Rajabu is a 23-month-old boy and is one of five siblings. Early in his life, Rajabu's mother noticed that his stomach was increasing in size and that he was experiencing excretory dysfunction. She brought him to our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, to be examined. She learned that the end of Rajabu's digestive tract did not form properly. Doctors first performed a colostomy to provide temporary relief of his symptoms. The next corrective procedure Rajabu needs to undergo is a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). Surgeons will reposition the end of his digestive tract, allowing proper function of the digestive system. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund Rajabu's PSARP surgery on January 9. Rajabu's parents are nervous about his upcoming surgery, but they are hopeful. "I hope that my child is able to grow up like other children after surgery," says Rajabu's mother.

Bickton is a 51-year-old man from a small village in Malawi. He and his wife have eight children, and they own a small maize farm. Bickton stays busy tending his crops and building on his property. In his free time, he likes chatting with his friends and spending time with his five grandchildren. Three years ago, Bickton developed a painful hernia that has hindered his ability to farm. Recently, he visited our medical partner's hospital, Nkhoma Hospital. On December 22, he underwent a hernia repair surgery. He needs help to fund this $327 procedure. Bickton's family is very happy that he is finally able to get surgery. He looks forward to returning to his family and his farm. "I am looking forward to being free from pain," says Bickton. "I am very thankful to Nkhoma Hospital partners and Watsi for helping me."

Chivlay is 74 years old and married. He likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and join ceremonies at the pagoda. Four months ago, Chivlay developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere by himself. When Chivlay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 21, doctors performed small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Chivlay will be able to see clearly again. Now, he needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope that I can see more clearly," he says, "so that I can easily go to the pagoda and other places by myself. I don't want to bother others to take care of me."

Two-month-old Kibet lives with his parents and older brother in a two-room house in Kenya. At birth, Kibet was diagnosed with spina bifida—a birth defect in which several vertebrae in the lower back do not close properly, leaving the baby’s spinal canal exposed. The spinal cord and its surrounding membranes protrude through the opening in the backbone, forming a sac on the baby’s lower back. Kibet underwent an operation to close the open lesion on his spine when he was only one week old. Kibet's parents were happy that their son was treated in time to prevent serious complications, but they were saddened by the fast growth of Kibet’s head—a result that they had been told was likely to occur. They immediately took him to a hospital to seek for further assistance. There, Kibet was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an accumulation of fluid in the brain. Too much fluid can increase pressure on the brain and inside the skull, leading to an enlarged head. Kibet needs to undergo surgery immediately to place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from his brain and transport it to his abdomen, where it can be resorbed by the body. The procedure will prevent further enlargement of his head and the effects that come with it, such as delayed developmental milestones and brainstem compression. Kibet's parents have exhausted the little savings they had to pay for his spina bifida treatment and are not able to raise the funds required for the operation he now needs. Kibet’s father, who studied engineering in school, has not been able to land a job in his field. He currently earns his income from casual tasks at construction sites while Kibet's mother stays at home. “I feel so drained and have no one to look to," shares Kibet's father. "I will appreciate if I get help of any sort to effect my son’s treatment." $685 pays for Kibet's surgery as well as five days of hospital care, imaging, lab tests, and medicine. Let's help fund surgery for Kibet!

“I am unable to lift heavy items because of pain," shares 34-year-old Tumuranze from Uganda. Three years ago, Tumuranze developed back pain while carrying timber. He later got a swelling in his right scrotal area. Due to pain, he is unable to lift heavy items and feels uncomfortable when walking because of the big swelling. Two years ago, after visiting a hospital, he was given treatment for a hydrocele, the backup of fluid around the testicle, but did not get any relief. He did not go back to the hospital because he is unable to pay for his treatment. Tumuranze, who separated from his wife before they had any children, went to school up to senior three and dropped out because of lack of school fees. He currently does carpentry work. His income depends on the availability of work. He is most happy when he is with friends and he likes animals, mostly cows. $185 will fund his hydrocele repair, which will correct the swelling of the scrotum. After surgery is completed, Tumuranze hopes to continue with his carpentry work.

