"Juan is a sweet and caring one-year-old boy," our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK) shares. He is the youngest of five children, and loves to play with one of his sisters while his mother works weaving blouses. A few months ago, Juan fell ill with a fever and was diagnosed with malnutrition at a government health center. Despite the diagnosis, Juan's parents did not receive any support or tools to help their son. "Now, Juan is far below the average height and weight for his age, and if intervention does not occur his physical and mental growth will be permanently stunted." Some other long-term effects of this condition include a suppressed immune system and lower academic performance, which will inhibit Juan from reaching his full potential. For $512, Juan can receive treatment for his malnutrition and have a chance at growing normally. In a holistic approach, Juan will receive nutritional supplements to help diversify his diet and nutrient intake. WK adds, "if he gets sick while in the program, our medical team will visit him and provide him with appropriate medication." Along with treatment for Juan, "his mother will participate in nutrition education and therefore feel more confident in her care decisions for her family". This will also help prevent the long-term effects of malnutrition. “I am so grateful for the support that we will receive from Wuqu’ Kawoq and Watsi," Juan's mother shares. "Because with the support of God and with you, our little Juan will recover from malnutrition.”

“My son is not growing that well...not as well as the other kids we know that are his age,” shares Santos’ mother. Meet Santos, an 11-month-old infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “Santos is the younger of two children. His father is a construction worker and his mother works in the house weaving textiles to sell. Santos loves to play with his sister, Shantal. She likes to teach him how to draw and paint.” Santos has acute malnutrition. “Santos is below the average height and the average weight for his age,” WK reports, ”His immune system will weaken, and he will be at increased risk for chronic diseases later in life. He will have limited energy. If his health continues to fall, his family will face an impossible financial burden to get him appropriate medical care.” As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Santos’ needs to address his nutritional deficit and improve his low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Miguel of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for his parents. With these combined efforts, Santos will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

Lai is a 60-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother from Cambodia who tends to the vegetable garden around her home and goes to the pagoda to hear the monks pray. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Lai has been diagnosed with glaucoma. She has [also] developed a cataract in her right eye, and she can not see clearly.” Glaucoma and cataracts are both serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss. Both conditions are also more common with age, so many people who have one disease may develop the other. Glaucoma is caused by inadequate fluid drainage from the eye, causing pressure to build inside the eye. The increased pressure damages the eye’s main nerve — the optic nerve — and results in vision loss and eventual blindness. A cataract occurs when there is a buildup of proteins in the lens. This causes the lens to become cloudy, disrupting the passage of light through the lens and impairing vision. “Lai experiences blurred vision, pain, burning, and tearing,” CSC continues. “She cannot do work very well or go anywhere outside by herself.” For $300, Lai will undergo two surgical procedures to restore her vision. One procedure will remove the cloudy lens from her right eye and replace it with an artificial one. In a second procedure—known as trabeculectomy—doctors will remove tissue from the eye to create an opening to allow fluid drainage. Funding also includes pre- and post-operative consultations, a two-day hospital stay, and eye drops and ointments. After surgery, “Lai will be able to see clearly again, and the pressure in her eye will be decreased,” says CSC. Let’s help make that happen!

“I want to be treated and provide for my children until they finish college,” says 40-year-old Marivic, a mother of five from the Philippines who works as a domestic helper to support her family. “Marivic found out that there was an enlargement on her right anterior neck in 2001,” our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), tells us. In 2010, screening tests confirmed that she had an enlarged thyroid, and, ICM reports, “she was advised to continue for another diagnostic procedure and seek medical treatment, but she could not afford another medical procedure.” The thyroid is a gland in the lower neck that produces hormones to regulate the body's metabolism. An enlarged thyroid (goiter) begins as a lump or swelling at the front of the neck and can become large enough to obstruct nearby structures and cause difficulty swallowing or breathing. More than 90 percent of goiters in the Philippines are due to a deficiency of iodine, an important element in the body's production of thyroid hormones. Treatment for Marivic is a thyroidectomy, a surgical procedure in which doctors remove the thyroid gland. $1500 covers the cost of the surgery, as well as transportation to and from the hospital, 10 days of hospital care, and medication. ICM says, “After the operation, Marivic can uphold her family of five children more efficiently.” Marivic shares, “I am hopeful that there will be people who could help me with my treatment.”

Kyaw is a 39-year-old farmer who lives with his wife and four children in Burma. He was referred to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and kidney stones. “Two years ago, Kyaw started to feel back pain and pain when he urinated,” explains BBP. “He also felt some numbness, and it was difficult to pass urine.” At that time, Kyaw borrowed money to pay for diagnostic tests, but he was unable to pay for the recommended procedures. Since then, Kyaw has been hospitalized twice and had the larger of two kidney stones removed. “Kyaw recovered well from this surgery,” BBP tells us. “He is now scheduled for removal of the kidney stone in his other kidney.” In addition to farming, Kyaw also works as an agricultural day laborer, raises and sells chickens, and grows rice and vegetables for his family. Despite his hard work, the family is not able to save money and will sometimes borrow money for unexpected expenses. For $1,500, Kyaw will undergo surgery to remove the kidney stone. An additional $3,099 from Burma Children Medical Fund will help to cover the costs of transportation to and from the hospital, pre-surgical consultations and tests, eight days of hospital care, and a follow-up visit after surgery. “Following surgery, Kyaw will not have recurring urinary tract infections, fever and back pain,” says BBP. “He will be able to work without pain and continue to support his family.”