Srey Mom is a 29-year-old garment worker who lives with her husband and daughter in Cambodia. When she is not at work, she cares for her young daughter and cooks for her family. On December 19, 2016, Srey Mom was involved in a motorbike accident, resulting in a fractured right tibia (leg bone). She went to a clinic for X-rays. Doctors recommended surgery, but she did not have enough money for treatment. She then went to a Khmer traditional healer, but her symptoms did not improve. Srey Mom cannot walk by herself, and she has been unable to work since the accident. Srey Mom's grandmother learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a tuk-tuk driver. Srey Mom and her grandmother traveled for four hours to reach CSC for evaluation and treatment. On March 31, surgeons at CSC will perform an ORIF—open reduction and internal fixation—to heal Srey Mom's fracture and allow her to walk easily again. Srey Mom needs help raising $411 to pay for the surgery, two weeks of hospital care, X-rays, and physical therapy. Let's help fund surgery for Srey Mom!

Deborah is a newborn who is only three days old. When she was born, her doctors noticed that she had a sac on her lower back. She was diagnosed with spina bifida, a spinal cord malformation. The hospital immediately referred Deborah's mother to our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, for treatment. On January 22, Deborah will undergo a $1,200 spina bifida closure surgery at the medical center. Without this treatment, Deborah is at risk of complications, such as tethered cord syndrome or lower limb paralysis. Deborah's parents cannot afford to pay for the care their daughter needs. They need help to pay her medical bill. "I hope that this treatment will help my child to be healed and she will be happy," says Deborah's mother.

Moh Moh is a 15-year-old girl who lives on the Thai-Burma border. She was born with a lump on her face. As she got older, the lump got bigger. Her parents never sought treatment for her because they knew they could not afford it. Since she was a young girl, Moh Moh has been embarrassed about the lump on her face, but she has never experienced any pain or discomfort. Recently, however, Moh Moh was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At one of their care centers, she was diagnosed with a meningoencephalocele, which is a sac of nervous membrane and fluid protruding from a gap in the skull. Fortunately, Moh Moh is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on December 22. The results of this scan should give her doctors more information and help them develop a personalized treatment plan. Moh Moh's mother says, "I want to keep her near me because she’s the youngest child. I hope she can go back to school next year, but I am glad she dropped out this year because now she has the chance to have the treatment."

Wai Wai is a 48-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother and younger sister. They own a small shop, in which they sell goods made from bamboo. Eight years ago, Wai Wai started to experience pain in her joints. She was diagnosed with rheumatic arthritis. She visited a clinic, where she received injections for the arthritis. After a year of receiving injections, her pain subsided. Wai Wai did not experience any health problems until March, when she began to cough and have difficulty breathing. She grew tired easily, and her joint pain returned. She experienced strong heart palpitations, which sometimes prevented her from sleeping. In May, Wai Wai visited a hospital and underwent a diagnostic echocardiogram. She was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis, a narrowing of the heart's mitral valve. Inflammatory diseases, such as Wai Wai's rheumatic arthritis, can affect the connective tissues of the body, particularly those in the heart. Her doctor recommended surgery, but she she could not afford treatment. She tried using traditional medicines, but her symptoms did not improve. Fortunately, Wai Wai was referred to our medical partner. She is now scheduled to undergo a mitral valve replacement on December 23. Wai Wai hopes to get well soon. She plans to help her sister with their business, and resume her religious activities, including meditation and teaching children about Buddhism. “I’m very happy now," says Wai Wai.

Songra is a 27-year-old food seller who has five sisters. In her free time, she likes to watch Thai movies on TV and chat with her relatives and friends. Songra was born with multiple joint abnormalities, and her knee is severely deformed. She has already undergone several surgeries with our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), including surgery to realign her left leg and a cyst removal from her right thigh. Songra visited CSC again because she was experiencing pain in her hip and right knee. She had difficulty walking on her own. On October 24, Songra underwent orthopedic surgery. Surgeons realigned her bones, allowing her to walk normally and relieving her of pain. For $411, we can fund this important procedure. Songra says, "I hope that I can walk better than before."

Samrach is a 20-year-old boy in 12th grade from Cambodia. He has three brothers and one sister. Samrach enjoys watching TV and reading his books at home. Samrach traveled four hours with his mom to reach Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. Samrach fractured his left forearm in a car accident on February 19th, 2016. He can't use his left hand, and is in a lot of pain. Surgeons at CSC will perform an open reduction internal fixation plate procedure, which realigns his bones, so he can use his arm again. The cost of the surgery will be $411. Samrach's family needs financial assistance to complete payment. After the surgery, his fractured forearm will heal and he will be able to use his left hand again.

