Astania lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has three older brothers and one older sister. Her father works in construction. Her mother normally sells rice in the marketplace, but has stopped in order to care for Astania. Astania was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her severely fatigued. In February of 2016, Astania underwent a procedure to stabilize her heart and allow it to grow larger, so that a complete repair could be attempted later with lower risk. Astania will undergo a second surgery soon to completely fix her heart defect. First, Astania will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 19. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Astania also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Astania's surgical care. "We are so happy," said Astania's mother, "that after this surgery Astania will be a normal healthy child!"

Maria lives with her family in Guatemala. She has two sons and a seven-year-old daughter. Her husband works as an agricultural day laborer, and Maria weaves and manages the household. For four years, Maria has been experiencing seizures. Recently, she began taking medication, which has been largely effective, allowing her to live seizure-free. However, the cause of her seizures is still unknown, and her life remains negatively impacted by her condition. She frequently experiences painful headaches and feels tired. To determine the cause of her seizures, our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, needs additional diagnostic information. Maria is scheduled to undergo testing on January 20. She will receive a full diagnostic work-up, including labs, an MRI, and a consultation to determine the cause of her seizures. Then, our medical partner's team will develop a personalized treatment plan to reduce the frequency and length of her seizures. This will improve Maria's quality of life. While Maria and her husband work hard, they are unable to pay for this expensive diagnostic workup. Wuqu' Kawoq is requesting $1,044 to fund her procedure. "I want to see my children grow up well, and then to see my grandchildren," says Maria.

15-year-old Soe was born with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the lower chambers of his heart that disrupts the circulation of his blood. Since he was born, he has been in and out of hospitals with fevers and fatigue. Soe lives with his parents, younger brother, and younger sister in Burma. His mother takes care of his siblings at home. His father sells roti, an Indian flat bread, from a cart. Because of his symptoms, Soe has had difficulty regularly attending school. He left school after sixth grade. “Soe is very smart, works hard, and always got good grades, but he did not have enough energy to put in the time needed," says Soe's father. Then, in October 2016, Soe developed a very high fever. A clinician examined him and recommended surgery. On January 13, a surgeon will close the hole in Soe's heart. Our medical partner is asking for $1,500 to pay for the procedure, the surgeon's fees, four days of hospital stay, and one day of in-home care. When he recovers, Soe plans to play soccer with his friends and continue his studies, with the aim of becoming a religious leader in his community.

Meet Fabitta, a married farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of four children and is currently pregnant with her fifth child. Fabitta loves spending time with her children and hearing about their days at school. She also enjoys weaving mats and baskets. Fabitta is one month past her estimated due date. As a result of the current position of her baby, doctors consider her pregnancy to be high-risk. With the help of our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, Fabitta will deliver her baby via a C-section on April 17. Fabitta and husband have contributed $7 towards her surgery, but they need help to pay for her remaining $241 medical bill. "It is a great relief to know I will have a safe delivery. I thank the donors for their help," says Fabitta.