Although Chit Sandar is eating well, she has experienced loss of consciousness, fatigue, and sunken eyes. She was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). On February 14, doctors will perform a shunt insertion surgery to drain the fluid from her brain. Chit Sandar's parents cannot afford treatment, so BCMF is requesting $1,500 to help fund this procedure.

Junryl is a four-year-old child from the Philippines who loves running around, playing, and going to school. Unfortunately, he was born with cleft lip and palate, making it difficult for him to eat and speak. Junryl also experiences bullying from other children because of his appearance. To correct his lip and palate, he will be receiving surgery from our medical partner's hospital, Mindanao Medical Center, on May 22. The procedure will cost $58. This surgery will help Junryl lead a more normal and comfortable life. His mother expresses her gratitude, saying, "We are looking forward to Junryl growing up normally and having a wonderful childhood without the hindrances of his condition. We also desire that he will not be bullied anymore in school and enjoy his learnings. Thank you so much in advance for the help you will be giving us."

Roseberline lives just outside of Cap Haitien, a port city in northern Haiti, with her mother, father, and two younger brothers. She is in high school and would like to go on to become a doctor or a nurse. Roseberline was born with a hole between the two upper chambers of her heart, called an atrial septal defect. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her short of breath and weak. Roseberline will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 21, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will insert a catheter into her heart and close the hole. This $10,000 surgery is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Roseberline'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 Roseberline's family overseas. "I am very excited to travel to the hospital and to get this heart problem fixed. I would like to say thank you to everyone who is making this possible for me," shares Roseberline.

Samantha is a sweet five-year-old girl from the Philippines. She is the youngest of five siblings, all of whom now attend school. Samantha is in the care of her mother and currently attends a day care center in their town. Since she was born, Samantha has had a cleft palate, a facial malformation that causes openings or splits in the roof of the mouth and lip. Her condition makes everyday living difficult, and Samantha has difficulty breathing and swallowing food. Her mother has stopped working in order to care for her daughter. Samantha is a playful child, but her condition makes her feel shy. Her family has tried to save money for treatment, but doing so has been difficult. Fortunately, our medical partner's community outreach team found and screened Samantha. She is now scheduled for a repair surgery on January 25. This procedure will allow Samantha to breathe and eat easily and will increase her confidence. Samantha's father works as a bus conductor. However, his income is barely enough to sustain them. For this reason, our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is requesting $1,088 to fund the treatment. "I am happy that at last Samantha could get treated," says Samantha's mother. "We are really close to her healing right now...Samantha is a sweet girl and has big dreams, but she cannot reach them if she does not have confidence. This operation will give Samantha hope for a good future. As a mother, my greatest desire is to see my children well and succeed someday. Thank you for this chance that you've given. May you be blessed."

13-month-old Mchandael was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, in which one of the four valves of his heart is too narrow to allow enough blood to pass through it. As a result, blood backs up into his heart, leaving him sickly and weak and causing heart failure. Mchandael lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with his mother and father; he is their first child. His mother works at a clothing store and his father sells cell phones in the street. Mchandael is a happy and curious baby who likes playing with toys and clapping to music. For $1500 in Watsi funding, in addition to a $5000 subsidy from Have a Heart Cayman Islands, Mchandael can receive the heart surgery he needs to get healthy. "We want to say thank you to everyone who is helping our son go to the hospital for his surgery," his mother shared.

Six-year-old Kabi lives in Nepal with his parents and siblings. His family sustains themselves by farming, and the yield from working the field is enough to support them for about six months of the year. One day when Kabi was playing with his friends, he was pushed to the ground and fell on a rock, breaking his left hand. Since then it has been causing him a significant amount of pain, and has gotten considerably swollen as well. He needs help with his everyday tasks-- even just eating and getting dressed. After being taken to the local health post near his village, Kabi was referred to Possible for a surgical treatment. He traveled nearly seven hours walking with his family to reach the hospital from his house. For $541, doctors will perform surgery to reposition the bones in his wrist and hand. Then his arm will be kept fixed in a cast for several weeks while the bones heal in their proper place. After surgery, Kalbi will also receive physiotherapy sessions where his parents will learn exercises to help him regain full function in his arm. Even though it may be difficult for him in the beginning, these exercises are important for him to have a full and speedy recovery. Kalbi's family is very excited for him to receive surgery. "I'm so glad that Kabi is getting his treatment soon," shares his father.

Six-month-old Baby was born in Ethiopia. His mother is single, and after she gave birth to her son, she moved back with her mother. Baby's mother has no job and is economically dependent on her mother, a farmer, and the income she gets can’t cover much more than their daily food. Baby is active and he loves to play and laugh with his family. He recognizes his entire family members, and that makes the family happy. He also loves water play and bath. Baby was born with a birth defect called an anorectal malformation. He developed a bowel obstruction when he was three days old because of the condition, and an emergency colostomy was done. However, this is just a temporary solution, and in order to fully recover, Baby needs a multi-stage procedure followed by a colostomy closure. The total treatment cost is $1,500. If not treated, Baby will never be able to pass stool on his own. He may also suffer infection, irritation and blockage as a result of the colostomy. “I am very worried because I lost the little I had for his treatment," his grandmother shares. "I can’t pay for his medical bills anymore. His mother has nothing to do either. It is our prayer for God to provide the treatment for our boy. ”

Meet Rehema, a 10-month-old baby girl from Kenya. “Rehema is her mother’s only child,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Since birth, Rehema has faced health challenges due to congenital hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up within the brain. This fluid causes an increase in intracranial pressure, which can contribute to long-term health complications and interfere with important stages of childhood development. “Rehema’s head has been progressively increasing in size,” says AMHF. “Rehema has been vomiting after meals and is therefore at a risk of dehydration. Increased intracranial pressure due to the excess fluid in her head may result in brain damage.” Rehema’s mother and siblings are financially dependent on Rehema's grandmother, who operates a small eatery. “Hailing from a poverty-stricken family, Rehema’s mother is not able to pay for the surgery that her daughter desperately needs to lead the normal, healthy life that she deserves,” says AMHF. For $980, Rehema will undergo surgery to drain the excess fluid from her brain, reducing the intracranial pressure in her head. As part of her treatment, Rehema will receive five days of hospital care in addition to all of the necessary medical examinations—including ultrasounds and CT scans—to facilitate a successful operation and recovery. “I hope she gets treated, goes to school, and grows to be an independent woman in the future,” says Rehema’s mother.