Bereket is a seven-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia who lives with his parents. His father is a farmer, and his mother is a housewife. Bereket was born with birth defect called anorectal malformation. His bowel does not function normally. Fortunately, on March 28, Bereket will undergo the corrective surgery he needs to live a healthy life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure. This treatment will allow Bereket to live a healthy, normal life.

Bertha is a 41-year-old woman from Tanzania. She is the mother of five children. Early this year, a gas explosion left Bertha with burns on her hands, wrists, and upper limbs. Watsi donors have already funded treatment to release her burn contractures––shortened muscles caused by her injuries. These surgeries have been successful, and Bertha can now straighten her hand and perform activities independently. On November 9, Bertha underwent a skin graft procedure to further treat her injuries. One of Bertha's sons was also injured by the gas explosion. He has been undergoing treatment as well. Though Bertha's husband is a farmer, he cannot afford the mounting healthcare costs. The family needs help to fund this $780 procedure. Bertha says she looks forward "to going home to my kids."

Rhean is a two-year-old girl living in a small house made of natural materials. Her family cannot afford electricity and must fetch their water from the spring. Her father, a farm laborer, cannot support the family on his salary. Rhean has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens her growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 20. Rhean will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Her mother hopes that she will recover from being malnourished.

Koun is a 59-year-old farmer who is married and has four sons and two daughters. He likes to feed his chickens, plant vegetables, and relax in his free time. Koun has Buerger's disease, which is the inflammation of blood vessels. This caused necrosis, or tissue death, in a toe of his left foot. He went to a Khmer traditional healer for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. It is difficult for Koun to walk, and he is in pain. Koun heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his relative. He traveled for three hours with his wife to reach CSC for treatment. There, surgeons told Koun that they will need to perform an amputation of his left leg to prevent the spread of infection. His procedure is scheduled for February 24. Koun and his family cannot afford this procedure, so CSC is requesting $446 on his behalf.

Laura is a six-month-old baby girl from rural Guatemala. Her father works in agriculture, and her mother weaves. Both her parents work very hard to ensure the best for their daughter and their family. Laura is currently malnourished, due to low consumption of protein, calories, and nutrients. The short-term effects of malnutrition have rendered Laura vulnerable to illness and have significantly stunted her growth compared to her peers. In the long term, she could face increased risk of chronic diseases and delayed brain development. Luckily, this condition can be easily treated with growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation. On January 19, Laura will begin treatment. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $437 for little Laura. Treatment will give Laura the chance to grow and live a healthy life.

Wai Wai is a 48-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother and younger sister. They own a small shop, in which they sell goods made from bamboo. Eight years ago, Wai Wai started to experience pain in her joints. She was diagnosed with rheumatic arthritis. She visited a clinic, where she received injections for the arthritis. After a year of receiving injections, her pain subsided. Wai Wai did not experience any health problems until March, when she began to cough and have difficulty breathing. She grew tired easily, and her joint pain returned. She experienced strong heart palpitations, which sometimes prevented her from sleeping. In May, Wai Wai visited a hospital and underwent a diagnostic echocardiogram. She was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis, a narrowing of the heart's mitral valve. Inflammatory diseases, such as Wai Wai's rheumatic arthritis, can affect the connective tissues of the body, particularly those in the heart. Her doctor recommended surgery, but she she could not afford treatment. She tried using traditional medicines, but her symptoms did not improve. Fortunately, Wai Wai was referred to our medical partner. She is now scheduled to undergo a mitral valve replacement on December 23. Wai Wai hopes to get well soon. She plans to help her sister with their business, and resume her religious activities, including meditation and teaching children about Buddhism. “I’m very happy now," says Wai Wai.

Jessica is a six-month-old girl from Guatemala. Her family cannot afford to give her a nutritious diet filled with protein, calories, and nutrients. For this reason, she is only the size of a healthy two-month old. She has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Jessica began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016. Jessica is the first child of two loving parents. They live in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. Jessica loves to meet new people and play with them, and she loves to play with her rattle. Her father works harvesting blackberries as a day laborer, and her mother weaves traditional Mayan textiles. Even though they want the best for their daughter, they cannot afford to pay for her $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Jessica recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Jessica a chance to grow healthy and strong. "With the help of this program, I am ready to do anything possible to help my daughter grow better," says Jessica's mother.

Yet is an 88-year-old married woman from Cambodia. She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. In the last year, however, Yet's ability to move around on her own has become compromised by cataracts. Yet developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, and irritation. It is difficult for her to see people and objects, go anywhere outside, or do work on her own. One of Yet's neighbors recently told her about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Watsi's medical partner in Cambodia. Yet traveled three hours with her sister to reach CSC and seek treatment for her cataracts. Doctors at CSC will perform a small incision cataract surgery on each eye for a cost of $292. During this procedure they will remove Yet's clouded lenses and replace them with clear, intraocular lens implants. After her surgery, Yet will be able to see clearly again. "I hope that my eyes can see everything more clearly than now so that I can easily recognize the faces of everyone, do work, and go outside by myself without needing to disturb others to take care of me and help me," says Yet. Let's help Yet cover the cost of this simple and effective surgery.

