Srey Pov is an 11-year-old student who lives in Cambodia with two sisters and one brother. She likes to read her school books, watch the song channel on TV, and clean around her home. In September, Srey Pov fell from a tree and injured herself. She developed a bone spur in her left arm. A bone spur is a tiny pointed outgrowth of bone that develops in areas of inflammation or injury. Srey Pov sought treatment from a Khmer traditional healer, but her symptoms did not improve. She was in pain, and she had difficulty moving her arm. When Srey Pov learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled four hours with her mother in hopes of receiving treatment. On October 27, she underwent a repair surgery, during which doctors removed the bone spur from her arm. Her family needs help to fund this $224 procedure. After recovery, Srey Pov will be able to use her arm easily.

Maikon is an 18-month-old boy from Guatemala. When he was an infant, his mother was unable to produce breastmilk, and Watsi donors funded lactational failure treatment. Now that Maikon is eating solid foods, his parents have had trouble affording foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. Fortunately, Maikon began malnutrition treatment on October 28, 2016. Maikon is the youngest child in his family, and he is always making his family members laugh. He loves to play with his toy car and ball, a gift from his older sister. Even though Maikon loves to eat carrots and papaya, his parents often can't afford to give him these foods. His father is a farmer, and his mother weaves traditional Mayan textiles. Together they only make a couple dollars per day. They need help to fund this $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Maikon recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Maikon a chance to grow healthy and strong.

Chit Sandar was born at the Hpa-an General Hospital in Burma. At six months old she became sick with a fever. Her mother took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain. Burma has one of the most under-funded healthcare systems in the world, with little government assistance. The Burmese government spends approximately $37 per person per year on healthcare in contrast to, for example, the US which spends $9,146. Chit Sandar's mother could not afford to pay for her surgery, which meant they had to return home from the doctor without receiving care. After they returned home, Chit Sandar's condition continued to worsen. The circumference of her head expanded as a result of the fluid buildup in her brain and she started experiencing loss of consciousness, sunken eyes, and sometimes she would lose control of her head movements all together. Chit Sandar needs a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, which will drain the fluid from the brain and cure her hydrocephalus. $1,485 will cover the cost of Chit Sandar's surgery which will be provided at the Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand. Chit Sandar's mother wants her daughter to survive surgery, receive a good education, and grow up to support a family of her own.

Meet Maudeline, a 13-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents, three younger sisters, and her grandfather. Maudeline is in the sixth grade, a good student, and hopes to be a doctor or nurse when she grows up. "She also likes going to church, singing, and helping her mother around the house," Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) tells us. "Maudeline was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole between the aorta and the pulmonary artery which normally closes naturally when a child is born, instead remains open," HCA writes. "Blood flows through this hole, preventing normal circulation through the body. As a result, Maudeline is frequently short of breath and out of energy." Health City Cayman Islands has stepped up to help Maudeline cover the cost of the surgery she'll need to close up the hole in her heart. $5000 will fund the surgery but Maudeline still needs $1500 for things like prep and overseas transport. "Following closure of the hole, Maudeline should be able to lead a normal life with no cardiac symptoms," HCA continues. "I'm not scared at all about having surgery," Maudeline says. "I'm looking forward to it!" Let's fund the remaining $1500 of Maudeline's treatment.

When Claudia was three years old, she began to regress developmentally, losing the ability to walk and talk. Claudia lives with her grandmother, but her grandmother has been unable to provide her with proper early nutrition. As a result, Claudia needs intensive nutritional rehabilitation and physical therapy to help her grow up healthy. Her doctor writes that she has been “immobile for so long that some of her joints are starting to contract and lose their flexibility.” Thanks to Wuqu’ Kawoq, we can ensure that Claudia will receive the best treatment Guatemala has to offer. They can help Claudia regain some of the abilities she's lost over the past few years. For $1,350, we can fund Claudia’s treatments so she can live her life to the fullest!

Daroo is a 17-year-old from Cambodia who loves to play soccer in his free time and is currently in the 11th grade. Unfortunately, over the past few months, Daroo has been having difficulty walking. He was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in his hip, a form of arthritis that causes inflammation in spinal joints. Daroo rarely leaves his house because of this condition. He sought treatment at a small rural hospital and was sent from there to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. In order to regain his full strength, Daroo needs a total hip replacement. For $500, we can fund Daroo’s surgery so he can regain his mobility and continue to play soccer!