This is Sinet, the last-born in a family with three children. Sinet’s mother is a housewife while her father is a pastoralist. The family lives in a traditional hut in the North Eastern region of Kenya. Sinet was born with a swell on her abdomen and as she grew, so did the swelling. In normal circumstances, the swell disappears as the baby grows older. However, Sinet's did not disappear. Sinet's parents tried to treat her with traditional herbs, but that did not reduce the swell and instead, it got bigger. Sinet and her family came to Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital for specialized treatment, and they were told Sinet's umbilical hernia would need surgery. However, the umbilical hernia repair comes at a cost that Sinet's parents cannot afford. If it remains untreated, Sinet may suffer intestinal incarceration, obstruction, and/or strangulation. With $430, Sinet will receive the medical attention she needs and hospital respite to recover smoothly. Sinet's mother shares with us, "I have never known life to be easy and to acquire anything we have has been a real struggle. I knew this too wouldn’t be easy after trying traditional treatment with no results. I am hoping I will get help in this hospital and perhaps educate my fellow villagers about the importance of modern medicine compared to the traditional way." Our support will help Sinet develop into a healthy, young girl.

When she was in primary school in Kenya, Esther sustained an injury to her right ear while playing. Due to her family's inability to afford hospital care, she received traditional medicinal treatment. However, after enrolling in high school in 2006 Esther began to notice a hearing problem. Now, as a 26-year-old recent university graduate, Esther is not able to perceive sound with her right ear. Between 2006 and 2009 Esther visited different hospitals with no clear diagnosis of her condition. Luckily, in 2015 she was referred to a national hospital where she was diagnosed and hearing aids were prescribed. However, Esther cannot afford to purchase the hearing aids. Esther is the second-born child in a family of three children. She and her two brothers have been raised by a single mother who earns a living as a fruit vendor. Esther's eldest brother is a casual laborer, as he could not proceed with his education after high school due to lack of school fees. Esther was lucky to have a sponsor who has supported her education from high school through to university. She completed her degree in commerce in April 2016 but has yet to secure a job. Esther's aim in life is to support her mother and brothers, as they have had a long struggle in life. Due to her hearing condition, Esther has had problems fully engaging in conversations. People are sometimes offended when she has to keep asking them to repeat what they are saying. If not treated, Esther will continue having problems with her hearing and this may continue to affect her social relations. Her progress at work and in life will be limited because of the condition. Esther was recently referred by a friend to Watsi's medical partner, where hearing aids were once again recommended. Her family requires financial assistance to cover the $712 cost of the hearing aids. Let's help Esther purchase the hearing aids she needs so she can find a job and accomplish her goals. "My wish is to be able to access the hearing aids and be able to lead a more productive life and give back to the society," says Esther.

Nathaniel is a 47-year-old man who lives with his wife and two children a three-room house in Kenya. He worked as a driver until he was injured in an accident in 2014. As a result of his injury, Nathaniel has an infection—known as osteomyelitis—of his lower right leg bone. Typical symptoms of osteomyelitis include recurring pain, redness, swelling, and bone loss. Nathaniel has been to different facilities for treatment; he has even had previous surgeries in our facility. He now needs bone transport surgery to regenerate the bone that he has lost as a result of the infection. Without treatment, Nathaniel will not be able to walk well again. He may also develop a severe infection, which may lead to amputation of his leg. During bone transport surgery, an orthopedic surgeon breaks the involved bone and attaches the bone fragments to an external fixation device. As the fracture begins to heal, the external fixator is adjusted to pull the healing fracture apart approximately one millimeter per day. Separating the fragments in this manner promotes bone growth and results in the restoration of the lost bone over time. Nathaniel has not been able to work since his accident and has to rely on his wife to provide for the family by selling second-hand clothes. His children, who are in college, have to get government bursaries to pay their school fees. The family's financial situation leaves them unable to raise the full amount of money needed for Nathaniel's surgery. He thus appeals for financial support. For $1,500, Nathaniel will undergo bone transport surgery and receive 12 days of hospital care, antibiotic therapy, and physical therapy. “I want to be well and provide for my family," shares Nathaniel. "I would like to relieve my wife of the burden of providing for the family alone."

