Dorcus is a baby from Tanzania. She is the third child to her single mother. Dorcus has clubfoot of her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Dorcus traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 8. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Dorcus's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily as she grows. Dorcus’s mother says, “I will be so happy to see my daughter walk without being in pain or discomfort. Thank you so much for helping me treat her.”

Tinsaye is a cute baby girl from Ethiopia. She is an only child to her young parents and loves playing and laughing with her mother. Tinsaye was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Tinsaye is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on June 19. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Tinsaye's procedure and care. After her recovery, Tinsaye will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Her father says, "We can’t afford the medical bills and raised funds for transportation to come to the hospital. It is our hope to get the surgery and to see our child healthy."

Gift is a three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in his family. Gift's mother is a single parent and works as a vendor. She sells vegetables in their village. Gift has a condition known as bilateral genu varus, also called bow-leggedness. This means his knees bend outward. Gift was born with this condition, and it has been worsening every day. Gift has difficulty walking and sometimes falls. His mother is worried that he may injure himself. Corrective surgery will improve his walking and will allow him to eventually enroll in school. Fortunately, a corrective surgery is scheduled for May 4. Now, his family needs help raising $1,165 to fund this procedure. His mother, Elizabeth, says, “I am kindly seeking for help from Watsi. I just want to see my son walking without any difficulty.”

Kervens is a toddler from Haiti. He lives in a small town in far northern Haiti with his mother and grandmother. He likes playing with the children in his neighborhood and helping his mother around the house. Kervens has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which multiple holes exist between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. He will fly to Toronto to receive treatment. On March 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery. Another organization, The Herbie Fund, is contributing $45,000 to pay for surgery. Kervens'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 Kervens's family overseas. His mother says, "I am very excited for Kervens to have more energy and to get sick less often after his surgery."

Zione is mother of two from Malawi. She is a widow who lives with her two children. Zione runs a small farm, and she spends her days caring for her home, farm, and family. In her free time, she likes to go to her local church and worship with her children and family. Since January, Zione has been experiencing severe abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with ovarian cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries. She needs to undergo an ovarian cystectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will excise the cysts. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $541 to fund Zione's surgery. On February 13, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and seven nights of hospital stay. Zione was very relieved to find out her procedure would be funded, as she has a limited income and could not afford the surgery. She says, "Thank you for this support."

Beth is a small-scale farmer from Kenya. She has four children and works with her husband. Beth has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Beth. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 5. After treatment, Beth will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Beth says, “I wish I could be treated and no longer be in pain. Kindly help me."

Richard is an outgoing 60-year-old man from Kenya. He has two children, whom he is supporting through his casual work as a mechanic. Richard was recently hit by a bus and sustained a closed femur fracture in his left leg. He was brought to a local hospital for treatment. On October 30, Richard will undergo open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery to repair his left leg. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $998 to help fund the treatment on top of the $104 contribution from Richard's family. ORIF treatment will enable Richard to walk again, resume his job as a mechanic, and support his family. If not treated, he may develop complications with delayed healing and malunion. Richard says, “I am hopeful that Watsi will support me so that I can go back and take care of my children since I am their only hope."

Lovensky is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents, brothers, and sisters in a vilage in central Haiti. He is in high school, and would like to go on to university and become an engineer. Lovensky has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart has become severely damaged from a rheumatic fever, and can no longer adequately pump blood through his body. Lovensky will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On December 8, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will replace his damaged valve with an implanted mechanical valve. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $65,000 to pay for surgery. Lovensky'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 Lovensky's family overseas. He says, "I am very excited to have my surgery and gain more energy and strength!"

Michenaida is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, two brothers, and two sisters. She enjoys attending school, as well as going to church and singing hymns. Michenaida has a cardiac condition called pulmonary valve atresia. Among other defects, including at least two holes in the heart, Michenaida was born without one of her four heart valves. Her multiple conditions leave her weak and short of breath. If not treated, they would lead to heart failure. Michenaida will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On November 6, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which she will first be assessed with a catheter to determine the plan for treatment, and then if found to be operable will be taken to the operating room for closure of the defects. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Michenaida'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 Michenaida's family overseas. Michenaida's mother said, "Our family is all praying that our daughter's heart can be made normal so she can be healthy and active."

Eh is a 40-year-old woman who lives with her husband and children in a village in Burma. Eh works as a subsistence farmer on her family's farm, growing rice, beans, and peanuts while also managing a family-owned small shop. Eh had her first child when she was 22 years old. After she gave birth for the first time, she was in immediate pain. A birth attendant helped her to relieve this pain temporarily, but since there was no hospital nearby and Eh worried about the cost of seeking medical treatment elsewhere, she didn't address the pain that returned after each time giving birth. Finally, Eh traveled by foot, car, boat, and bus before arriving at a clinic to receive medical assistance. Eh says, "Sometimes I feel cold and have a headache. When I have a headache, I feel very weak and sometimes temporarily cannot see. My condition makes me very uncomfortable to walk or work and I want to get better soon.” Eh has been diagnosed with a utrovaginal prolapse. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy to repair the condition on September 25. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund Eh's care.

"Samuel's sickness has been very hard for our family,” shares Samuel’s mother. Samuel is a three-year-old boy from a small town in the Dominican Republic. He lives with his parents and three sisters, and his favorite activity is playing a toy drum set. Samuel was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect (ASD), meaning that there is a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood flows through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Samuel weak and short of breath. Although there is a surgical method that can close the hole in Samuel’s heart, his family cannot afford this treatment or the necessary pre-operative care. But we can help for $1,500. This sum will sponsor the cardiac exams, lab tests, and medications that Samuel needs to undergo on May 24, prior to his surgery. Another organization, Gift of Life International, has contributed $8,500 to fund his surgery. “We are looking forward to the day when he is healthy," Samuel’s mother says. Let’s make sure that that day comes as soon as possible for this toddler’s family.

Sarah is a 16-year-old student from Uganda. Sarah lives with her mother and younger siblings. She enjoys social studies, athletics, and playing games. Sarah is pregnant with her first child. Because she is young, Sarah’s doctors consider her pregnancy to be high-risk. They recommend that she receive medical attention before, during, and after labor to ensure a safe delivery. On April 30, she will begin to receive supplements and attend antenatal checkups and health education classes. She will deliver her baby in the hospital, and she will undergo a C-section if necessary. After birth, Sarah and her baby will be monitored by the hospital staff. Sarah has contributed $7 to her treatment costs. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is requesting an additional $241 to fund her care. The requested $241 pays for antenatal visits, lab tests, medication, and three nights of hospital stay. Sarah’s mother says, “I thank the donors for supporting my daughter and helping her have a safe delivery. I pray to God to bless the donors in everything they do.”