Carmen is an active 13-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She is the ninth child in her family, and loves to play with her toy doll. Carmen's father works as a day laborer and her mother stays at home to take care of the household. Carmen was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Carmen has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise her growth. If left untreated, she may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Carmen to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 16, Carmen will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age. Carmen’s mother says, “I did not know that my daughter wasn’t growing well. I only knew that she was getting sick every once and a while, but now I don’t know what to do because we are of scarce resources.”

Kobusinge is 62 years old and the single mother of six children. Her youngest two are now grown up and have jobs. Kobusinge is a farmer. In 2012, Kobusinge had laparotomy in a regional hospital due to intestinal obstruction. She healed well, but after three months her scar became tender and began to swell. Kobusinge returned to the same hospital and they performed an abdominal scan, which showed that she had an incisional hernia. They referred her to our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital, for hernia repair surgery. If not treated, Kobusinge may suffer from hernia twisting and blocking. In order to help Kobusinge, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to help fund her surgery and hospital stay. After surgery she will have peace of mind and plans to resume farming. She is scheduled to undergo surgery on September 13.

Gloria is seven months old and lives with her mother in rural Guatemala. She has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. Malnutrition has left Gloria with a weakened immune system and little energy. Recently, Gloria has not wanted to eat and gets sick often. If Gloria does not receive treatment, she will also face malnutrition’s long-term consequences, such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Gloria’s mother says, “I want my daughter to get better soon, because she worries me a lot.” Fortunately, Gloria will begin nutritional treatment on January 16. While her mother does all that she can to support Gloria’s health, she cannot afford treatment for her daughter’s malnutrition without outside help. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,107 to fund her care. Treatment will give Gloria’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets, and it will give Gloria a chance to grow healthily.

Aye Aye is a four-year-old girl who lives in a refugee camp with her parents and three siblings. Her two oldest siblings attend school in the camp. Aye Aye’s stepfather supports the family working as a day deliverer. His income is not enough to provide for all of the family's needs. When Aye Aye was born, her mother noticed a bump on her nose. The bump, indicative of a neurological condition known as encephalocele, continued to increase in size. Her parents worried that it would cause her shyness as she aged, for she is a playful girl who enjoys time with her friends. The encephalocele is painful if hit accidentally, and it interferes with her vision. Aye Aye was referred to our medical partner, where she underwent surgical repair on October 30, 2016. Aye Aye’s parents have taken time off work to care for their daughter. Now, they need help to fund her healthcare costs. Of the future, Aye Aye's father says, “Aye Aye is a very intelligent child, and she will do well with an education."

Nine-year-old Emanuel lives with his family in Tanzania. He presented to The Plaster House, a Watsi partner center, after being diagnosed during an outreach program with clubfoot. Clubfoot is a congenital condition which leads to the feet turning inward, causing an inability to walk properly and participate in daily activities. In 2015 he had a successful manipulation and correction of his left foot, and has been using his night cast well to hold his foot in position. He has returned to the centre for treatment of his right foot. For $1,160, we can help fund this treatment, which will allow Emanuel to have a fully normal gait. Treatment includes a small surgery, cast changes, and long-term rehabilitation before he returns home. Emanuel loves to play and comes alive when the football is brought out at The Plaster House. He is excited that his other foot will be corrected. "I cannot wait for my next foot to be straightened so I can walk better," he shared.

“I am so glad I am getting this treatment,” Rame shares. Rame is a 63-year-old man who lives with his wife and son in Nepal. Their family is entirely dependent on agriculture for their income. But because of his advanced age, Rame has trouble working for extended periods of time. Although Rame’s son supports him in the field, the yield from their farming covers their needs for only about three months of the year. For this reason, Rame needs help paying for treatment of a medical issue he has been dealing with recently. About a week ago, Rame developed a hernia on the left side of his groin area. Hernias in this area of the body typically arise when the intestine bursts through a weak spot of the abdominal wall and presses into the inguinal canal, a part of the reproductive system. Rame’s hernia makes it very painful for him to walk. Nonetheless, his discomfort eventually grew so intense that he risked the seven-hour walk to Bayalpata Hospital. There, he was told that he needs to undergo hernia repair surgery. If untreated, Rame runs the risk of developing fatal complications, such as tissue death. That’s where you come in. For $451, we can sponsor Rame’s operation, as well as the hospital stay, medications, and lab tests that will ensure he recuperates safely. With intervention now, Rame will be able to enjoy a more physically comfortable and safe old age with his wife and son.

Angela is a 44-year-old mother of six children who lives in the Philippines. Seven years ago, Angela began tiring easily when doing household chores and would sometimes not finish her tasks for the day because she would need to stop and rest multiple times. She also began feeling nervous and having difficulty sleeping at night due to discomfort. To support the family, Angela's eldest son works as a fisherman and gives his mother money every month. His income is necessary to provide for their daily needs, as Angela's husband leaves only enough money to cover a month's worth of expenses when he goes away for five months of the year. Angela cannot work as she has to take care of her children, and she tries hard to keep them in school. Recently, Angela was visited by her family's pastor and a friend who is a part of our sponsored community to discuss a program to help her family elevate their economic status. During the second week of the program, Angela underwent a medical screening and was diagnosed with thyroiditis, a condition involving inflammation of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. When the gland is inflamed, thyroid hormone production can decrease, leading to fatigue. After completing blood tests, Angela was cleared to undergo surgery to remove her thyroid so that her condition would not progress. $1,500 covers the cost of Angela's surgery, transportation to and from the hospital, 10 days of hospital care—including medicine, imaging, and additional blood tests—and medication to take after she goes home. Angela looks forward to having more strength to take care of her family. "I would like to be healed and become better to serve my children and family and have quality time with them," she shares. "I want to be effective as a mother and friend to them. Thank you for your kind hearts."