Meet Visal, a 10-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is currently in second grade, and he has one sister. Visal enjoys doing his homework and playing football in front of his house with friends. Visal traveled one hour in a tuk tuk with his mom to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Visal developed an ear infection on the left side when he was five years old. This resulted in a perforated tympanic membrane, ear pain, hearing loss, and discharge. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons will perform a myringoplasty to repair the perforated tympanic membrane and stop the pain and discharge. Over time, his hearing will improve. Let's help make it possible!

Ru is a 69-year-old husband, father, and grandfather who lives in Cambodia. He enjoys watching sports and news on TV and looking after his six grandchildren. One year ago, Ru developed a cataract in each eye. A cataract occurs when there is a buildup of proteins in the lens of the eye. This causes the lens to become cloudy, disrupting the passage of light through the lens and impairing vision. Cataracts typically occur in both eyes, and they are the leading cause of blindness in Cambodia. Ru experiences blurred vision, tearing, and light sensitivity due to his cataracts. As a result, he has difficulty seeing clearly or getting around easily on his own. Ru traveled one hour with his daughter-in-law to reach Children's Surgical Centre for treatment. For $292, he will undergo small incision cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lenses from his eyes and replace them with intraocular lens implants. Funding for Ru's treatment also includes two days of hospital care, eye drops and ointments, medicine to reduce pain and prevent infection, and one post-operative consultation. After surgery, Ru will be able to see clearly again.

Bret is an energetic and active seven-year-old boy from the Philippines who loves to play around. "He cannot stay in his seat even for a minute," his mother says. Bret loves to play with other children. About three years ago, Bret began to have pain in his scrotum when he would run. During one of the International Care Ministries (ICM) health screening programs, Bret underwent a series of tests and was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. This is a protrusion of tissue through the abdominal wall near the groin, and requires surgery to repair. At school, Bret's condition affects his ability to concentrate, and he often even has to miss class. Without treatment, he will continue to experience pain and discomfort, and the hernia may even cause further complications. Bret's father is a security guard while his mother is housewife. Their income is barely enough to cover their daily needs as well as Bret's schooling. They need assistance paying for Bret's surgery. $1437 will cover the costs of his operation where surgeons will position the protruded tissue back in its proper place and repair the opening in his abdominal wall. These funds will also pay for any additional supplies and inpatient care Bret needs to fully recover. After his surgery, Bret will be able to return home and play with ease. He will be able to concentrate on his studies so that he can work towards a successful future. "We are very happy to know that someone could help our boy," Bret's mother says, "We didn't expect this great blessing to us. Thank you so much may you be blessed more and more because you helped those in great need."

Jonalyn is a happy, 13-year-old student who loves to study and play a game similar to kick-the-can. She lives with her parents and two siblings in the Philippines, where their one-room house has a cement floor and a thatched roof made of nipa leaves. Jonalyn noticed a mass on the right side of neck when she was 12 years old. She told her mother about it, but they did not seek help since they did not have money to spend on medical consultations or medicine. After a few months, she complained of pain when swallowing and difficulty breathing and also noticed that the mass on her neck was getting bigger. She has been unable to concentrate during her classes because of the on-and-off throbbing pain in her neck. During a church activity in May of 2015, Jonalyn felt a throbbing pain in her neck and was examined by a doctor. She was diagnosed with a goiter—an enlarged thyroid gland usually caused by a deficiency of iodine, an important element in the production of thyroid hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for seven days and iron supplements for 10 days and referred Jonalyn to another care facility to undergo tests to determine the type of goiter. Unfortunately, the family was unable to seek further care for Jonalyn until now. She was screened by a health trainer in one of our sponsored communities, consultation was facilitated, and she was advised to undergo a thyroidectomy to remove the thyroid gland. Jonalyn's mother is a housewife, and her father raises pigs. They cannot pay for surgery for Jonalyn because their income is barely enough to sustain the family's daily needs. $1,500 covers the cost of Jonalyn's surgery, transportation to and from the hospital, 10 days of hospital care—including medicine, imaging, and blood tests—and medicine to take after she goes home. The surgery will lessen Jonalyn's discomfort due to her condition. "I am very thankful to you for helping people like me in my condition, especially those who are not financially capable in terms of health treatment," shares Jonalyn. "I was truly blessed because I was given an opportunity to be treated. After the surgery, I plan to continue my schooling to reach my dreams and help my family someday."