Seven year old Isack lives with his parents and one younger sibling in the Arusha region of Tanzania. His father works at a carwash, while his mother is a homemaker. Isack was born with clubfoot - a congenital condition - that has affected his mobility, as his foot is twisted out of shape, making it difficult for him to wear shoes or to walk. Despite having the opportunity for treatment at a young age, financial constraints prevented his parents from completing all of the necessary post-operative requirements. Consequently, Isack experienced a relapse shortly after the procedure, and has been living with the condition since he began walking. This condition causes him significant pain when walking long distances, and when trying to engage in sports with his friends. Fortunately, Isack's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where the team will begin clubfoot treatment on December 22nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Isack's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk and play easily without pain. Isack’s mother says: “I hope this time around we will be able to complete my son’s treatment, and his leg will not cause him any trouble in the future.”

Maria Jean is a loving mother of three from the Philippines. Maria Jean and her husband, Armando, have three children who are all studying. Armando works as a technician and earns around 216 USD a month. Maria Jean tutors other children to help with the family's expenses. She also takes care of all her children while suffering from a condition that physically limits her. Last year, Maria Jean began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and itching, difficulty using the restroom, and blood in her stool. She was diagnosed with severe external hemorrhoids. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Maria Jean receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on November 25th at WSFP's care center. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Maria Jean's procedure and care. Maria Jean shared: "This surgery will give me a second life. I will forever be grateful and indebted to the donors and people who will make this possible for me and my family."

Leonard is a 41-year-old lumberjack from Kenya. He is a bachelor, has no children, and lives alone in his grandfather’s place. His work as a lumberjack is seasonal and he sometimes works on peoples' farms to earn money for basic needs. His relatives live in faraway places and are of limited socio-economic status. Leonard has no medical coverage and cannot raise the money required for his needed medical treatment. Leonard was injured while felling trees. One of the trees fell on Leonard, hitting him on his right hip. He fell, and the people with him ran away, thinking he had died. Leonard was unable to walk and slept at the scene. Luckily one of his neighbors passed by and found him. Leonard's neighbors carried him to the hospital for treatment as he could not stand or walk. An x-ray revealed that he had a complete fracture of the upper end of his right femur. He is now admitted to the surgical ward on bed rest because his fracture is at a weight-bearing joint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 2nd, Leonard will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. A surgeon will make an incision, realign the bones, and insert hardware to hold the bones together. Subsequently, after recovery, Leonard will be able to walk again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Leonard says, “It is so sad that I cannot now walk but I thank God that I am alive because that tree was big. Please help me so that I may be able to work and be able to sustain myself because I have nobody to depend on.”

Chambi is a one-year-old baby. Her parents are hardworking farmers, working day in and day out to provide for their family in Tanzania. Chambi was born with clubfoot of the left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Concerned for their daughter’s well-being, her parents took her to the local referral hospital, hoping for a solution but it was beyond the hospital's scope of care. Chambi’s mother reached out to our medical partner Plaster House NGO, an organization renowned for helping children like Chambi. Chambi’s mother went on a 2-day journey to our partner centre. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 15. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Chambi's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Chambi will be able to walk comfortably and wear shoes with ease when the time comes. Chambi's mother says, “It is my wish for my daughter to be healthy and okay, free from any kind of disability, I wish she gets the best treatment that will make her have a normal childhood.”

Thein resides with his wife and children. He had worked at a gardening job in a park in Bangkok but due to his health condition, he is now unemployed. Thein's wife collects bottles and other recyclable items from the trash and sells them to support the family. During his free time, Thein enjoys singing alone. In the middle of 2021, Thein noticed a black spot on the sole of his right foot. He felt no pain at the time, and the size of the spot remained constant. But in 2022, the black spot began to grow and became painful. Unfortunately, Thein was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on the sole of the right foot. Currently, Thein feels pain throughout his foot, experiences ulcer discharge when walking, and struggles to sleep well due to the pain. An amputation may be necessary. Because of his financial constraints, Thein sought treatment through Burma Children Medical Fund, Watsi's medical partner, for financial aid to access the required surgery. The doctor scheduled a CT scan of Thein's foot and subsequent surgery on 21 August 2023. Thein expressed his gratitude for help, saying: "When I first learned about the diagnosis, my foremost concern was the treatment cost. I am very thankful to all the generous donors for the opportunity to receive treatment."

