Sinath is a sixth grade student from Cambodia. Her favorite subject in school is Khmer, and she hopes to become a police officer when she grows up. When she was five years old, Sinath had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Sinath experiences itchiness and ear discharge. It is difficult for Sinath to focus during class, and she often has trouble focusing at school. Sinath traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 4, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Her mother says, "I hope that my daughter will recover from surgery and be able to hear clearly and will no longer suffer from ongoing infections to her ear."

Eliette is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her husband in Port-au-Prince, and works as a customer representative for an insurance company. Eliette has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis. One of the four valves in her heart is too narrow to allow sufficient blood to pass through, as the result of an infection she suffered several years ago. Eliette will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On May 1, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a balloon at the tip of a catheter to stretch her valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $28,000 to pay for surgery. Eliette'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 Eliette's family overseas. She says, "I would like to thank everyone who is helping to make this life-saving surgery possible for me."

Saw Min is a 34-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, parents-in-law, three daughters, and four sons in a village in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State. Five of his children go to school, while two of his sons are still too young to go to school. Saw Min and his wife work as subsistence farmers growing rice and sesame. Nine months ago, Saw Min broke his left leg. Two days later, Saw Min underwent surgery. Just two days after his surgery, the doctor checked his leg and told him that the metal rod was not helping to heal the fracture. The doctor at Mae Sot Hospital said that he requires internal fixation surgery again. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw Min will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for April 1 and will cost $1,500. Saw Min will be able to walk again after this surgery. Saw Min said, “I will not work as a taxi driver anymore because now I am really afraid of being in an accident. I will work on my farm and work as a day laborer after I recover fully.”

Vandy is a construction worker from Cambodia. He has a brother and two sisters. He likes to listen to music and play volleyball with friends. A few months ago, Vandy started developing pain on his left side. He has difficulty walking and is in chronic pain. Fortunately, Vandy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Vandy of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for May 3, and Vandy needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "After surgery, I hope I can walk normally and without pain anymore."

Christ-Love is a student from Haiti. Christ-Love lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother. She is in the ninth grade and enjoys going to church and helping her mother around the house. Christ-Love has a cardiac condition called severe aortic regurgitation. One of the valves in her heart is severely damaged from a rheumatic fever she suffered as a child, and it cannot adequately pump blood through her body. Two years ago, she had open-heart surgery to replace another valve that was also damaged; at the time, she was too weak to try to replace both valves at the same time, and so now that her heart is stronger after the first surgery, the team can go back to replace the second valve. Christ-Love will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On December 27, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will replace her damaged valve with an artificial implant.. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $24,000 to pay for surgery. Christ-Love'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 Christ-Love's family overseas. She says, "I am glad that I can be almost normal once my second valve is fixed!"

Rathana is a student from Cambodia. He loves action movies and playing soccer. He wants to become a policeman in the future. When Rathana was five years old, he was accidentally burned by boiling water in his home. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his arm and armpit, making it difficult to lift his arm, and limiting his mobility. When Rathana learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On October 3, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him improve the function and mobility in his arm. Now, he needs help to fund this $448 procedure. He says, "I hope I can move my arm normally."

Tin (BB), a 14-month-old girl from Burma, was born with a large teratoma, a tumor, protruding from her groin area. The teratoma is about half her body size. Tin (BB) already had one surgery for her teratoma. However, for her last follow up, the doctor did an ultrasound and found an abnormal mass in her big intestine. At first, the doctor said the tumor was big and too dangerous to operate. However, the doctor injected the tumor, reducing its size. On October 5, Tin (BB) will undergo surgery to remove the tumor. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 to help fund the treatment. Tin (BB)'s mother says, "I am worried for my daughter and I hope that the surgery will be successful and she will grow up well like other children."

Kenia is a 16-year-old student who lives in Haiti with her parents and three brothers. She is in her second year of high school and hopes to study at the university level and ultimately start a business. Kenia was born with a cardiac condition known as ventricular septal defect, and she additionally experiences mitral valve insufficiency. Together, these defects prevent enough oxygen-rich blood from circulating throughout her body, leaving her sickly and short of breath. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to cover the cost of Kenia's air transportation to her surgery's location site. Once there, Kenia will receive the treatment that she needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. "I have been having problems with my heart since I was very young, and so I am excited that I can finally have the chance to get it fixed!" exclaims Kenia.

Three-month-old Jane lives with her parents in a two-room rental house in central Kenya. Her mother works at a salon, while her father is a subsistence farmer. When Jane was born, the doctors noticed that she lacked an anal opening. She has already undergone a colostomy procedure, in which doctors pulled an end of the colon through a cut in the abdominal wall and sutured it in place. The next step in the treatment process is a pull-through procedure—an anorectoplasty. Jane's colostomy opening is prone to infection and blockage. Because of these potential issues, the need for the anorectoplasty is urgent. Jane's parents do not have the funds to make this procedure happen, and they still owe the hospital money for Jane's first procedure. Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), requests $1,327 to pay for the needed operation. Jane's surgery is scheduled for April 28 at AMHF's care center, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital. Jane's mother says, "I am longing for the time Jane will be well, healthy, and thriving with no more hospitalization."

Daphné is a 37-year-old woman from Haiti. She is the mother of two girls and a boy. After reaching the eleventh grade, Daphné left school. In the past, she has worked as a secretary at a seamstress shop and as a waitress, but she is not working at the moment. She enjoys reading and learning new things about all sorts of different topics. While showering, Daphné felt a lump in her left breast. The lump didn’t hurt, so she didn’t pursue medical advice. Two years ago, the lump started to grow, so Daphné went to the hospital. After three hospital visits and a biopsy, Daphné was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer is stigmatized in Haiti, and Daphné’s peers were not very supportive. However, she has managed her condition well. After diagnosis, Daphné started receiving chemotherapy to decrease the number of cancerous cells. After eight sessions of chemotherapy, Daphné will get a mastectomy on April 13. She is excited about this next step and is ready to become healthy again. She will become more independent and will be able to pursue her other interests. Daphné says, "If you only focus on cancer, you will not truly live. Focus on all the positive aspects in your life to continue." Watsi is requesting $1,085 to fund Daphné's mastectomy, hospital stay, and travel.

Meet Eliezer, an eight-year-old boy from the Dominican Republic. Eliezer lives with his grandparents and sister. His father and mother work in a nearby city as a police officer and a house maid. Of all of his second grade classes, Eliezer loves math the most. He hopes to be a math teacher when he grows up. Eliezer was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, meaning there is a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. If untreated, Eliezer’s condition could carry potential life-threatening repercussions, such as heart failure and high blood pressure. Eliezer will eventually need to undergo cardiac surgery to close the hole in his heart. However, before that can take place, he needs to receive a full cardiac assessment, which will include physical exams, lab tests, medications, and an overnight stay at the hospital. For $1,500, we can fund Eliezer’s assessment on February 8, as well as social support for Eliezer and his family during this challenging chapter of their lives. Gift of Life International has also contributed $7,000 to other costs associated with Eliezer’s care. "We are hopeful that after this surgery Eliezer will be able to be a normal boy and able to play with his friends without getting tired,” shares Eliezer’s grandmother.

Meet Peter, a 66-year-old farmer from the Central Region of Malawi. He lives with his wife, and together they have six children and eight grandchildren. Peter loves to sing in his free time. A year ago, he started to experience pain due to an enlarged prostate gland. He has been diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Peter will undergo corrective surgery at Nkhoma Hospital on February 22. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is asking for donations to fund the $733 surgery. Peter is excited to return to his farm after surgery.