Brandon is a five-month-old baby from Kenya. He is a happy child and always smiles when playing with his mother. Brandon and his mother live with his grandparents. For three weeks, Brandon has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia may result in intestinal tissue twisting and blocking if not treated. Fortunately, on February 8, he will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Brandon's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “We had given up when the amount required was quoted. We really hope Brandon can get treated despite lack of funds,” says Brandon’s mother.

Benjie is a one-year-old boy living in a wood and cement house with his parents. He has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 22. Benjie will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. His mother says, "My dream for Benjie is for him to become a pastor and to finish his studies."

Biraj is a three-year-old boy from Nepal. He lives with his parents and siblings on their small farm. His father runs a furniture shop. About three months ago, Biraj began to experience pain on the right side of his abdomen. It is very uncomfortable for him to walk or lift anything. Biraj and his father traveled four hours to reach our medical partner's care center, Bayalpata Hospital. "I am worried about Biraj's life, that in his early age he suffered from a hernia," Biraj's father says. Fortunately, Biraj is scheduled to receive treatment on March 29. Our medical partner, Possible, is requesting $451 to cover the cost of the operation. After surgery, Biraj will be able to walk and lift things normally again.

Teresa lives with her family in Guatemala’s rural highlands. She is 19 months old and has malnutrition, which results from a diet that doesn't contain enough nutrients and calories. Both of her parents work growing blackberries near their home. Unfortunately, they cannot afford the nutrient-rich diet Teresa needs. Malnutrition can lead to stunted growth and a weakened immune system. If malnutrition is not corrected, it increases a child's risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, malnutrition is very treatable. On February 9, Teresa will begin to receive growth monitoring and food supplements. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. The family needs $437 to fund this intervention. Teresa’s mother says, “I am grateful and happy for the help being given to us.”

Savan is a 34-year-old miner who is married and has two sons and one daughter. He likes to watch TV and go on Facebook in his free time. In August, Savan fell in a gold mine and fractured his left forearm. He went to a Khmer traditional healer for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. It became difficult for Savan to use his arm, and he was in pain. When Savan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On December 27, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure to heal Savan's fracture and allow him to work again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure.

Saitoti is an eight-day-old infant from a family of five children in Tanzania. His father passed away last year, and his mother lives alone with the children. Shortly after Saitoti's birth, his mother noticed that something was wrong and took him to our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. He was diagnosed with spina bifida, a defect in which the spinal cord is exposed through a gap in the backbone. If left untreated, Saitoti is at risk of acquiring infections and paralysis of the lower limbs. Fortunately, his repair surgery is scheduled for January 16. Saitoti's mother is currently unemployed and is therefore unable to pay for the surgery. For this reason, our medical partner is requesting $1,200 to fund the treatment. "I hope that my child will be able to grow like other children and go to school," Saitoti's mother says.

Lazaro is a one-month-old boy. He is the second child in his family. The family lives in Tanzania, where his parents raise livestock. When he was born, his mother noticed that his feet were turned inwards. His family took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed him with congenital talipes equinovarus, more commonly known as bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a musculoskeletal malformation present from birth, in which one or both feet bend inward due to shortened tendons. If left untreated, this condition will make walking quite difficult for Lazaro throughout his life. Fortunately, Lazaro will undergo corrective surgery on January 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1160 to fund Lazaro's care. "I hope that my child will be treated and then be able to straighten his legs," says Lazaro's mother.

Naw Blu is a one-month-old baby girl who lives in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her parents moved to the camp from Burma to escape civil war and raise a family. In addition to her parents, Naw Blu also has three older sisters. One week after Naw Blu was born, her mother noticed that her left leg wasn't moving. X-ray results did not show any bone abnormalities. On December 16, Naw Blu will undergo a CT scan, which will help her doctors diagnose the problem. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, is requesting $414 to fund the scan. Over the past year, life in the refugee camp has grown more difficult, due to reduced food rations and fewer community workers. Jobs within the camp have become scarce. Despite these challenges, Naw Blu's mother is optimistic about the future. She will do whatever it takes to ensure the wellbeing of her children. She says, “I want my daughter to finish school, and after that she can do whatever she wants.”