Meet Joshua: a playful and social seven year old boy who is also the third born in a family of five. He is currently a first-grade student and takes great pleasure in reading, both in school and at home. Joshua and his family live in Odure, a charming village situated near the Kenya-Tanzania border. His father runs a small shop right in Odure, while his mother devotes her time as a dedicated housewife. Joshua, having undergone a healthy birth, was okay until the age of five when his mother noticed his unusual walking style. Not long ago, they became aware of the Cure Hospital Mobile Clinic, which was set to take place in Oloitoktok, conveniently close to their village. Upon visiting the clinic, the doctors determined that Joshua would require knee repair surgery to help him walk. This treatment holds great promise as it would enable him to walk without limping and, more importantly, allow him to attend school like his fellow classmates. Currently, due to his walking difficulty, it is hard for him to go to school. The surgery presents a life-changing opportunity for Joshua to lead a more active and fulfilling life. Joshua's mom told us: “I would request support for my son to undergo surgery and resume his normal life.”

Kaung is a 2-year-old baby boy who lives in Burma with his grandmother, uncle, aunt, and five-month-old cousin. His grandmother is retired, his uncle is a motorbike taxi driver and his aunt is a homemaker. Kaung was born with a condition called Congenital Hydrocephalus. Congenital Hydrocephalus is caused by a brain malformation or birth condition that causes excessive cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate in brain cavities. Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting them from injury. It carries nutrients to the brain and spinal cord and takes away waste. In a healthy person, the amount of this fluid produced by the brain is absorbed by the body. In hydrocephalus, the fluid fails to drain and accumulates, leading to pressure on the brain. Kaung's symptoms include intensifying nasal congestion and coughing with mucus. Additionally, his head is gradually increasing in size as the fluid continues to put pressure on his brain. The condition is most often treated by inserting a shunt. The shunt diverts excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to another part of the body where the fluid can be reabsorbed. Kaung's family visited a doctor when he was born to address the issue. At the time, the doctor advised the family to seek further treatment. However, Kaung was never brought to a hospital or clinic due to the financial difficulties of the family. Fortunately, Kaung was able to meet with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). With the help of BCMF and Watsi, Kaung received a CT scan at Mae Sot General Hospital. The doctor was able to diagnose his condition and scheduled Kaung to undergo surgery immediately. Kaung is scheduled for surgery on May 26th. Kaung's aunt said, "My nephew becomes cuter by the day, and he is always smiling. I tried to save money to treat him, but I could not. But now, we are so happy to have met you all at BCMF. We are happy to know that Kaung will have the opportunity to get treated because of your support.”

Maylin, who is 14 months old, lives with her parents and two older siblings in the mountains of central Bolivia. Her father is a truck driver, while her mother is a farmer and a homemaker. Maylin was born with Down syndrome and a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Maylin will need surgery to correct her cardiac defect. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to fund Maylin's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on May 16th at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. This surgery will enable Maylin to lead a healthy and happy life. Maylin's mother said: "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping our daughter get better!"

Natasha Joy is a jovial six-year-old only girl living in Kenya. She is a grade 2 student and has several hobbies that she shared with us, including singing, praying, and cooking. Natasha was a healthy child at birth. However, when she turned three, her grandmother noticed that she had an unusual gait when she walked. She hoped that the condition would simply correct itself. Unfortunately, Natasha's situation has deteriorated, greatly affecting her mobility. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $1,224 to fund a surgery called an open reduction femur shortening osteotomy, which is scheduled for April 18th, at AIC Cure International Hospital. This treatment will greatly improve Natasha's mobility and allow her to play with other children and continue with her education. “I will be grateful to see my grandchild walking normally like other children with your support,” Natasha’s grandmother told us.