Meet Marvens, a three month old infant from Haiti, who is much loved by his parents. Marvens has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain, and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, the circumference of Marvens' head has been growing. While Marvens has already undergone one procedure to help heal his condition, the fluid in his brain has now started to accumulate again, and without additional treatment, he will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Marvens, at Hospital Bernard Mevs, that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available, and the procedure is scheduled to take place on January 12th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Marvens's brain to reduce the intracranial pressure, and to greatly improve his quality of life. With proper care, Marvens should develop into a strong and healthy young boy. The family is hoping that this procedure will allow their child to be healthy and happy.

Melissa is a 15 year old student, living with her parents and three siblings on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, in Haiti. For the past two years Melissa has been too unwell to attend school. She suffers from a cardiac condition, known as rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in her heart was damaged during a bout of rheumatic fever that Melissa suffered as a child, and this valve can no longer adequately pump blood through Melissa's body. With the help of our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, Melissa is scheduled to travel to Cayman Islands, where on January 13th, she will undergo surgery. Doctors at Health City Cayman Islands will attempt to repair her existing valve, but if this fails, they will implant an artificial replacement. While another organization is covering the primary cost of Melissa's surgery, she and her family also need help to fund the costs of pre-surgery preparation, including lab tests and medicines, and follow up appointments. The $1500 that they are seeking will also help to defray the costs for the passports and travel of the social workers, who will accompany Melissa and her family abroad. After Melissa has recovered, she will be able to resume her studies, which she is really hopeful for in the near future. Melissa said: "I am looking forward to this surgery so that I can get back to going to school and doing more with my friends and family."

Sophia is a 56-year-old woman, and the single mother of two children. The oldest has finished school, and sells roasted corn in their local town. The youngest is in form four, waiting to sit for her exams this November. Sophia does small-scale farming, selling the produce for a living. She currently lives in a house that she inherited from her sister in their ancestral home. Just over two weeks ago, Sophia started experiencing severe pain in her abdomen. She took some pain medication, but the pain worsened. After two days, she went to a nearby hospital and was examined. Some scans were also done, but her doctors could not determine what caused the pain. She was given some medication and sent back home. After taking the medication for a few days, her pain did not go away. A neighbor referred her to Kijabe Hospital for more assistance. On arrival at the hospital, she was immediately admitted, as she was found not to be in condition to go back home. While in the hospital, she was put on medication that finally helped to relieve the pain. After more tests, scans, and a biopsy, it was determined that Sophia has colon cancer. The cancer is causing an obstruction disrupting her digestive system. She is set to undergo a curative laparotomy surgery on November 14th. Now, Sophia needs your help to fund the $1,074 cost of the surgery. Sophia says, "I never knew I had this condition. I just want to get well and provide for my daughter.”

Ku is a 42-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband, two sons, grandson, and five daughters in a refugee camp in northern Thailand. Her husband has tried hard to get work outside of the camp, but this has been very hard due to COVID-19 restrictions. Ku's children are too young to contribute to the family, since most of them are students. Ku and her household receive 1,824 baht (approx. 61 USD) every month on a cash card from an organization called The Border Consortium, to purchase necessities. Their combined household income of 2,824 baht (approx. 94 USD) is just enough most of the time to cover their household expenses. Ku was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, if she walks longer distances, she will experience tiredness and difficulty breathing. If she is more active, she also feels more tired. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Ku. The treatment is scheduled to take place on September 12th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Ku said, “I feel too tired to go out [of the camp] and forage for vegetables in the forest. Although my husband wants to find work outside of the camp [as he is struggling to find enough customers right now], he is not allowed to leave the camp because of COVID-19 restrictions.”

