Meet Diana! She is just under two-months-old, and lives in Kenya with her family. She has six brothers and sisters. ”Diana was born at home, and to everyone’s amazement she had a cystic mass on her back,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Her parents took her to the nearest hospital one week after birth, [but] unfortunately, there was no doctor at the hospital who could attend to her.” It is important for her to get this mass removed in order to stop the spread of infection and prevent other spinal complications. “Diana’s father is a motorbike taxi operator, while her mother picks tea from neighbors’ tea farms,” continues AMHF. With a daily income of $7 a day, they are unable to afford Diana’s $805 surgery. Her mother says, “I have never seen anything like this condition before. I pray that she will recover soon after treatment.” The good news is that we can help! If Diana gets medical attention soon, she will be able to get her tumor removed and develop into a healthy, happy baby. Let’s make that happen.

“Dominic is our only son and we wish for him to have straight legs, strong bones and the ability to walk properly so that he can walk to school when the time comes,” says Dominic’s father. Meet Dominic, a three-year-old boy from Tanzania who has bilateral genu varum, a bow-legged condition that can lead to osteoarthritis. “Dominic wiggles when walking and he falls down easily when playing with other children. The deformity is limiting his ability to walk properly and energetically involve himself in playing games,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “At home, Dominic likes to sit down and play with tins and cars and sometimes he will try to run around with other children,” continues AMHF. He enjoys the company of other children and would like to play with them unaffected by his condition. Dominic’s parents are both maize farmers. “The little they get from farming is not enough to cover their daily needs as well as pay for the corrective surgery which Dominic needs,” says AMHF. For $940, we can fund surgery to straighten Dominic’s legs so that he will have normal mobility as he grows up. AMHF concludes that after the procedure, “Dominic will have straight legs, a better gait, and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age.”

“All I hope is that she will grow up to be a happy and healthy child,” says Koni’s mother. Say hello to Koni, a one-year-old girl from Burma who has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, or "water on the brain." She lives with her parents, who have been very stressed about being unable to afford treatment for their daughter. Without help, her condition can put fatal pressure on her brain. “After she was born, her head grew bigger with time. Now, her head is swollen, and the pressure of the liquid pushes her brain downwards,” explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects. Each morning, Koni’s left eye is swollen and watery, leaving her uncomfortable and in pain. For $1,485 we can fund the surgery to drain the excess fluid and release the pressure in Koni’s brain. As she improves, her eyes will be able to develop, and she will be able to look at things like a normal little girl. Watsi donors, let’s ensure the health of this adorable baby!