Gustavo is an active 17-month-old toddler from Guatemala. He loves playing with his toy cars and older sister. He can be rather serious around strangers, but is always smiling with people he knows. Gustavo was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Gustavo has little energy to grow, and that his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise his growth. If left untreated, he may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for his well-being, his mother took Gustavo to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 12, Gustavo will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach his mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of his continued treatment, allowing him to gain weight, strengthen his immune system, and catch up with other children his age. "I am very grateful for the help my son is going to receive," says Gustavo's mother.

Yan Pai is a 16-year-old boy from Burma. His mother works as a laundress and a day laborer, planting and picking corn. He left school one year ago because his family could no longer afford tuition. Since then, Yan Pai has been working as a day laborer. For a few months, Yan Pai was experiencing pain in his leg. He tried to continue working, even taking a new job in a furniture shop. Recently, however, the pain grew so severe that Yan Pai found walking difficult and he began using crutches. X-rays showed an abnormal growth in his leg. He was referred to our medical partner for further investigation. On October 17, Yan Pai underwent an MRI. Watsi donors are currently funding this [procedure](https://watsi.org/profile/a9e34854b22c-yan-pai). From this MRI, Yan Pai’s doctor discovered a tumor in his left leg. On November 9, he performed surgery to remove the tumor. Now, Yan Pai’s family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure.

Nyirarwaza is a 65-year-old widow from Uganda. She delivered all her four children, three girls and one boy, from home. All the girls are married and her son, the youngest child, graduated from the Teacher Training College two months ago. Nyirarwaza has done manual work all her life. She produces her own food, but for the last two months she has not been able to do any work so she has to depend on her daughter in-law. Nyirarwaza’s uterus started showing signs of coming out in 2006, but she was unable to go to hospital because she didn’t have money. She started using herbs, which she thinks prevented her condition from worsening until three months ago, when the uterus came out. As a result of her condition, Nyirarwaza has a constant backache and swelling between her legs, making it difficult for her to live a happy life. For $287, Nyirarwaza will undergo a uterine prolapse repair surgery. After her surgery, she hopes to get well and resume working on her farm so that she can produce her own food without having to bother other people.