Samhong is a 30-years-old motorcycle mechanic from Cambodia. He is married and has one son and one daughter. During his free time, Samhong enjoys listening to the radio, watching TV, and spending time with his children. Last month, Samhong was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture on his jawbone on the ride side of his face. Due to the fracture, he is currently unable to open his mouth and is in chronic pain. Samhong's family took him to a private clinic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city, but he could not afford treatment. Fortunately, his grandmother told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Now, Samhong is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure on September 1st. CSC is requesting $483 to fund this surgery, which will heal his fracture. Samhong says, "I hope that my mouth will be able to open and close easily again and that the pain will go away."

Leviasi is a 72-year-old widower with 6 children from Mpita Village, Lilongwe District in Malawi. To support himself, Leviasi depends on gardening where he grows assorted vegetables for sale. He lives alone in his house as all his children are married in their respective homes. Leviasi is a member of the African Isaac church. Following a family-related altercation in July Leviasi was admitted to the hospital for overnight observation and was discharged the following day after being given drugs for the pain. Although Leviasi finished the medication, the condition worsened as his stomach started to swell. He was brought to the hospital once again where, upon assessment, Leviasi was diagnosed with Transverse Colon Perforation. He underwent a Laparotomy surgery, where a Loop Ileostomy was performed. After the surgery, Leviasi’s life was negatively impacted. He cannot work in his garden, he cannot walk a long distance, and life with stoma bags is difficult as he lives alone and lacks quality care and support. On September 1st, Leviasi visited Nkhoma Hospital for a checkup and supply of stoma bags. He was advised that he needs to undergo a Colostomy Reversal surgical procedure on October 4th. However, Leviasi expressed that he does not have money to cover the surgery and other medical expenses as he has not been able to work due to his condition and he spent the last of his money on the first surgery. He was then referred to Watsi and our medical partner African Mission Healthcare for support. Our medical partner is asking for $709 to cover Leviasi's surgery. Leviasi is hoping that after he receives treatment and gets well again, the family will be in a better place to forgive his grandson and he can come back home to a united family. Treatment will also help Leviasi get back on his feet and resume supporting himself. It will also prevent him from getting complications of living with the condition, such as infection. Leviasi says, “God has made a way for me to bring my family back together after recovery, may he bless my donors and all involved.”

Mary is an 8-year-old student in the second grade. Mary is the second born in a family of three. She is a quiet and humble girl. Mary lives with her grandmother as her father separated from his wife. Her grandmother is a farmer while her mother is looking for work. They all depend on their grandmother. Mary has a condition called clubfoot that impacts her ability to walk and wear shoes. She underwent treatment at an earlier age, but unfortunately her condition has reoccured. She is in the hospital undergoing serial casting to prepare for surgery, which is scheduled for October 12th. Mary's grandmother is not in a position to pay for the treatment and therefore she is requesting for assistance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Mary's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Mary will be able to walk with ease, she will not struggle with pain, and she will be able to resume her studies after her treatment. Mary's mother says, "We are grateful for all of the support so far, however, the condition has recurred, and we are requesting for support so she can be well."

James is a farmer and a widower who lives under the care of his son. James has seven children who are all grown and have families. They are farmers and casual workers, getting work whenever they can. They all earn very limited income that helps to sustain their basic needs. His wife passed on a few years ago after a short-term illness, and his son shared that James has developed dementia. James presented to Kapsowar Hospital with excruciating pain in his hip. He was unable to stand, so he was received on a wheelchair. An X-ray revealed that James had sustained a fracture on the left neck of his femur bone. Last week, James fell while shifting from a chair to sit on his bed at night and now he can neither stand nor walk easily and is in severe pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 21st, James will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. He will no longer experience pain and he will be able to stand and ambulate with ease. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1247 to fund this procedure, since James has no medical insurance coverage, and he fully depends on his son who is a small-scale farmer. James’ son says, “Our dad is in so much pain. His condition worries me so much. I wish he gets support and receives the recommended treatment. After he gets well, I will be able to go back to my work and continue providing for him and my family.”

