Lynemandy is a student from Haiti. She lives with her grandmother in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She has been studying business at a local university, although has not attended for the past year due to her heart condition. Lynemandy has a cardiac condition called mitral and aortic regurgitation. Two of the four valves of her heart were damaged by a rheumatic fever that she suffered eight years ago, and they can no longer adequately circulate blood through her body. This leaves her weak and short of breath, and could eventually be fatal. Lynemandy will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On February 17, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will repair the damaged valves in her heart so that they open and close more normally. University of Virginia is contributing $8,000 to pay for surgery. Lynemandy'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 Lynemandy's family overseas. She says, "I am excited about this surgery so that I can have more energy and live a more normal life when I go back home."

Meet Ratha, a 27-year-old woman from Cambodia who works in a factory and has three sisters. Ratha enjoys staying at home, watching movies on TV, and listening to pop songs. Ratha traveled three hours with her brother to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Ratha fell off a moto on February 29th and fractured her left forearm. She is in pain and can't hold anything. The only treatment she has received has been Khmer traditional medicine, which was ineffective. An x-ray at CSC shows a distal radius fracture. Surgeons at CSC will perform an ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) procedure to treat the fracture. This will realign the bones into their normal position. Let's help Ratha get back on track and fund this treatment!