Meet Hamisi, a 71-year-old grandfather from Tanzania. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Hamisi earns his income as a farmer. When he isn’t working, Hamisi enjoys spending time with his family. "In the evenings, Hamisi likes to sit next to his wife and read out loud what is written on newspapers,” AMHF shares. Twenty years ago, Hamisi began experiencing pain in his knees due to osteoarthritis. This condition is caused by a loss of cartilage in the joints. Hamisi’s condition makes it difficult for him to walk, and he has difficulty working and supporting his family. For $960, Hamisi will receive an operation to treat his osteoarthritis. After surgery, he will remain in the hospital for seven days, giving him time to recover. With the proposed treatment, “Hamisi will have better gait, reduced pain, and [be able] to enjoy his time with his grandchildren,” AMHF says. Hamisi shares, “I enjoy when my grandchildren come visit us. They sit on my lap and pull my arms – a sign for me to stand up and go play with them. I want to be able to play with them more.”

Meet Daniel, an eight-year-old boy from Ethiopia. Daniel lives with his mother and his younger brother. Daniel has a condition called Hirschprung’s disease, which makes it hard for him to pass stool normally. Several years ago “Daniel developed an obstruction and a colostomy (stool diversion) was done," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Although Daniel’s previous surgery relieved the symptoms from the obstruction, it is not a long-term solution for his condition. However, as a single parent of two children, Daniel’s mother’s income is not enough to cover the cost of Daniel’s second operation. For $1,500, Daniel will receive surgery to correct his condition. AMHF states that after treatment, Daniel will be able to pass stool normally. “Despite everything, Daniel is a very happy boy and he has a very positive outlook on life,” AMHF shares. “He is dreaming that if he gets well from this condition, he can go to school and become a big government officer.”

“What I wish the most is for my baby to be able to walk,” says Aisha’s mother. Aisha is a cheerful 16-month old baby girl who lives in Tanzania with her parents and two siblings. Her father is the sole provider for their family, and relies on selling used clothing for an income. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Aisha’s parents began noticing abnormalities with her head when she was three months old. She was later diagnosed with hydrocephalus, swelling of the head that is caused by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. Aisha’s head has become so swollen that the weight of it prevents her from walking. If left untreated, Aisha may also lose her vision. For $775, Aisha will receive hydrocephalus surgery to drain the CSF in her brain and prevent future swelling. The cost also includes includes surgical expenses, medication, a five day stay at the hospital, and a two week stay at a rehabilitation center. AMHF shares that after surgery, “Aisha’s head will be lighter allowing her body to support the head giving her the balance to walk. She will also be out of the risk of losing her eyesight.”

Meet Lokesh, a lovable five-year-old boy from Nepal! Lokesh has just recently started to attend school, and he has already made many friends who he enjoys playing with. "Lokesh lives in a family of five members," Possible, our medical partner, explains to us. "His parents own a small piece of land where they grow seasonal crops but the produce is only enough for about two months in a year." Because of this, Lokesh's father commutes to India to work as a wage laborer to support the family. "Lokesh was in his home when he heard women singing a festival song downstairs," Possible tells us. "He was running to them to see them from a closer range when he fell down on his outstretched hand." After the incident, Lokesh could not move his swelling left wrist, for it was too painful. Lokesh now has trouble performing ordinary activities such as putting clothes on or lifting objects. He is also unable to continue attending school. "We cannot afford the cost of the treatment," Lokesh's uncle tells Possible. For $205, we can relieve Lokesh from his pain and allow him to continue attending school again! "He will be able to play with his friends," Possible explains to us. "He would also be able to perform ordinary activities on his own."

Angel is a 16-year-old boy living in Guatemala. Angel is coping amazingly well with muscular dystrophy, a condition which keeps him in a wheelchair and makes him susceptible to respiratory infections. Angel gets around fine in his wheelchair, still attends school on a daily basis, and has a cheerful outlook. Angel has one problem. Without proper pulmonary equipment, his frequent infections can become life-threatening. He needs special equipment to help him breathe normally and protect him from infection. For $775, we can make sure Angel gets the right pulmonary equipment to protect him from infection and allow him to breath more easily. The cost of care includes vaccinations to protect him from other diseases that he is at risk of. Let's raise the money Angel needs to continue living his life and sharing his positive outlook!

