28-year-old Merida lives with her parents and eight-year-old son in Guatemala’s rural highlands. After a recent visit to a free clinic, Merida was diagnosed with myopia, or nearsightedness. This means that Merida struggles to see objects that are far away. Through our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, Merida is scheduled to have an eye evaluation and get fitted for prescription lenses on June 12. She is asking for $552 to cover the total cost of her treatment. Merida shares that her greatest dream is to support her son so that he can grow up happy and have the opportunity to pursue his dreams and goals.

Ruth is a 14-year-old student who lives in Haiti with her mother, grandmother, and sister. She enjoys going to school and to church, and Ruth would like to study to become a nurse. Ruth suffers from mitral regurgitation, which she contracted from a rheumatic fever several years ago. With this condition, blood leaks backward into the left atrium and could result in heart failure if not treated. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to fund Ruth's air transport to the Cayman Islands, where her treatment is scheduled to take place on July 5. Once there, Ruth will receive the care that she needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. "I am a little scared of my surgery, but I know that God will protect me and make everything go well," says Ruth.

Waily is five years old and lives in a small city in southern Dominican Republic with his parents and two brothers. He is in kindergarten. His favorite activity is to go to birthday parties. Waily was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Although Waily 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, Waily will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 14. 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 Waily 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 Waily's surgical care. "We are very thankful to everyone who is helping Waily receive this surgery, and we are hopeful that he will return in good health after his surgery is finished," says Waily's mother.