The youngest in his family, Mukesh lives with his parents and his two older sisters. His parents are farmers, and the yield from their field is enough to feed the family only for 6 months of the year. When their finances are strained, Mukesh's father goes to India to work as a laborer and returns when he saves just enough to hold the family over. Like many young boys his age, Mukesh was playing outdoors one day, swinging on the branch of a tree when the branch snapped. He fell down on the ground and landed on his left arm. Ever since then, he has been in constant pain. He has difficulty writing in school and cannot eat or get dressed on his own. "I can't afford to to take him to the hospital, let alone finance his treatment," Mukesh's father shared. Because it was an emergency, the family had to rent a jeep to get to the hospital, the only place in the area that can mend fractures. With $579, Mukesh can receive diagnostic scans, antibiotic treatment, and hospital respite to realign his fracture with the help of a surgically implanted plate. His arm will also be wrapped in a cast to expedite the healing process after the bones are reset to their original position. After the treatment, Mukesh said: "I just want my arm to heal so that I can return to school and play with my friends." With our help, Mukesh can return to his family and friends in good health.

Three-month-old Faour lives with her mother and grandparents in a three-room, mud-walled house in Kenya. Faour’s head size is disproportional for her age and body, and she cries whenever her head is touched. Her head size was proportional until the age of three weeks, when it became enlarged due to an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes increased intracranial pressure on the brain. Hydrocephalus may result in life-threatening brain stem compression and potentially cause convulsions, tunnel vision, and possibly mental disability. Faour was referred for specialized treatment miles away from her home. Her mother and grandmother, who are subsistence farmers, set aside some money to aide their transport. When they had enough, they set out to a hospital affiliated with Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, to seek treatment for Faour. Once they arrived at the hospital, they learned that Faour needs surgery to place a shunt in her head to divert the excess fluid to her abdomen, where it can be resorbed by her body. The family has no external sources of income, and they are unable to raise funds to pay for the surgery that Faour needs. For $615, Faour will undergo surgery and spend five days in the hospital as she recovers. Funding also covers the costs of imaging, blood work, and medicine. Faour’s surgery will help reduce the excessive pressure on her brain and prevent visual impairment, mental disability, and even death. “I hope for my child to grow up normally with no complications whatsoever,” shares Faour’s mother.

Eleven-month-old Leah is a little girl who lives with her parents and six siblings in Kenya. "Leah has a mass swelling at the back of her head," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "A feather light touch on the growth that is protruding from baby Leah’s head sends her into a fit of tears and loud cries of pain." Leah has an occipital encephalocele, sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranes that cover it through openings in the skull. These defects are caused by failure of the neural tube to close completely during fetal development. “If not treated,” AMHF tells us, “Leah may have mental and growth retardation, seizures, and uncoordinated movement of voluntary muscles such as walking and reaching.” Leah needs an encephalocoele repair. The surgeon will remove the herniated sac and repair the opening in the skull. "Closure of the open skin defect will prevent infection and extreme dryness of brain tissue," AMHF explains. Leah’s parents do not earn enough money to pay for medical care for their daughter. Her father is a security guard for the neighborhood and her mother stays home. For $780, Leah can undergo encephalocoele repair, stay in the hospital to recover, and receive medicine to prevent infection. "I sometimes wonder how I can handle my little Leah without hurting the swell on the back of her head. It's unavoidable at times, especially when placing a cap on her head. Her cries tell how painful it is for her and this breaks my heart," Leah's mother shares. "I have no means to pay for Leah’s surgical care and would not like to have her go through all this pain for long. Please help her get treated."