Davensky is a student from Haiti. He lives with his mother and sister in Port-au-Prince; he is a junior in high school and likes his math and science classes. Davensky has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart was severely damaged by a rheumatic infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and it can no longer adequately pump blood through his heart and body. The surgery Davensky needs is not available anywhere in Haiti so he will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On September 12th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair the damaged valve; if this is not possible, they will implant an artificial replacement valve. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is contributing $9,000 to pay for surgery and Davensky'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 covers travel expenses for the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Davensky overseas, and the cost of obtaining Davensky's passport. Davensky says: "I have been hoping for this surgery for almost five years, and I am very glad that the time has finally arrived!"

Lucy is a middle-aged woman who lives in her ancestral home in Embu, Kenya. She does small scale farming to support herself and keep herself busy. Lucy has three children but mostly relies on her firstborn son who is a teacher, for support. When she was admitted to the hospital for close to two months, she accumulated a very huge bill and the national health insurance program catered for a third of the bill. Her children had to take out quick loans and do fundraising to help raise the balance to get their mother out of hospital. Now for the final surgery she needs, she has depleted all sources of support and her family is not in a position to raise the required amount of money to cater for their mother’s last surgery for her condition. Early this year, Lucy was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage 1. She underwent surgery and was discharged home in good health. A day later, she was rushed back to the hospital with a swollen abdomen. She was admitted as an emergency, scans were done and it was found that her intestines were injured during the operation. She was rushed to operating theatre and a surgery was done. While in the hospital, the incision wound was infected and her abdomen would swell again. She had two more surgeries trying to correct her condition but it was not helping. The doctors then decided to place a colostomy to help her heal. Her abdomen stopped swelling and the incision wound started healing. At this time, she had stayed in the hospital for more than six weeks and her bill was overwhelming. She recovered well, however, and was relieved to be discharged home. Now she is scheduled to undergo a colostomy closure surgery as the final step in her treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,084 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Lucy. The surgery is scheduled to take place on September 7th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Lucy says, “I have never been in this situation before. I want to get well and resume my daily duties in the farm.”

Princess is a beautiful 9-year-old girl and a hard working student. She is the third born in a family of four children. Princess is currently in class one and enjoys learning how to read and write. Despite her condition which makes being active challenging for her, Princess likes running around with other children. She wishes to become a great cook when she grows up. Her parents are both small-scale farmers, growing maize and beans for both food and selling. Their earnings are not enough to cover the cost of treatment needed for their daughter Princess, they need help. Princess was diagnosed with Acquired Right Varus. Her right leg is bowed outward at the knee. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she has a difficult time playing and doing all she hopes to do. The Watsi community was able to come together to help her access treatment, but she needs a second surgery to fully heal due to the severity of her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this corrective surgery for Princess, which is scheduled to take place on July 12th. Treatment will hopefully restore Princess's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Princess’ father says, “She needs another surgery which I still can’t afford to pay. You have been of great support, and I hope you will help make this second surgery possible.”

Twel Tar is a two-year-old girl who lives with her parents in the border region of Thailand. Originally from Bago Division across the border in Burma, they moved to Thailand in search of better job opportunities as factory workers. After Twel Tar was born, her mother noticed that she not only had an enlarged head, but that she also has a small lump on her lower back. Her mother also noticed that the lump would emit a yellow fluid discharge. When she asked the doctor about the lump on Twel Tar’s back, the doctor told her that it might have been caused by her spine protruding outwards and could be repaired through surgery when she is older. Twel Tar's mother was told to not worry about it. Now, doctors would like Twel Tar to undergo an MRI to help further diagnose her Spina Bifida condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan for the meningocele on her back. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $968 to cover the cost of Twel Tar's MRI and care, scheduled for June 28th. Twel Tar's mother said, "I want my daughter to receive treatment and grow up like other children. She already received surgery for her head [hydrocephalus] and now only the lump is left. I hope that she will recover well after all her treatments."