“I am so happy and grateful that my daughter can receive this treatment," shares Sarita's mother. "I hope she recovers quickly from malnutrition.” Sarita is 18 months old and is living with acute malnutrition. Acute malnutrition can be life-threatening, and puts a lot of economic and social strain on the family. Sarita’s mother had noticed that she was not growing as well as her older siblings, but did not have the ability to provide her with the food she needed. She has been getting sick often— she has had a nasty cough that is hard for her to get rid of when her body is malnourished. The medical staff at Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), our medical partner, found Sarita while conducting home visits in rural Guatemala. Sarita is the youngest of four children. She lives in a cinderblock house with a tin roof with her parents. Sarita loves to play with her toy dishes. Her oldest brother Adrian is who takes care of Sarita while her parents work. Sarita’s father works as a carpenter and her mother works taking care of the house, raising Sarita and her siblings, and weaving Mayan textiles when she has time. Although her parents work hard, they still struggle to make enough money to support their family. Sarita is also having trouble reaching developmental milestones—she just barely began to say ‘mama’ and ‘papa’ and cannot say any additional words. If not treated now, the effects of acute malnutrition can affect Sarita the rest of her life—she will likely have a have a hard time focusing and doing well in school, and have a greater chance of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension when she’s an adult. $512 will fund a multifaceted malnutrition treatment for Sarita. "This treatment will supply Sarita with the growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age," shares WK. "This treatment will strengthen her immune system and increase her overall caloric intake. Sarita’s parents will receive intense nutrition education to ensure that Sarita and all her siblings have the diets they need to be healthy." Treatment will help Sarita start to develop better both physically and mentally. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Sarita the chance to live a healthy and productive life.

Jhons is an 18-month-old boy from Guatemala. The youngest of four, “Jhons loves to play with his sister and pretend his little shoes are toy cars,” says our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). "He likes to dance and swing his hips from side to side especially when he hears music.” Due to acute malnutrition, Jhons “is currently far below the average height and weight for his age. His immune system is weak and he does not have an appetite,” WK reports. “If intervention does not occur, Jhons will be at risk for the long-term effects of malnutrition,” WK shares. “His physical and mental development will be compromised and he will face higher risks of chronic disease in adulthood, as well as lower academic performance and lower economic productivity.” Food instability causes indigenous Guatemalan villages, like Jhons’, to witness some of the highest rates of malnutrition worldwide. Although preventable, this condition can lead to further medical issues later in life. For $535, Jhons’ will undergo nutritional therapy. Over a 90-day period, micronutrient food supplements will be added into Jhons’ diet, returning him to healthy nutrition levels. “This treatment will supply supplement nutrition to bolster Jhons’s capability to recoup his weight and height, as well as intensive nutrition education for his parents,” WK states. “Thank you for wanting to help us," says Jhons’ mother. “Thank you to the organization for creating this program to help our child recover. My dream is for him to grow up and be able to go to school.”

Meet Devora, a 34-year-old mother of two. Devora and her twin sister are very close, and raise their families together in Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), shares that one month ago, “Devora was in the hospital because she could not walk or talk. An ultrasound and labs revealed Devora has kidney failure. Because kidneys play such a vital role in filtering toxins from the blood, this diagnosis can be fatal. However, there are treatment options that would filter and regulate Devora’s blood artificially." $1265 will fund the dialysis, medication, and education to treat and manage her condition. WK tells us that in order to make this logistically possible they will “construct a room at her home specifically for her dialysis.” Dialysis will remove the salt, waste, and excess water from the blood. This intervention will ensure that Devora has a sterile environment where she can self-administer regular dialysis. The medical team will visit her often and provide intensive education on dialysis and treatment. WK says, “Devora will be able to live for the rest of her life while technically still in kidney failure. Her energy will increase and she will be able to get back to everyday activities.”

Meet Srey Deen! This sweet 13-year-old girl from Cambodia loves listening to Korean pop music. Srey Deen was born with a rare congenital condition called a meningoencephalocele, which is caused by failure of the neural tube to close completely during fetal development. This has led to a disfigurement in Srey Deen's face, which makes her extremely self-conscious. In second grade, Srey Deen stopped attending school because she was too shy and scared. The condition also puts her at continual risk of meningitis and brain hemorrhages. The only treatment for this condition is surgery. For $350, Srey Deen will receive the right care to help repair the disfigurement in her face and reduce the risk of future medical conditions. Let's make sure Srey Deen is happy, healthy, and dancing to Korean pop on her way back to school!

