Shantel, a friendly nine-year-old girl from Kenya, is the eldest of two siblings in her family. She is currently in primary school and enjoys playing with her friends and making new ones. According to her parents, Shantel adds vibrancy and liveliness to their household. Her father works as a casual laborer in construction sites, while her mother is a greengrocer in their neighborhood. About two weeks ago, while Shantel was walking along the road with her mother, sister, and her mother's friend and her daughter, a vehicle lost control and flipped over towards them, resulting in injuries to all of them. Shantel was hit on the left leg and sustained bruises on her thigh and an open fracture of the tibia (shinbone) as confirmed by an X-ray. She is currently in chronic pain, and is unable to walk. Doctors at our medical partner's care center have recommended a procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), but the family is unable to meet the cost of surgery. If left untreated, Shantel may develop serious complications and may never be able to use her leg again. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Shantel receive treatment. On April 9th, surgeons at Nazareth Hospital will perform an ORIF procedure to allow her to walk easily and alleviate her pain. Now, Shantel's family needs help to fund this $1,049 procedure. Shantel’s father says: "Please help my daughter. Since the accident involving my family, I have not slept but I thank God that they are all alive. I request for support so that my daughter's leg can be treated, and she can go back to school."

Levina is a bright 10-year-old student. She is very social and loves to study. She is especially gifted in science and math! She is the youngest child in a family of four children. Her mother stays at home to care for the family. Although her father does not have permanent work, he owns a chainsaw and seeks lumber jobs as they are available during timber seasons. Levina is experiencing clubfoot in her left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. As a result, she has difficulty walking and wearing shoes. Due to the persistent pain of walking, she had to stop ​school to seek treatment for her left foot. Levina’s family traveled to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for her treatment. On August 13th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery that will allow Levina to walk easily. AMH is requesting $935 to fund this procedure. Levina’s mother shared, “We decided to stop her from going to school so that we can find treatment for her foot as it is troubling her so much in walking. Her treatment cost is too high for us to afford."

Ouy is a 23-year-old foodseller from Cambodia who sells food and drinks from his mobile cafe. He lives with his parents who operate a grocery stand. He is the youngest of five siblings. In his free time, Ouy loves to play volleyball with his friends. One year ago, Ouy developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him severe irritation and tearing. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. As a result, Ouy has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Ouy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled there with his mother seeking treatment. Ouy needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal growth from his eye and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for June 15th. Ouy said, "My eye problem has made it hard to work for a while, and I can't play volleyball, so I hope I can see better and feel better after this surgery. I want to work and play volleyball easily."

Reaksmey is an 9-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is a very bright student who enjoys math and Khmer classes. Her parents work as rice farmers. Since she was one year old, Reaksmey has had a persistent ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Reaksmey experiences ear discharge, tinnitus, fever, and hearing loss. She also cannot communicate clearly with friends and cannot attend school classes whenever this issue recurs. Reaksmey and her family traveled to our Medical Partner, Children's Surgical Centre, to receive treatment. On March 2nd, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation in her left ear. Our medical partner is requesting $464 to fund Reaksmey's procedure. These funds will cover the medications, supplies, and inpatient care necessary for her procedure. Reaksmey parents are very concerned and hope that their daughter's hearing can finally be improved with this procedure.

Alex is a 20-year-old high school student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and younger brother in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. When he's healthy, he enjoys dancing and playing drums in church. Before his most recent illness, he was in his final year of high school. Alex has a cardiac condition called mitral regurgitation. When Alex was a child, he became infected with rheumatic fever which severely damaged one of his heart valves so that it could no longer pump blood through his body. Four years ago, surgeons in the Cayman Islands repaired Alex's existing heart valve in order to avoid replacing it with an artificial valve. This repaired valve worked well for three years, but then began to have difficulty pumping blood as well. Doctors now need to implant an artificial valve to replace the valve that is no longer working well. Alex will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 7th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove Alex's damaged valve and implant a mechanical replacement valve. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman Islands, is contributing $20,000 to pay for surgery. Alex'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 Alex's family overseas. Alex shared, "I am looking forward to this surgery so that I can get back to attending school and going to church."

Mpirirwe is a high school student from Uganda. He likes playing football. His parents are small-scale farmers Ten years ago, Mpiriwe developed a growth on his right scapula. This has caused a protrusion on his back. This has affected his ability to work, and he cannot perform well in school. Mpirirwe traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 16, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Mpirirwe needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure. Mpirirwe says, “I hope to continue with schooling when relieved of this condition.”

