Andrew is a 79-year-old man from the Central Region of Malawi. He is a farmer who lives with his wife and extended family. When not working on the farm, Andrew loves to spend time with his grandchildren. For six years, Andrew has been in pain due to an enlarged prostate. The pain sometimes prevents him from working. On February 7, he will undergo a prostate removal surgery at our medical partner's hospital, Nkhoma Hospital. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $726 to fund his care. Andrew says, “I am so happy to finally get surgery.”

Win Than is a 32-year-old housewife who lives with her husband and three children in Burma. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver and deliveryman and is the sole earner in the family. Her youngest child is in school, and her older children help her around the house. The family income is just enough for their daily expenses. About three months ago, Win Than began to experience lower abdominal pain. An ultrasound confirmed that Win Than had an ovarian cyst on her left ovary. She will undergo an oophorectomy to remove the ovary on February 3. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure.

Sochea is a 37-year-old cleaner from Cambodia. She likes to take care of her two sons and one daughter, do housework, and spend time at the farm. Sochea developed an ear infection in her left ear when she was seven years old. The infection eventually spread to both ears and perforated both her right and left eardrums. As a result, Sochea experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. It is therefore difficult for her to communicate with people at work. Sochea originally went to a hospital in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, for treatment. However, she did not have enough money to pay for the necessary surgery. She later heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, from a relative. She traveled for one hour by motorbike with her mother to receive treatment. On January 23, ENT surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a special surgery called a bilateral myringoplasty, repairing both of Sochea's perforated eardrums and stopping the discharge and pain. Over time, Sochea's hearing will improve. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $831, which will pay for Sochea's surgery, medications, and eight nights in the hospital.

Karyn Dayana is nine months old. She and her twin sister, also named Karyn, are only the size of healthy two-month-olds. Their mother cannot produce breast milk to feed her twins, so they are small and malnourished. Karyn Dayana lives on a limited diet, which is insufficient and has dangerous implications for her health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. It can also provoke electrolyte imbalances that cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time is compromised, so she is at risk of long-term damage. Karyn Dayana’s father works as a day laborer, and her mother works at home. Her family cannot afford to pay for her treatment. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), is requesting $1,107 to fund this treatment. To stabilize her condition, Karyn Dayana was given a preliminary supply of formula, which will last until WK's nutritionist can create a nutritional plan and formally begin treatment on February 3. By supplying Karyn Dayana with formula and her mother with health education, Karyn Dayana will receive the calories she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Karyn Dayana’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her daughter. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. Karyn Dayana’s immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. Karyn’s mother says, “We are worried about our daughter’s health since she is so small and keeps getting sick. Before this, we had not thought to look for help since we live so far away from the community. We hope our twin daughters can get better and grow well so that they can someday have dignified jobs.”

Since her birth two months ago, Melany has been growing too slowly. Her mother has been unable to produce sufficient breast milk to nourish Melany. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration, as well as provoke electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time can also be compromised, putting Melany at risk of long-term damage. To stabilize her condition, Melany was given a preliminary supply of formula. This will last until the nutritionist at our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, can create a nutritional plan and formally begin treatment. Melany lives with her parents and three siblings in rural Guatemala. Her father works driving cars and trucks, and her mother takes care of the home. Her parents do not have the financial resources to pay for the baby formula that Melany needs. Her family’s limited resources put treatment for Melany outside of economic reach. Watsi is asking for $1,107 to fund Melany's treatment, which will begin on January 30. Your donation will help supply Melany's mother with baby formula and health education, which will ensure Melany receives the calories she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Melany’s mother will teach her the signs of malnutrition and other illnesses, as well as how to create a nutritious, inexpensive diet for Melany. Melany’s immune system will strengthen, and she will grow to be a healthy, energetic baby. "We want Melany to become a nurse," say Melany's parents, "so that she can help others just as she is being helped."

Cho is a 32-year-old woman originally from Burma. One year ago, she moved to Mae Sot, Thailand with her family in search of better job opportunities. Since then, she and her eldest daughter have been working at a wool factory. Unfortunately, about three months ago, Cho started to experience symptoms of abdominal pain and fever. When medication from a local clinic did not help, she decided to go to our medical partner's care center for an examination. The doctor performed an ultrasound test, and Cho was diagnosed with gallstones with cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder. Now, with the help of our medical partner, Cho is scheduled to undergo repair surgery on January 19. She needs help to raise $1,500 to fund this operation. Cho wishes to return to work as soon as possible. She plans to work in Mae Sot for a few more years before returning to Burma with her family. Cho's husband says, "I am very happy that my wife is receiving help.”

Mu is a fifteen-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her aunt, uncle, and three cousins. Her aunt and uncle run their own shop that sells drinks and juices, where Mu and her youngest brother also work. Her parents have their own farm where they grow rice. They are all currently saving money in order to buy a house. In her spare time, Mu enjoys reading fictional stories. Four years ago, Mu started to feel pain in her stomach. Despite the pain, she did not visit a hospital or clinic. Last July, a heavy object fell on Mu's stomach. Her aunt brought her to the hospital, where she was told that she had a mass of blood in her abdomen. In other words, Mu had a hemangioma, a benign tumor made up of a bundle of blood vessels. Per the doctor's recommendation, Mu visited our medical partner's care center. Now, she is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the tumor on January 11. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund the labor cost, supplies, lab tests, and medication needed for the procedure. Mu shares, "In the future, I would like to run a juice shop of my own in the village where I am from."

Astania lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has three older brothers and one older sister. Her father works in construction. Her mother normally sells rice in the marketplace, but has stopped in order to care for Astania. Astania was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her severely fatigued. In February of 2016, Astania underwent a procedure to stabilize her heart and allow it to grow larger, so that a complete repair could be attempted later with lower risk. Astania will undergo a second surgery soon to completely fix her heart defect. First, Astania will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 19. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Astania also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Astania's surgical care. "We are so happy," said Astania's mother, "that after this surgery Astania will be a normal healthy child!"

Maria lives with her family in Guatemala. She has two sons and a seven-year-old daughter. Her husband works as an agricultural day laborer, and Maria weaves and manages the household. For four years, Maria has been experiencing seizures. Recently, she began taking medication, which has been largely effective, allowing her to live seizure-free. However, the cause of her seizures is still unknown, and her life remains negatively impacted by her condition. She frequently experiences painful headaches and feels tired. To determine the cause of her seizures, our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, needs additional diagnostic information. Maria is scheduled to undergo testing on January 20. She will receive a full diagnostic work-up, including labs, an MRI, and a consultation to determine the cause of her seizures. Then, our medical partner's team will develop a personalized treatment plan to reduce the frequency and length of her seizures. This will improve Maria's quality of life. While Maria and her husband work hard, they are unable to pay for this expensive diagnostic workup. Wuqu' Kawoq is requesting $1,044 to fund her procedure. "I want to see my children grow up well, and then to see my grandchildren," says Maria.