Meet Zury, a 9-month-old baby girl from Guatemala and a patient with our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq. Zury is acutely malnourished. She is far too small for her size, all because she has not had the diverse and nutritious diet she needs to grow. Her malnutrition is not only affecting her growth, but also impeding her mental development and weakening her immune system. For her, even a simple fever, cough, or case of diarrhea can be life-threatening since her immune system has grown so weak. Without treatment, she is likely to face permanent problems such as low IQ, chronic disease, and low earning potential as an adult, making it likely that she will pass this condition on to future generations. Zury is the only child to two loving parents. She lives with them in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof in a rural mountainous community of Guatemala. Her mother works taking care of her, cooking, and cleaning, while her father works as an helper to a bricklayer. Although they work hard, they do not have the resources to give Zury even one egg, fruit, or vegetable per day, making it impossible for her to overcome her malnutrition without Watsi donor support. $512 funds a multifaceted treatment for Zury including growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and deworming medication. The treatment will help Zury recover from malnutrition--saving her life now and putting her on track to live a better life in the future. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. Her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake, preventing her from having any more life-threatening situations with diarrhea, fevers, and cough. This will further increase her appetite and help her use the extra calories to develop mentally instead of those calories being wasted on getting over frequent illnesses. Her mother will receive the support she needs to give Zury the diet she needs to grow and develop healthily. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Zury the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made her sick in the first place. In her mother's words, "I dream that my daughter will be a good student, but in order to do that she needs to grow."

Krouss is a four-year-old boy from Haiti who was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis. One of the valves of his heart is too small to allow blood to adequately pass through. As a result, oxygen does not reach his body in sufficient quantities, leaving him sickly and weak. Krouss needs surgery to ensure he can grow up healthy, and without further complications from his heart condition. Surgeons will insert a balloon inside the valve and inflate it to stretch the valve open. Depending on the result, he may or may not then need an open-heart procedure. The treatment will cost $6,500, however Health City Cayman Islands has subsidized part of the treatment. Through Watsi, $1,500 will cover the cost of overseas preparation and transportation for Krouss and one parent as the surgery will be performed in the Cayman Islands. Krouss lives with his mother and father, and he is their first child. His father is a security guard and his mother sells goods in the local market. He is a very intelligent boy and has already learned to read, and is looking forward to starting school next year. "I am most excited about getting to go on a plane ride," Krouss shared excitedly.

Meet Lokesh, a 12-year-old boy from Nepal who is in fourth grade and enjoys reading stories. "Lokesh was picking fruits from a tree when he fell down," our medical partner, Possible, reports. He sustained a fracture in his left hand, which is still considerably swollen and looks slightly deformed. His parents are farmers and lack the resources to fully fund Lokesh's treatment. For $224, Lokesh will receive orthopedic surgery to correct the alignment of his hand. Starting on day three and lasting until Lokesh is healed, a community health leader will visit his home to check for complications. At home, Lokesh is in charge of caring for his little brother and tending to the nearby grazing cattle while his parents work. When he's not watching over his brother and the cattle, Lokesh enjoys playing kabaddi, a traditional contact game that originated in India, with his friends. Though his family is looking forward to Lokesh receiving treatment, he is a little nervous. "I'm scared about my treatment," Lokesh tells us. "I'm worried it will hurt."

Seven-year-old Elia lives in Tanzania with his parents and seven siblings. "He very much enjoys playing football even though he cannot run very quickly," says our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). That is because Elia was born with congenital bilateral clubfoot, which caused both of his feet to grow inward and with very high arches. Elia has done his best to live a normal childhood despite having this condition. "He started class one, but he had to quit school because it was difficult for him to walk the long distance to school," says AMHF. If not properly treated, Elia will continue to have difficulty walking and he will also be at risk of developing early osteoarthritis. "Due to the severity of his condition, doctors saw it was best for his feet to be treated one at a time," AMHF continues. "His right foot was successfully corrected and he now needs the left foot to be corrected as well." Unfortunately, funding this second operation has been difficult for Elia's family. His parents are small scale farmers, but their small earnings are barely enough to support their large family--let alone a surgery. $1,660 will fund the treatment Elia needs. These funds will cover the costs of his operation where doctors will surgically release the overly tight tendons in his left foot that are causing it to turn inward. Then his foot and ankle joints can be re-aligned, and casts will hold them in place while they heal. To ensure that these casts are properly cared for, Elia will also receive rehabilitation care for about four months. After recovering from his procedure, Elia will have a better gait and reduce his risk for developing osteoarthritis at an early age. "When I can walk properly I will be happy to go back to school," Elia shares.