Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. He was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Emmanuel is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 24. This procedure will hopefully spare Emmanuel from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I am truly happy that we may get help for Emmanuel’s treatment,” says Emmanuel’s guardian.

Pheakdey is a young student from Cambodia. He hopes to be a teacher when he grows up.He has one brother and two sisters. Four years ago, he was burned by hot rice on his fingers. He developed skin contractures on his left fingers. He has difficulty using his left hand and moving his fingers. He cannot do his daily work easily. He needs to undergo a contracture release surgery to improve his use of his hand and fingers. Surgery is scheduled for July 6. Now, his family needs help funding this $417 procedure. His mother says, "I hope my son's fingers can be bent and used again after surgery."

Ezekiel is a boy from Kenya. He is the second born in a family family of six children. Ezekiel's mother is a small-scale farmer and a single parent. Ezekiel 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, Ezekiel traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 6. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Ezekiel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. “My desire is to see my son walking. I am kindly requesting for help," says his mother.

Bryton is a baby from Tanzania. Both his parents work in the textile industry as casual laborers. Bryton has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Bryton has been experiencing an increasing head circumference, irritability and vomiting. Without treatment, Bryton will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Bryton that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 16 and will drain the excess fluid from Bryton's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Bryton will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Bryton’s mother says, “I would love to see my boy grow up and have a happy normal life like other children, be able to play and go to school and not be looked at as a disabled child.”

Tha Zin is 13-year-old student from Burma. She attends a local school in her home village and is currently in grade seven. In her free time, Tha Zin enjoys drawing. Since 2017, Tha Zin has been experiencing regular episodes of lower abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with fibroids, which are benign growths in the uterus. She needs to undergo a myomectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove the fibroids. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $960 to fund Tha Zin's surgery. She is scheduled to undergo her myomectomy on April 18 at BCMF's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. “When I grow up, I want to become an engineer,” says Tha Zin.

Phyu is a five-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her mother. She loves dancing, drawing, and dressing up. Phyu suffers from episodes of one-sided weakness and loss of awareness. She has occasional bouts of fever and recurrent headaches, which often seem to be triggered by crying and stress. Doctors want Phyu to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Phyu's CT scan and care, scheduled for March 23. "I would like to become a dancer one day," says Phyu.

Vorn is a rice farmer from Cambodia. He has nine children and four grandchildren and likes to visit the pagoda in his spare time. In September 2017, he fell in the rice field and developed pain on his left side. He is not working anymore and is experiencing chronic pain. He can only walk about three meters. Fortunately, Vorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Vorn of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 11, and Vorn needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "I hope I can walk again."

Shany is a baby from Tanzania. She is cute and sweet. Shany’s father is a car mechanic, and her mother takes care of the family. The family lives in a rented house in Eastern region of Tanzania. Shany was born with a mild hemangioma on her face, and the condition continues to grow as Shany grows. If not treated, Shany may experience pain, and the hemangioma may worsen. Shany's family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 17, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Shany's family needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. Shany’s mother says, “I thank God and all who contributed to Shany’s treatment. I promise that when Shany gets treated, she will attend school when she grows up."

Umar is a three-year-old boy from Sierra Leone. He lives with his mother and grandparents. Umar is a happy child and likes listening to music on the radio and playing with the kids in his neighborhood. Umar was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, where there exists a hole between two chambers of his heart and a muscular blockage in one of his valves. On August 2, Umar will be traveling from his home in Sierra Leone to our medical partner's care center, Narayana Institute Of Cardiac Sciences, in Bangalore, India. Although Umar is not from Haiti, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with other partners to make his surgery possible, and so is asking for $1,500 to help cover the cost of Umar's surgery prep. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, has contributed $12,000 towards his treatment. We are also fundraising for his [transportation costs](https://watsi.org/profile/8b44b9ae4b94-umar). "I am excited for Umar to be able to go to preschool once his heart is healthy!" says Umar's mother.

Eric is a nine-year-old student from the Philippines. He lives with his parents and three siblings. When he's not in school, Eric helps his mother with household chores and likes to play with his friends in the neighborhood. Also, as the eldest of four, he is often put in charge of his younger siblings when his parents are not around. Eric has difficulty walking because he was born with bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot refers to the internal rotation of the feet and can only be corrected surgically. In order to help Eric receive the treatment he needs, our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is requesting $1,500 to fund Eric's surgery, hospital stay, and medication. He is scheduled to undergo clubfeet correction on August 8 at our medical partner's care center, Tebow Cure Hospital. Surgeons will re-align the ligaments and tendons that are affected by his condition. "We are looking for a very good result after the operation," says Rowena, Eric's mother. "Hopefully his both feet will be corrected after the operation and he will live a normal life."

Caren is a five-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is one of six children in her family, including her twin sister, who she loves and adores dearly. Caren is currently in nursery school. Caren was born a very healthy child but as she grew, her legs started to bend outward, making it painful and difficult for her to walk. Her parents never took her to the hospital, fearing treatment would be too expensive. If not treated, however, Caren will continue experiencing pain and discomfort when walking. On September 15, Caren will undergo surgery for her leg condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $838 for Caren's medical care. Caren’s father says, “I am grateful for this treatment, I can't wait for my daughter to start walking well again.”

17-year-old Harun is a secondary school student who lives in central Kenya. He is the oldest of three children in his family. His father is a farmer, and his mother stays at home. The family had been living in a rental house until they built a two-room house with the help of well-wishers and their extended family. Harun has bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which both of his feet are twisted out of position due to short tendons in his feet and ankles. As a result, Harun cannot walk for long distances. His condition was neglected because his parents feared huge medical bills that they could not afford. Treatment for clubfoot is surgery to release the tendons in the involved foot and ankle. Doctors then move the foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. After the casts are removed, some patients wear a brace for a year or more to maintain the proper position of the foot. Harun's surgeons plan to start treatment on his left foot on August 21 and treat his right foot at a later date. "We cannot afford the bill as stipulated, and we request your help," shares Harun's father. Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,224 to pay for Harun's surgery, six-day hospital stay, lab tests, medicine, and surgical supplies. Hardworking and focused both at school and at home, Harun aspires to become a doctor when he grows up. Let's help fund his surgery!