Marlon is a three-month-old boy from Guatemala. His mother is having trouble producing breastmilk. For this reason, Marlon is not receiving adequate amounts of protein, calories, or nutrients. When he cries from hunger, his mother gives him sugar water or asks neighbors to breastfeed him. Without adequate nutrition, Marlon is at risk of developmental delays. Fortunately, he began nutritional treatment on December 22. Marlon lives with his family in a one-room adobe house. His father works as a day laborer, harvesting crops on a local plantation. His mother takes care of Marlon and his sisters and weaves traditional Mayan textiles. Despite wanting the best for their son, Marlon's parents cannot afford the expensive formula he needs. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,107 to fund his treatment. Marlon's treatment will be simple and effective. He will receive formula, which will give him the protein, calories, and nutrients he needs to grow and develop. His mother will receive in-home nutrition education, so she will learn low-cost ways to prevent future cases of malnutrition. Marlon's immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby.

Chanthy is an 18-year-old ice cream seller who has three older sisters and three older brothers. She likes to talk with friends, do housework, and watch TV. Chanthy developed a cholesteatoma, or a skin growth, in her left ear when she was 16 years old. Since then, it caused her ear discharge and hearing loss. She visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), in November, where doctors gave her ear drops to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. Then, on December 19, ENT surgeons at CSC performed a mastoidectomy in Chanthy's left ear. After recovery, her symptoms will cease, and her hearing will improve. CSC is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I can go to work as normal after I heal," says Chanthy.

Eight year-old Gerald lives with his grandparents in Uganda. Both of his parents passed away when he was one year old. Gerald has had a hernia for more than half his life -- six years. When he was smaller it wasn’t too bad, but recently it has been causing him more and more pain and making it difficult to do his daily activities. Gerald is not in school yet, but his grandparents hopes to save enough money to pay his school fees. When he is not in pain, Gerald enjoys playing soccer and helping his grandmother by fetching water and washing the dishes. His favorite foods are “matoke” (cooked bananas) and beans. $208 will fund the hernia repair surgery that Gerald needs to recover and avoid long-term complications. Gerald’s grandmother would like to say thanks to all the donors helping with Gerald’s surgery. “With five children at home it is expensive to take care of them all," she shared. "We didn’t have the money for surgery. This is a blessing.”

Meet Damaris, a newborn baby girl from Kenya. Damaris suffers form a condition called hydrocephalus - a condition that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the head exerting excessive pressure on the brain. Damaris’ mother had four children when she was expecting her. She knew she would probably deliver Damaris at home, all on her own, since they lived in a one-room house in a very remote area in Kenya. The nearest hospital was quite far and the roads that would take them there were terrible. She had similar experiences with her four other children and it was also common for other women in her community to give birth at home. The time came for Damaris to be born, but something was wrong. She experienced prolonged labor and the pain was unbearable, even for child birth. Damaris’ mother sought help and her neighbors rushed to assist to take her to the nearest hospital. Baby Damaris was born on the way to the hospital and was admitted immediately upon arrival. She had an abnormally sized head and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Damaris’ mother was advised that Damaris needed specialized treatment to treat her condition and referred her to Bethany Kids Children’s Center at Kijabe Hospital, a Watsi partner. Damaris required a shunt to be surgically inserted into her head to drain the extra cerebral spinal fluid. Unfortunately, they lack the funds to pay for Damaris’ surgery. Damaris’ mother sells firewood for a living and Damaris’ father is unable to work due to mental illness. The responsibility of being the sole breadwinner of a family of 5 children and the additional burden of caring for a sick child hasn’t dampened the spirit of Damaris’ mother, and she continues to hope that they will receive help. “Life is sincerely hard and no matter what I did I would not raise any amount close to what is required," Damaris' mother shared. "Nothing I own can amount to the required funds. Please help my daughter get this treatment."