Romly is a 40-year-old man who supports his wife and children by working as a dried fish vendor. Two months ago, Romly was hit by a car when he was driving on his motorbike. Romly fractured his leg, and ever since the accident, he has been receiving treatment from a local village healer. Unfortunately, his fracture has not healed. Romly is now constantly in pain and is unable to walk on his own. He needs surgery to enable him to walk again. For $300, Romly will receive a procedure that will set his fractured leg bones in place, so that they can heal properly. Let's help Romly walk again without pain!

Laandare is not your ordinary 17-year-old. He graduated primary school last year and often had his nose buried in a book reading, writing, or solving mathematical equations. Laandare was also a star football player - despite never playing a full game because of his condition. He has difficulty walking or running long distances due to knock knees. If untreated, he has an increased chance of developing early osteoarthritis. As the eldest son of six children, Laandare has been helping his father herd cattle, but their income is neither reliable nor enough to cover his surgery. For $555, Laandare can get the treatment he needs to treat his legs. Let's help Laandare make strong strides towards his dream. Laandare says, “My dream is to one day become a mathematics teacher and teach students the way my math teacher used to teach me.”

Sota was hit by a car in Cambodia four years ago and has been in pain ever since. A gardener and volleyball lover, 34-year-old Sota hasn't grown vegetables or played sports since the accident. Even worse, he's been unable to work in the rice fields to support himself like he used to. Sota needs a total hip replacement to restore his mobility and allow him to work again. Let's raise the $500 it will take to cover the cost of his medical bills so he can get back to living his life!

Dinesh is a bright little boy from Nepal who loves school and playing with his friends. He suffers from a condition called chronic suppurative otitis media, a perforation in the membrane of his middle ear that causes hearing problems, drainage, and constant pain. Dinesh can barely hear at all, and doctors at Nyaya Health say he “needs treatment immediately” to prevent his condition from getting much worse. Because this is an urgent case, they plan to treat Dinesh in the next day or two under the assumption that Watsi funding is coming. The average income in the area of Nepal where Dinesh lives is $1 a day. His family has a small plot of land that supports them for six months out of the year, but they cannot afford to cover the cost of his care. We need to raise $975 to cover the cost of the travel, lodging, pre-op, surgery, and supplies it will take to make Dinesh’s treatment possible. Dinesh is in nursery school, but the severity of the infection is making it difficult for him to attend. His mother is very proud of him and optimistic about his future. She hopes he’ll grow up to become a political leader who can develop their community. Doctors at Nyaya Health believe in addition to preventing further complications of his condition, there’s a good chance that with surgery, Dinesh will begin to get his hearing back and be able to live a happy, healthy life.

Azimera is the 27-year-old daughter of two farmers. She is passionate about her education, and has dreamed her whole life of starting her own business. Azimera dealt with labored breathing and a persistent cough for years, but her symptoms eventually got so bad that she had to drop out of school. She now works a simple job at a hotel, but struggles to make ends meet on her modest earnings. Azimera tries to remain positive despite her illness, but lately she has been so sick that she can rarely get out of bed to go to work. Recently, a local priest noticed Azimera’s painful cough and suggested that she travel to Addis Ababa to see a doctor. Immediately after seeing her, Dr. Rick Hodes diagnosed Azimera with mitral stenosis, an easily treatable but life-threatening heart condition that narrows her mitral valve and causes blood to back up into her lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe. Azimera does not have close to the $1,500 she needs to fund her heart surgery. Without treatment, it will be nearly impossible for Azimera to achieve her dream of going back to school and starting her own business. We have an opportunity to make a huge difference in Azimera’s life. Let’s raise the money she needs for heart surgery and help her get back on track toward achieving her dreams!