Three month old Keziah lives with her parents and two older siblings in Kenya. Her father, who works as an artist, is the sole breadwinner for the family. Keziah was born with open spina bifida and bilateral club feet. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect, in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. While she has undergone some therapy for her condition, without additional treatment, Keziah is at risk of lower limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Keziah's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 5th at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. This surgery will hopefully spare Keziah from the risks associated with her condition, allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Keziah's father says: “She is a jovial kid. We are sad that she is unwell. I hope that she is treated, and she can walk in the future.”

Abnet, a precious 9-month-old baby girl from Ethiopia, has captured our hearts with her beauty and spirit. She is the only child of her young 20-year-old parents. Her father works alongside his own father as a coffee farmer, while her mother lovingly tends to their home. Despite not having had the opportunity for formal education, they pour their efforts into providing for their family through the limited farming they do, though it yields barely enough to sustain them. From the very beginning, Abnet's parents demonstrated their determination to seek medical care for their daughter, even in the face of financial challenges. Abnet was born with a congenital anorectal malformation, a condition that disrupts bowel function due to a partial or complete blockage of the intestines. In order to alleviate her suffering and restore her health, she must undergo a series of intricate procedures. Their family initially went to a government hospital, where they were referred to another medical facility. Sadly, their hopes were dashed as they were asked to return two years later. Recognizing the worsening state of Abnet's health, they reached out to a local social worker, sharing their child's condition. Fortunately, the social worker was able to introduce them to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Abnet underwent a thorough evaluation leading to a recommendation for the necessary surgery. Abnet is now scheduled for surgery on August 15th. AMH is requesting $1500 to help fund her procedure. Following her successful recovery, Abnet will be a healthy little girl, able to resume normal activities. Abnet's mother shared, "When we first learned of our daughter's condition, a sense of worry and helplessness engulfed us. The path forward seemed uncertain and daunting. Despite the challenges we faced, we relentlessly pursued treatment for our beloved child. Though previous avenues turned us away, the administrative office introduced us to this lifeline of support. We embraced it with hope, and it has brought us to this moment, filled with gratitude and anticipation."

Eh Sha is an 8-year-old living in a refugee camp in Thailand with her parents and other relatives. Eh Sha's mother is a midwife and her father is a medic at the camp hospital. Eh Sha is a primary school student. During her free time, she enjoys drawing, singing, and learning to play piano. When she was four, Eh Sha had a high fever and a sore throat. Although the fever subsided, her tonsils remained inflamed, causing her to experience occasional bouts of tonsillitis every three or four months. On September 17th, Eh began experiencing fever and sore throat. The doctor at Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) diagnosed her with chronic bilateral tonsilitis and tonsil enlargement. The doctor wants to perform a tonsillectomy, a procedure to remove her tonsils, and scheduled the surgery for October 30th. Currently, Eh Sha has a sore throat and difficulty swallowing, accompanied by fever and joint pain. The surgery will help relieve her pain and discomfort. Eh Sha's mother has big dreams for her future, saying, "I want her to become a healthcare worker who can not only take care of her own health but that of her family and others too."

Steeve is a 14-month-old toddler from Haiti. He is an only child and loved deeply by his mom and dad. Steeve 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, Steeve has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Steeve will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Steeve at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on September 19. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Steeve's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Steeve will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Steeve's family is hoping that the surgery will stop the progression of brain damage from hydrocephalus. They are looking forward to watching their toddler grow older and are hopeful for healthier days ahead.

Jorge is a 13-year-old boy who lives in Bolivia. He is in seventh grade and likes to study art and psychology. Jorge was born with a congenital heart defect called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and unable to exert himself. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, can help heal his condition. Jorge is scheduled for surgery on September 11. He will need to fly from his hometown to another city in Bolivia for the treatment. During the surgery, doctors will sew a patch over the hole in Jorge's heart to close it and prevent the blood from leaking. Jorge's family needs your help raising $1,500 to fund his cardiac treatment. He hopes that after the surgery he will be able to have a more active life. Jorge said: "I am hopeful that after this surgery I will start getting stronger and will be able to play soccer."

Khin is 28-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two children, parents in-law, a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law in a village in Karen State. Khin, his parents, and his sister-in-law are subsistence farmers, while his daughter and brother-in-law are students. His son is too young to enroll in school. They also raise chickens and pigs for their own consumption, forage for vegetables and go fishing. To pay school fees, Khin sometimes is able to get work as a day labourer. On July 10th, Khin was picking dog fruit when suddenly the branch he was standing on broke. He fell out of the tree on to a wooden dwelling and broke his spine. With the help of Watsi donors, he received a CT scan of his back which showed that he had indeed fractured his spine, and he was told that he would need to undergo surgery to heal. He is in pain, and he cannot walk. With the help of our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BMC), Khin will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for July 19th and Khin needs help raising $1,500 to fund the surgery. This procedure will help him walk again. Khin shared, "I am not scared to receive surgery because I know I need to undergo it to recover."

Woodyson is a young student from Haiti. Woodyson lives with his mother and older siblings in central Haiti's rural, mountainous area. He is in the tenth grade and would like to become a teacher. Woodyson has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. Woodyson underwent surgery six years ago to replace his aortic valve and repair his mitral valve due to a rheumatic fever that severely damaged his heart. Although his repaired mitral valve served him well for six years, he now needs to have his mitral valve replaced with an artificial implant. The surgery he needs is not possible in Haiti, so Woodyson will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On July 7th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove Woodyson's damaged valve and implant an artificial mechanical valve. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital is contributing $20,000 to pay for his surgery. Woodyson's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep, travel, and followup. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Woodyson overseas. Woodyson shared: "I am excited to be able to have this surgery so that I can feel completely normal and healthy again."

Pendo is a 2-week-old baby girl from Tanzania. Pendo is part of a large family of one father, two mothers, and 19 children. Pendo's mother joyfully welcomed her ninth child. Pendo and her family are from western Tanzania and farm rice, maize, and ground nuts on a small scale. The family consumes the harvest and sells some of the surplus to pay some home bills. It is a challenge financially to provide for a large family with small-scale farming. Pendo has clubfoot on her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and wearing shoes. Fortunately, Pendo's mother traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Pendo's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Pendo’s mother says, “I wish my daughter gets better like her older sibling[s] and grows up to have a good life ahead.”

Alisa is two weeks old and the firstborn in her family. She lives with her parents- who are overjoyed to welcome her into the world- in Tanzania, where her father works at Asante Rabi Express, while her mother sells harvested crops at a local shop. Alisa's mother noticed that her left leg appeared different from her right leg. Concerned about this, she sought advice from the doctor at the hospital. The doctor diagnosed Alisa with clubfoot, a very treatable condition. Alisa’s treatment involves a series of casts that will be changed every few weeks. The casts are designed to gradually shift her foot into the correct position. After the casting, she is going to have tenotomy surgery on her left foot, a minor procedure that will release the Achilles tendon. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $935 to fund Alisa's clubfoot repair surgery, which is scheduled for April 21st at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. As a result of her treatment, Alisa will be able to wear shoes and walk without feeling any discomfort. Alisa’s mother said: “The warm welcome made us feel safe and gave us hope that our daughter will be okay.”