Meet Nasazi, a 62-year-old married mother of six from Uganda. After several difficult pregnancies, Nasazi sought care for her pain and discomfort. She has been diagnosed with uterine prolapse - a condition where weakened muscles cannot hold the uterus in place. Nasazi is a peasant but currently she is unable to go to her gardens. This has caused food shortage to her family. Her husband is a peasant too but he is also sick, so he no longer digs. For $280, we can fund a prolapse repair surgery to narrow or close off the vagina from the uterus, providing more support to her uterus. If she's not treated, Nasazi may develop a blood infection or other complications. Nasazi shares, “After surgery I hope to resume digging. Current I have shortage of food because I stopped digging because of sickness.”

Meet Naing, a 42-year-old former soldier in the Burmese army who lost his right leg in combat 15 years ago. He was released from duty and returned to his home in Karen State, Burma. His family consists of his wife and five daughters, and he is a patient with our medical partner, Burma Border Projects. Naing works occasionally doing a variety of odd jobs including weaving bamboo roofs, crafting bamboo products and supporting his family from income from a snack stall at his home. The income is sufficient for the family’s basic expenses but there isn’t enough for savings or health care. Naing began to experience pain some months ago. He was diagnosed with a bladder stone and Watsi and other entities supported surgery to remove the stone. However, at that time he was also diagnosed with kidney stones which now require further surgery. $1,500 funds surgery that will remove Naing's kidney stones. The cost of the treatment includes surgery and a post-operative visit. Let's help Naing get back to normal and fund this treatment.

This is Felix, a two-month-old boy from Kenya. At birth, Felix was diagnosed with spina bifida. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us this condition causes "a mass swelling on the lower backbone area. If he is not treated, Felix is at a risk of developing a tethered cord that can lead to scolisis or kyphosis." Felix's father is a construction site laborer often depending on availability of work while his mother used to be a casual laborer washing clothes for pay but since she delivered Felix, she has not been able to work. With these financial restraints, Felix's family struggles to afford the treatment Felix requires for his congenital spina bifida. With $805, a surgeon will perform a procedure where a shunt will be implanted in his abdomen, allowing fluid to be drained from Felix's body with little to no harm. The funds will also cover medications as well as physical and behavioral therapy. After this surgery, AMHF asserts that "Felix will have reduced risk of infection, developing tethered cord, or paralysis on his lower limbs." Felix's mother shares, "I want my child to be well and lead a comfortable life." With our help, Felix will receive the treatment that he needs to get healthy.

Two years ago, Joshua’s mother noticed that Joshua’s legs had gradually begun bowing, and that Joshua couldn’t keep up with the other kids. Joshua’s feet eventually became so weak that he could no longer stand up. Four-year-old Joshua was diagnosed with severe fluorosis, a limb deformity that prevents his feet from supporting the weight of his body. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, says, “If not treated, Joshua will never be able to walk.” Joshua is an active boy from Tanzania who one day hopes to be able to run around and kick a ball. However, because Tanzania has one of the most under resourced and overburdened healthcare systems in the world, he has been unable to receive full treatment. Joshua’s mother is a small scale farmer, and his father is employed at a small kiosk selling spare bicycle parts. They have exhausted their savings on Joshua’s treatment so far, and can no longer cover the cost of the operation Joshua needs. $940 will cover the cost of Joshua’s operation, which will be conducted at Arusha Lutheran Christian Medical Centre. After the operation, Joshua will have straight legs and gain the ability to walk. “All I hope for is my son to be able to walk,” shares Joshua’s mother.

"I am hoping that I will be able to have surgery, so that I can run and play soccer like my friends," Jean Wilson tells our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). Jean Wilson is a studious 16-year-old who was born with tetralogy of fallot, a heart condition that causes a hole to form between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage to form over one of the valves. As a result, Jean Wilson is chronically short of breath and his body is not able to absorb oxygen as easily as it could if his heart were healthy. "Because he has lived so long with this condition, there is a chance it may no longer be repairable, but the only way to determine this is by inserting a catheter into the chambers of his heart," HCA says. "Since this is not possible in Haiti, arrangements are being made to bring him to the Dominican Republic to perform this extremely important test in the hopes that he can have heart surgery later in the year." For $1500, Jean Wilson will be transported to the Dominican Republic for the catheterization procedure that will determine the operability of his congenital heart defect. If Jean Wilson is a good candidate for surgery, he will then undergo the operation so that he can regain his health and fulfill his dreams of becoming an engineer.

Meet three-year-old Moise. Moise is a shy little boy who lives in Haiti with his mother, father, and two older brothers. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), shares: "Moise is very close to his family and likes to help them around the house and in the garden." His parents make a living for the family growing and selling fruit in a local market. "Moise was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart,” shares HCA. “Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and sickly. If untreated, the condition could eventually become fatal.” For $1500, Moise will be transported overseas where he will receive heart surgery. Gift of Life International has contributed $5,000 toward his treatment cost. This surgery will restore normal blood flow to his heart, relieving him of all symptoms. "We are so very happy that Moise can get his heart fixed so that we no longer have to worry so much about his health," his mother adds.