A Wuqu' Kawoq (WK) health worker met three-month-old Axel and his family when visiting homes in rural Guatemala, recruiting patients for a malnutrition program. Axel lives with his seven siblings and his parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. They are indigenous Maya, and have few educational and health care resources available to them. His mother works at home, cooking and cleaning and taking care of Axel and his siblings. His father is an assistant to a bricklayer, who makes only a couple dollars per day. Axel's malnutrition was so severe that the WK community health worker decided to give Axel a preliminary supply of formula until he could be evaluated by a nutritionist. He has been losing weight and has not grown taller since he was born because of frequent sicknesses, and could be at risk of seizures and diarrhea if he is unable to receive formula. Axel's mother has had trouble producing breast milk for all of her eight children-- Axel being the youngest. For her other children, a sugary rice drink has helped them to stop crying and supplement the little breast milk she produces. Unfortunately for Axel, this has not been enough since her breast milk production has gone down even more. Although lactational failure is a dangerous condition, it is simple to help supplement children's nutrition to overcome this lack of maternal milk. For $1016, Axel will receive formula which will give him the protein, calories, and nutrients he needs to grow and thrive. His family will also receive motivational nutrition education, so they will be able to give Axel the best diet possible once he starts to eat solid foods. This treatment will give Axel's parents the tools to prevent future malnutrition and help their son have a full and healthy life. "I hope my son can grow healthy so he can be a good student," shares Axel's mother.

Meet Lucy, a 46-year-old woman from Kenya. Lucy is a mother of four children and a grandmother of four more. Since separating with her husband in 2005, she has taken up the role of breadwinner in her family. Lucy washes clothes along with two of her daughters to earn a living. She was unable to continue educating these two daughters. Her other two children are in primary school. Lucy lives in a municipally provided house where she struggles to live a comfortable life with the burden of rent and education costs. In August 2013, Lucy began to experience headaches and swollen feet. She was diagnosed with artery blockage and was given medication in addition to attending clinics between 2013 and 2015. In April 2016, she fell unconscious and was brought to Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. There, Lucy was diagnosed with fibroids, or abnormal growths in the uterus and cervix. Lucy was hospitalized for nine days and accumulated a bill that was paid through a ‘harambee’ (fundraising). Her father, who used to follow up on her treatment, was killed in May 2016, leaving Lucy struggling. Lucy continues to combat pain and swelling in her legs, as well as fatigue and migraines. She requires an $800 total abdominal hysterectomy-- a surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Lucy's family and friends have contributed $104 towards the procedure, but she still cannot access medical care due to her financial constraints. "I want to be well to continue providing for my family and live a healthy life," Lucy says. Let's help her get the medical attention she needs.

“I will be happy when I am able to run as fast as my friends,” shares Lujeri. 10-year-old Lujeri lives in Tanzania, where he is the third-born in a family of six children. Lujeri is in the second grade, and his favorite classes are reading, mathematics and Swahili. He also likes to play football with his fellow pupils. When he was six years old, Lujeri’s lower limbs slowly started bowing inwards, forcing him to knock his knees when walking. His condition, known as genu valgum or “knock-knees,” kept getting worse to the point where Lujeri can no longer run fast. He also sometimes feels pain in his knees. Lujeri needs surgery to help him walk properly again and to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age. However, what his parents earn as small-scale farmers and herders is not enough to cover the cost of this surgery on top of daily expenses for their six children. But there is hope for Lujeri. For $940, we can sponsor the operation that will correct both of his knees. This sum will also provide Lujeri with the two weeks of physical therapy and the three-month stay at a recovery center, Plaster House, he will need to recuperate safely. Let’s make Lujeri’s dream of running and playing with his friends into a reality.

Tam is a 73-year-old woman who is married with two sons, five daughters, and 20 grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen the monks pray in her spare time. Three years ago, Tam developed entropion on both eyes. This causes her eyelids to turn inward so that the eyelashes scrape the surface of her eye. Tam experiences blurred vision, itchiness, tearing, and irritation. She can't open her eyes fully, and always feels uncomfortable. She has traveled for three hours with her daughter-in-law to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Tam will undergo an upper eyelid correction surgery on both eyes, which will relieve her of the irritations caused by entropion. The surgery will cost $290. After treatment, Tam will be able to easily see and open/close her eyes again without discomfort.

Meet Rottana, a two-year-old girl from Cambodia. Rottana lives at home with her sister and her parents. She traveled two hours with her mother to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Rottana received a poorly administered injection in each thigh when she was six months old. This caused bilateral quadriceps fibrosis, which means that she can't bend her legs or walk easily. Her knees are stiff because of the contracted quadriceps muscles. Surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty surgery on the left quadriceps muscle to release the fibrosis. She will be able to bend her leg easily after the operation. Let's help Rottana get back on her feet.