Naomi is a child from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. Naomi’s parents are both farmers. Naomi has clubfoot of both her feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Naomi traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 2. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Naomi's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily without pain and discomfort. Naomi’s mother says, “I am really grateful that you have offered to help my daughter. God bless you. Thank you.”

Pheak is a tailor from Cambodia. She has one sister and three brothers. She enjoys listening to music and watching TV in her free time. Fourteen years ago, Pheak had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Pheak experiences pain, tinnitus and ear discharge. She cannot hear clearly. Pheak traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 6, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my hearing improves and my ear has no more pain after the operation."

Innocent is an eight-day-old child from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of two children. Innocent's parents keep livestock for a living. Innocent was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Innocent is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $966 to cover the cost of Innocent's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 13. This procedure will hopefully spare Innocent from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Innocent's mother says, “Please help us we have no means of affording the needed surgery.”

Juliana is a mother from Tanzania. Her daughter is in sixth grade and is looking forward to going to college. Juliana’s husband has retired but currently is working as a part-time secretary for a flour company. Two years ago, Juliana started feeling pain in her right leg. She has been to several hospitals and used several medications, but the pain has continued. She has been diagnosed with right knee arthritis. She is in pain and is not able to walk. Fortunately, Juliana learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). At AMHF's care center, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Juliana of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for July 13, and Juliana needs help raising $822 to pay for this procedure. Juliana says, “I really wish to be able to get back to my day-to-day activities where I will be able to provide for my family and not experience such pain every time I am walking."

Beatrice is a baby from Kenya. Her mother is a full-time mom, while her father works on construction sites. Beatrice is the youngest of three children. Beatrice was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Beatrice is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Beatrice's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 21. This procedure will hopefully spare Beatrice from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “If I had financial ability I would have come in earlier,” shares Beatrice’s mother.

Chikhuta is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife, and they have a total of 16 children, who help with the family farm. Chikutha raises goats to supplement the family income. In his free time, he likes to sit and spend quiet time chatting with his wife. Since February 2017, Chikhuta has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. This hydrocele causes him pain and discomfort and keeps him from living a full and normal life. Fortunately, on April 10, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $302 to fund Chikhuta's surgery. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and six nights of hospital stay. Chikutha was thrilled to find out his procedure would be funded. He is looking forward to his operation being complete so he can return to work and to his family free from pain. He says, "Thank you Watsi for the support."

Thue is a 40-year-old famer from Burma. Thue lives her husband, three sons, and one daughter. She and her husband work on their farm along with their eldest son. They also raise chicken and pigs, which they sometimes sell if the crops were not good. Two months ago, Thue started experiencing abdominal pain, and she could not sleep and eat well. She lost consciousness several times because of the pain. She visited to the hospital, and the doctor diagnosed her with a gallstone. Thue has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Thue's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Thue is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on April 18. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Thue's procedure and care. Thue says, “After I recover, I want to look after my children again and take care of my household."

Yohana is a student from Tanzania. He is nine years old and is in second grade. Yohana lives with his parents, who are both maize farmers. Several years ago, Yohana was burned while sitting near the fireplace in their kitchen. His clothes caught fire, burning the left side of his body. His parents took him to the hospital, where he was hospitalized for several months and was finally discharged. However, he has remained with burn contractures. Yohana cannot stretch his left hand or carry things. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Yohana receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery. After recovery, Yohana will be able to attend school again, carry things, and play happily. Now, he needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Yohana says, "I will be happy return to school after getting treated. I miss my friends very much and can't wait to rejoin them."

Ann is a bar attendant from Kenya. She is a mother of four children. In early February, Ann was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle when they were hit from behind by a hit-and-run vehicle. She was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with femur fracture and cervical spine fracture. She is not able to sit, stand, or walk and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 16, Ann will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The procedure will help her walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Ann says, “I wish to be treated and leave the hospital when am much better. I still need to provide for my children."

Christ-Love is a student from Haiti. Christ-Love lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother. She is in the ninth grade and enjoys going to church and helping her mother around the house. Christ-Love has a cardiac condition called severe aortic regurgitation. One of the valves in her heart is severely damaged from a rheumatic fever she suffered as a child, and it cannot adequately pump blood through her body. Two years ago, she had open-heart surgery to replace another valve that was also damaged; at the time, she was too weak to try to replace both valves at the same time, and so now that her heart is stronger after the first surgery, the team can go back to replace the second valve. Christ-Love will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On December 27, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will replace her damaged valve with an artificial implant.. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $24,000 to pay for surgery. Christ-Love'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 Christ-Love's family overseas. She says, "I am glad that I can be almost normal once my second valve is fixed!"

Chan Thou is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She works at a money exchange stall in the market. She has been experiencing pain on her right hip for more than 12 years. The pain is so severe that she cannot walk on her own or sleep at night. Fortunately, Chan Thou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chan Thou of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 11, and Chan Thou needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I hope I can take care of my family and walk again."

Dah is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. The family owns a piece of land, which Dah's husband and her five siblings use to grow crops and rice paddies and raise chickens and pigs .As the family lives from their land, they don’t have a monthly income. This July, Dah attended her aunt’s funeral and had to walk home at night. Because it was raining, she decided to run, but she slipped and broke her left arm. Dah went to a traditional healer, who applied a mixture of tamarind and wine on her arm. Her arm did not heal properly. Currently, Dah feels pain and she cannot take care of her sons. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Dah will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 23 and will cost $1,500. This surgery will help Dah heal successfully. Dah says, “I hope to get better soon so I can take care of my children again, and let my husband go back to work.”