“Rashidi is a soft spoken, but energetic, nine-year-old boy,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). He “is confident and likes to keep busy, either doing his homework or helping out at home. Rashidi likes science classes and enjoys playing football.” Rashidi has a long history of foot-related injuries. AMHF explains that three years ago, Rashidi “went to play at their neighbor’s house with other children. As they were running around, Rashidi stepped on what he thought was just ashes, but underneath were [remnants] of burning shells of peanuts.” The accident caused severe burns throughout his foot and leg. Although the burn has healed, Rashidi was left with a contracture on his right ankle—causing the skin to tighten and restrict his movement. The contracture causes Rashidi to be unable to walk properly or wear shoes. AMHF informs us, “Rashidi’s parents are small scale farmers relying on growing and selling peanuts, maize and sunflower seeds. Their income is not enough to cover the cost of operation which Rashidi needs to straighten his ankle.” With $550 in funding, Rashidi will undergo surgery to release the contracture in his right ankle. After surgery, Rashidi will receive corrective splints to support the injury as it heals. Following three days under close hospital supervision, Rashidi will be admitted to Plaster House—a specialized children's rehabilitation program. During his recovery at Plaster House, Rashidi will work closely with a physiotherapist to regain full use of his ankle. “My wish is to become a medical doctor when I grow up,” Rashidi says.

Meet Elvis, a 2-month-old baby boy from Kenya. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “Elvis lives with his parents and three siblings in a grass-thatched mud-walled house.” Since birth, Elvis has faced health challenges due to congenital hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up within the brain. This fluid causes an increase in intracranial pressure, which can contribute to long-term health complications and interfere with important stages of childhood development. According to AMHF, without surgical intervention, Elvis' condition “may cause permanent brain damage, which could cause convulsions and visual impairment.” Elvis’ mother used to sell vegetables to earn an income, but now stays at home to take care of Elvis. His father “does any manual job that comes along on a casual basis” in hopes of being able to support the family. Despite their efforts, AMHF shares, “Most of the family income is spent taking care of Elvis, but it is not sufficient to cater for Elvis’ surgical care.” With $980, Elvis will undergo surgery to drain the excess CSF from his brain, reducing the intracranial pressure in his head. As part of his treatment, Elvis will receive five days of hospital care in addition to all of the necessary medical examinations—including ultrasounds and CT scans—to facilitate a successful operation and recovery. AMHF shares, “Elvis’ surgery will help reduce the excessive pressure in the brain and prevent visual impairment.” After surgery, Elvis will be able to resume normal childhood growth and development, paving the way for a healthier future. “I came here with faith because although I have no funds, I could no longer stand to see Elvis suffer. I am hoping that we will get help and he can be treated,” Elvis’ mother expresses.

Mu is a resilient 42-year-old woman who escaped Burma amidst political conflict 10 years ago, and has been living in a refugee camp in Thailand ever since. Mu takes care of her sister, niece, and nephew, and she used to work as a day laborer with her husband to earn an income to support their family. However, she was diagnosed with a uterine myoma, and she experiences severe abdominal pain that prevents her from working. Mu’s family does not have enough money to support themselves and Mu’s care. She tells us, “it is a very big problem. I cannot take care of my niece and nephew, and I cannot work to provide for my family. I want to be able to cook and clean for my family, and I want to be able to return to work as soon as possible.” For $1500, Mu will undergo surgery under the Burma Border Projects’ care. Surgery will remove the tumor and eliminate the abdominal pain and discomfort so that Mu can return to work and supporting her family. Let's help make it happen!

"Faraja used to have straight legs and was able to walk and run without any problems," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "But at the age of three, her legs gradually started to bow inwards making it difficult for her to walk. There was a time when Faraja could not even stand up because her legs were too weak." "She can now stand up, but due to severe bowing of both legs, Faraja walks with difficulty and she is extra short compared to her age mates," AMHF continues. "Her physical abnormality is affecting her self-esteem as now Faraja doesn’t like to socialize with other children." 9-year-old Faraja is a girl from Tanzania. She is a primary school student, and the fourth born of six siblings. Faraja has been diagnosed with genu valgum, or knock-knees. This is thought to be caused by fluorosis, or an excessive accumulation of fluoride, which is common in areas with high concentrations of fluoride in drinking water. Faraja's parents are small scale farmers, and are unable to afford the $940 surgery that Faraja needs to walk normally. “Education is the best inheritance we can give to our daughter. We pray that her legs can be straightened so that she can walk properly and have the ability to walk a long distance to school,” her parents tell us.

“I love school and I want to work hard and pass my exams," says Peter. "I want to get a good job when I grow up so that I can help my parents." Peter is a bright, nine-year-old boy from Kenya, and the youngest of his five siblings. His family lives in a four-room mud house. Peter has hypospadius -- a condition where the urethra opening runs along the shaft of the penis instead of the tip. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation: “If not treated, Peter is likely to suffer urinary tract infection and difficulty fathering children when the time comes. His performance in class has deteriorated because Peter has become withdrawn.” After he receives a hypospadius repair to fix the defect, Peter will be able to pass urine normally. However, Peter's parents are small scale farmers and do not have the funds to pay for their son’s treatment. For $655, we can fund Peter's surgery and help him regain his health.

