Mousanto is a baby from Haiti. He lives with his mother and father in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. He is their first child. Mousanto has a cardiac condition called abnormal origin of the right pulmonary artery. One of the two arteries that connects Mousanto's heart to his lungs is malformed and does not properly circulate blood. As a result, his body cannot obtain the oxygen it needs. In order to understand exactly what is wrong with the artery and how best to fix it, a diagnostic catheterization is required. To determine if Mousanto's condition is operable, he must undergo a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, a procedure that is not available in Haiti. During the procedure, a catheter probe will be inserted into his heart to perform the necessary measurements and tests. On August 21, he will travel to the Dominican Republic to receive the scan at our medical partner's care center, Clinica Corominas. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to cover the costs of Mousanto's travel expenses, catheterization procedure, and lab work. His mother says, "We are very thankful to everyone who is helping our son become healthy."

Dorcus is a student from Tanzania. She is the oldest child in a family of two children. Her father is a subsistence farmer, while her mother is a parish worker. Recently, Dorcus has been experiencing trouble breathing and eating and regular sleep apnea. She was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Dorcus, which is scheduled to take place on June 28. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Dorcus of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Dorcus’s father says, “I want my daughter to be able to go to school without being sick regularly.”

Chikaima is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife and their six children. Chikaima spends his days caring for his land and his goats, and in his free time he likes to attend his local church and worship with his family and friends. Since July 2017, Chikaima has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Chikaima's surgery. On June 5, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Chikaima was thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded, and he is looking forward to working again and no longer suffering with the symptoms associated with his condition. He says, "Thank you, Watsi."

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."

Blee is 45 years old and lives with her husband, three sons, and one daughter in Karen State, Burma. The whole family, except the youngest daughter, works on their farm, planting rice and raising chickens, pigs, and goats. About a year ago, Blee visited the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a goiter. She was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for a assistance in receiving treatment. Since she learned she has a goiter, Blee has been very worried that her family might have to spend a lot of time caring for her instead of working. Fortunately, she is now scheduled for thyroid surgery on March 19. Her family needs help raising $1,500 to fund the procedure. She says, "I enjoy collecting vegetables in the forest and beside plantations. I hope to get healthy soon again in order to help on my family’s farm again."

Wadson is a student from Haiti. He lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince with his parents and younger sister. He is taking the year off of university because of his illness, but hopes to continue studying to become an engineer. Wadson has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart does not function properly because it was severely damaged by a rheumatic fever he suffered several years ago. As a result, his heart cannot adequately circulate blood through his body, and he is weak and in heart failure. Wadson will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 27, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will repair his valve so that it opens and closes more normally. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $60,000 to pay for surgery. Wadson'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 Wadson's family overseas. He says, "I am very excited to regain my health so that I can continue my studies later this year."

Mirriam is a baby from Kenya. Her father is a motorcycle taxi operator, while her mother practices small-scale farming. The family is from a small village in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. Mirriam has been diagnosed with encephalocoele, a type of neural tube defect in which brain tissues and overlying membranes protrude through openings in the skull. Encephalocoele usually results from a failure of the neural tube to completely close during fetal development. Without treatment, Mirriam is at risk of developmental delays, brain damage, or premature death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $929 to fund encephalocoele repair surgery for Mirriam. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 26. Hopefully, the repair of this condition will allow Mirriam to grow up healthy.

“We have already seen great improvement in our son’s condition,” shares Derrick’s mother. “Derrick has healed from the surgery on his left foot. What we are asking for now is your help in treating his right foot so that he can walk normally one day.” Five-year-old Derrick is a lively and playful boy from Kenya. The third and youngest child in the family, he is only a nursery school pupil, but already loves to read. Derrick was born with genu varus, or bowleggedness, in both limbs. This seriously affects his gait. Although normal in very young children, Derrick’s condition has now persisted long enough that it needs surgical intervention. With Watsi’s help, he successfully underwent [an operation to correct his left leg](https://watsi.org/profile/622139a16f73-derrick), and now needs to undergo the same procedure on his right. Just as they needed financial assistance for his first operation, Derrick’s parents need your help again with this one. His father, a fisherman, is the family’s sole breadwinner, and his income is reliant on the seasons and weather. The family lives in a small grass thatched house. For $1,165 we can sponsor Derrick’s second surgery on January 15. This sum will also cover the costs of his lab tests, medications, and five-day hospital stay. “Thank you for your support,” says Derrick’s mother.

Collins is a 23-month-old boy from Kenya. He lives with his parents in a one-room house in the suburbs of Nairobi. Collins' mother looks after him while his father sells bedding in an open air market. Collins has been diagnosed with hypospadias, a congenital disorder of the urethra where the urinary opening is not at its usual location. If not treated, Collins is at risk of developing urinary tract infections and of being unable to pass urine while standing like other boys. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700, in addition to the $52 subsidized by Collins' family, in order to fund hypospadius repair for Collins. The surgery is scheduled to take place on July 3 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Collins to live comfortably and confidently. Collins’ father says, “My prayer is that Collins gets treated and leads a normal life. I am afraid that this would stigmatize him if he goes untreated and he will definitely blame us.”

Alexandra is a 20-year-old young woman from Haiti. She lives with her mother and older sister in Port-au-Prince. Alexandra has finished high school and is looking forward to attending college after resolving her heart condition. She hopes to attain a degree in business. About six years ago, Alexandra had rheumatic fever, which caused damage to her mitral valve, causing blood to back up into her heart and not properly circulate through her body. On August 18, Alexandra will be flown to the Dominican Republic, where she will be treated at our medical partner's care center, Hospital Pediatrico Robert Reid Cabral. Heart Care Dominican has contributed $8,000 towards Alexandra's care. Her 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 her family overseas. "I am excited to have my heart surgery so I can have the energy to go back to school!" says Alexandra.

Marie-Guerda is a 39-year-old woman who is the mother of two girls. Marie-Guerda lives with her husband and children in the southern province of Haiti. She used to be a kindergarten teacher, but she isn’t currently working. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After four sessions of chemotherapy, a treatment that decreases cancerous cells, Marie-Guerda will have a mastectomy. She is relieved that she will have surgery soon, for she wants to regain her independence and return to work. She wants to be able to take care of her children and be fully present in their lives as they grow up. Marie-Guerda will have her operation on July 28. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is requesting $1,285 to fund this operation to remove the malignant tumor in Marie-Guerda's breast.

Naw is a 14-year-old girl from Burma with cerebral palsy. She lives at the Bible School. Naw is able to sit independently and is able to use her left upper limb for functional tasks, but she has some impairment in her right upper limb. To move around her environment, she must be lifted. She is also dependent for all self-care tasks. To help with her mobility, Naw was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), through Stepping Stones, a physiotherapy support service. She needs Achilles tendon lengthening surgery. This procedure will help alleviate the tightening in her calves, giving her more independent movement. On May 4, Naw will undergo surgery at Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital, BCMF's care center. BCMF is asking for $1,500 to cover the cost of her surgery. After treatment, Naw will be able to move around more easily!