Virginia is a 53-year-old woman living in Guatemala. She is experiencing severe pain in her abdomen, accompanied with severe cramping at every meal. Her symptoms are caused by gallstones, which are inflaming her gallbladder and forcing her to restrict her diet. Virginia works in the coffee fields, but she earns very little and is having difficulty working because of the increasing pain from the gallstones. This makes it impossible for her to pay for the treatment she needs on her own. We are raising $490 to cover the costs of gallbladder surgery for Virginia. Donating now will help her secure the treatment she needs, gain access to better nutrition, and get back to her normal, productive life!

Neng is a courageous 16-year-old boy who was born with a meningoencephalocele, a protrusion of brain tissue that is caused by a defect in the skull. With this condition, Neng is vulnerable to multiple infections, subsequent complications and sometimes death. Neng arrived at Children’s Surgical Centre to find medical help. Neng’s best friend in his village also has the same condition, but he is waiting for Neng to receive surgical help first. For $450, we can fund Neng’s surgery and prove that a healthy, happy life despite a congenital condition is possible!

Kari is a father and artisan from Nepal who has a painful and swollen inguinal hernia. Kari doesn't own his own land, so he supports his wife and children by making crafts from bamboo. His caretakers at our medical partner, Nyaya Health, say "it's really difficult for him to afford treatment on his own." Kari was first diagnosed with this condition four years ago, but until now he's had no hope of being able to afford a referral to a higher center for treatment. With our support, Kari can have a $1390 surgery to repair his hernia, relieve his pain, and prevent potentially fatal complications. The cost of treatment includes travel to Nepal's capital, more than a day away, accompanied by staff from Nyaya Health.

Adjaratou is a joyful three-year-old girl who loves to play with her dolls. Three months ago, Adjaratou broke out in a fever and her left upper arm became swollen. She continued to have fevers and began to lose weight. At the hospital, Adjaratou was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a potentially life-threatening bone infection. If left untreated, the infection could lead to sepsis or death. To halt the infection, Adjaratou needs to undergo surgical removal of infected tissue and a course of antibiotics. Her mother works as a maid and barely makes enough to provide for her family; she simply can’t afford the $765 needed for her daughter’s treatment. Adjaratou’s mother is hopeful that she will get treatment, recover, and one day become a doctor that helps others who are suffering. Let’s join her in turning that hope into a reality.

Judy is a single mother of two children. She lives in a poor area of Kenya but works hard to support her family. An entrepreneur at heart, Judy dreams of starting her own business one day. Last month, Judy was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She is losing weight, suffering severe abdominal pain, and experiencing abnormal bleeding. She needs a hysterectomy to prevent the spread of cancer and save her life. For $750, we can fund Judy's surgery and help her regain her strength so she can support her family!

Edy is a cheerful and energetic 13-year-old from Guatemala. For the past three years, Edy has suffered from an inguinal hernia. After walking several kilometers from his rural community to a local health center, physicians advised Edy that he must have the hernia removed. Edy loves to run and play soccer, but his condition leaves him unable to play with his friends. His father explains the great pain he feels in witnessing his son’s suffering. Unfortunately, Edy's family is too poor to afford his procedure on their own. Partner for Surgery is hoping to raise $350 to fund Edy’s surgery costs. Your contributions will provide him with proper treatment and the opportunity for the happy, healthy life every child deserves!

Madeline is a 6-year-old indigenous girl from Guatemala who has never seen a doctor in her life. Her parents brought her to Wuqu’ Kawoq because she had difficulty breathing. After providing an ultrasound, the doctors in Guatemala diagnosed Madeline with congenital heart disease. She has a large hole in the membrane of her heart (known as an atrial septal defect) which will require open heart surgery to correct. Fortunately, the doctors believe that surgery should “completely correct her symptoms and allow her to lead a normal life.” Madeline said she can't wait to go home, see her friends, and return to school. Let’s get this young girl the medical care she deserves, and make her first trip to see the doctor a successful one!