Meet Daudi, an eight-year-old from Tanzania and the fourth of six children. He likes counting numbers and learning how to read and write. One day, while playing with his friends, Daudi stepped on white ash, not knowing that there was burning cow dung underneath. He sustained severe burns and was immediately treated locally by the application of fresh cow dung and honey. “The wounds on Daudi’s feet healed well, but he developed contractures of his toes which have severely affected his gait. He is no longer able to wear shoes,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Daudi’s parents, who work as small-scale farmers, take care of a few livestock, but their income is not enough to cover the family’s basic needs and pay for treatment. For $550, we can cover the surgery that Daudi needs, which will release the contracted tissues and allow him to walk normally again. If left untreated, his gait will not improve, and as he continues to grow, he will experience pain due to the upward pulling of his toes. “I want to be able to wear shoes like all the other students when I go to school,” says Daudi.

“Every time I am in a tap-tap going somewhere the folks look at me like I am not a normal person and this makes me feel very bad,” shares 20-year-old Kerson. Kerson was born in Haiti with a cleft lip, and has never been to school. Kerson has never met his father, and his single mother cares for all six of her children. Most days he is left on his own, so Kerson does whatever odd jobs he can find, like scavenging for metal or building small stoves. The family cannot afford medical care for Kerson’s cleft lip. For $960, we can fund cleft lip repair surgery for Kerson in collaboration with our partners at Project Medishare. “I feel very excited for the surgery,” Kerson relates. “It is like a new page of my life is going to be open. I did not even think that a surgery to fix my lip was possible. I cannot wait for it!”

Say hi to Davenly, a two-year-old boy from Haiti! According to our medical partner, Project Medishare, “Davenly’s mother has four kids and is living with her husband, who is a small farmer living in the countryside. Davenly’s mother is a seller and she works hard with her husband to subsist the needs of her kids.” Unfortunately, Davenly deals with cleft palate; “due to the cleft palate, he is unable to eat well and when he eats, some of the food is stuck in the hole of the cleft palate,” explains Project Medishare. Without treatment, Davenly will continue to deal with poor nutrition. For $960, Davenly will receive surgery to repair his palate. After his surgery, Davenly will be able to eat and drink without discomfort, and receive the nutrition he needs. Let’s help Davenly live a healthy childhood!

Mu Sweet is a 45-year-old woman from Burma. She works as a day laborer at a rubber tree plantation. In addition to her work, she takes full-time care of her mother and niece. She also has several side businesses to help support them all. A few months ago, Mu Sweet’s health began to mysteriously decline. Doctors discovered a 14cm mass in her uterus which is causing her pain and discomfort, in addition to extreme fatigue. Due to heavy bleeding, she has now become anemic. As a result, she depends on blood transfusions which make it nearly impossible for Mu Sweet to continue her previously energetic lifestyle. Our medical partners at Burma Border Projects (BBP) share with us that “In a life full of taking care of others, Mu Sweet is now in dire need of some medical help herself.” For $1,500 we can fund Mu Sweet’s surgery and medical care at BBP and remove this painful mass. BBP informs us that with this treatment “She will be able to plan and save for the future, as well as enjoy her new marriage with her husband when she is no longer in pain and discomfort.”

“I really hope that Watsi will help save my life," says Jane. "If I get well, I will look for a stable job and be able to support myself." This is Jane, a 48-year-old woman from Kenya. Our partners at the African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) have discovered that Jane has endometrial cancer, a cancer that begins in the uterus, and an ovarian cyst. "Jane has been suffering from this condition for more than two years now," AMHF explains. She is at risk of her cancer spreading, but our medical partners believe they can bring that spread to a halt and “she will recover and be able to work so that she can take care of herself.” Making her living from odd jobs like washing her neighbors clothes makes it difficult for Jane to be able to afford any treatment. For only $790, Jane will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove the cancer. Let's help her get this life-saving treatment so she will be relieved of pain and discomfort!

Meet Wickliff, a five-year-old little boy from Uganda. Watsi’s medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, tells us, “Wickliff is usually a very friendly, affectionate boy who loves to smile. He also loves to play and watch out for his younger sister and helps her dig holes in the yard. He will start school next year and his parents, who are both farmers, are very excited and hope he will do great things with his education.” Wickliff currently has pneumonia which is causing him to have a difficult time breathing and he isn’t acting like his normal, friendly self. Wickliff has been strong through this ordeal, but he needs medical intervention in order to survive. Wickliff’s family is working hard to chip in for the co-pay of $14 for the treatment that their little boy needs right now. $90 will cover the rest of the expense of Wickliff’s pneumonia treatment. The medical partner tells us that after treatment, “Wickliff will no longer be brought down by pneumonia and will return to good spirits…His parents are looking forward to welcome back his friendly smiles and affectionate behavior.”

Glendy is a toddler who lives in Guatemala with her family. She is the third of four children and, while born healthy, has not exhibited developmental growth after her first year of life. She has what is called stunting, the most common form of child malnutrition in the world. "She was a normal baby until about one year of age, and then financial pressures in the family started to take their toll," writes our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), about Glendy. "In particular, a younger baby was born, and Glendy had less access to foods, mom's milk, and so forth. She is frequently and chronically ill with diarrhea. Her diet is poor, especially lacking in vitamins and protein. She has limited energy and very delayed language." But treatment for Glendy's stunting, especially the personalized treatment like the WK team has been able to give other children, will help to get her back on track. With $535, we can curb the diarrhea Glendy has been having, improve her appetite and energy, and help her get over this developmental slump. Glendy's mom is especially optimistic. "She's seen the positive results from other children in the community we've treated and has high hopes," writes the WK team. Watsi donors, let's make it happen.