Elvis is a child from Tanzania. He loves school and enjoys playing with his friends. Elvis’s parents are subsistence farmers. Elvis has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Elvis traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 19. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Elvis's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk well and attend school regularly. Elvis’s mother says, “Please help my son get better. He is in pain when walking to school or playing. I am worried he will eventually lose his ability to walk.”

Thu is a 16-year-old student from Thailand. He lives with his family in Umpeim Mai refugee camp. Thu was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. The doctor explained that Thu needs surgery even though he appears to be doing well right now. This condition will only get worse over time. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Thu. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 11 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Thu said, “I am very worried about my health. Although I seem to be healthy, the doctor said I must have surgery. What if I get worse? I don’t want to suffer so I want to have surgery if I must.”

Carlos is a 14-year old student who lives in an orphanage on the southern coast of Haiti. Carlos is currently in the eighth grade and would like to become a doctor or an engineer when he grows up. Carlos suffers from mitral and aortic regurgitation, both of which resulted from the rheumatic fever that he contracted several years ago. Due to his conditions, blood backs up into his heart and does not properly circulate throughout his body, leaving Carlos weak, short of breath, and at risk of heart failure. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to cover the cost of Carlos's air transportation to the Cayman Islands, where he is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 5. Once there, he will receive the care that he needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. Carlos says, "I am very happy that I can have this chance to heal my heart, and would like to say thank you to everyone."

Elias is a five-month-old boy from Tanzania. He is the first and only child to his parents, who love him dearly. His mother is a tailor, and his father is a construction worker. Three months ago, Elias's mother began noticing that his head was swelling and that he was becoming irritable and sick. She took Elias to a local hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with acquired hydrocephalus, a condition that occurs when a tumor, injury, or disease blocks the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. If left untreated, hydrocephalus can cause severe physical and cognitive defects and become life-threatening. On July 12, Elias will receive a endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) insertion, which will create an opening to allow cerebrospinal fluid to flow in and around the brain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to fund the treatment. “I am grateful for the help," said Elias's mother. "I cannot wait for my child to get better.”

Just one month old, Iyan lives with his parents and two older siblings in a one-room rental house in Kenya. His parents are subsistence farmers without an external source of income. Iyan was born with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine does not form completely. His spinal cord and its surrounding membranes protrude through an opening in his backbone, forming a sac on his lower back. As a result, Iyan's spinal cord is exposed, making him vulnerable to infection and loss of muscle function in his lower limbs. Iyan's mother did not know what the mass on his lower back meant until she took him to a district hospital. There, the medical team changed the dressing on Iyan's back for two days. A doctor explained to his mother the risks of his condition and referred them to our medical partner's care center for specialized treatment. Iyan underwent surgery to place his spinal cord and nerves back inside his spine, cover them with membranes, and close the opening on his back. Now, Iyan’s head is increasing in size, and a CT scan has revealed excess fluid accumulation in his skull. This condition, known as hydrocephalus, may lead to a progressive increase in head circumference, brain damage, loss of sight, and even death if not treated. Iyan's family used the little amount of money they had on the CT scan, and they are not able to raise funds for his continued care. Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), requests $685 to pay for an operation to insert a shunt in Iyan's head to drain the excess fluid and transport it to his abdomen, where it can be resorbed by the body. Funding for Iyan also pays for five days of hospital care, blood tests, a second CT scan, pain medicine, and antibiotics. Iyan's surgery is scheduled for July 20. "I am pleading for help to see our only boy gets well," says Iyan’s mother. Let's help make that happen!

Stephano is a 16-year-old teenager from Tanzania. Stephano helps his parents run a small family farm for income. Two months ago, a mass started to grow on Stephano's face. The localized growth caused pain and soon made it difficult for him to speak and eat. Stephano eventually dropped out of school, as he was too embarrassed by the mass. Doctors at our medical partner's care center proposed to remove the mass, so Stephano can return to routine daily activities without frequent discomfort. Stephano says, "I hope that I can get better after this surgery because I have high hopes of returning to school and completing my studies." Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $920 to help fund surgery for Stephano. On February 12, he will undergo the surgery. He will feel significantly more comfortable thereafter.