Sarah is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, brothers, and sisters in a rural area in the mountains of central Haiti. Her parents are both farmers. Sarah has graduated kindergarten but is not attending first grade this year because of her illness. Sarah has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This diagnosis involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a blockage of one of the valves. Sarah will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On November 10, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart with a patch and remove the muscular blockage in her valve. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Sarah'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 Sarah's family overseas. Her aunt says, "Our family is very excited for Sarah's surgery so that she can be healthy and safe, and can go to school."

Emiliana is a 38-year-old woman from Guatemala. She recently received Watsi donor support to undergo a [colposcopy](https://watsi.org/profile/4d3c786fcbfb-emiliana) following the results of an abnormal pap smear. Unfortunately, the colposcopy showed that she needed to undergo a more invasive biopsy. On December 21, Emiliana underwent a cone biopsy to remove the cancerous tissue and rule out the need for chemotherapy or radiation. This treatment is simple and will likely remove all or most of the cancerous tissue. Emiliana says she is prepared to begin her fight against cancer. Now, she needs help to fund this $471 procedure.

Meet Kantu, a 67-year-old man from Uganda. He is married with eight children and farms a small piece of land to provide food for his large family. For the past three years, Kantu has been experiencing pain when lifting heavy items or otherwise straining himself. “He visited a government hospital several times seeking help but he was told the waiting list for surgery was too long,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Kantu decided to go to a private department in the same hospital but he couldn’t afford to pay for his treatment.” The source of Kantu's pain is an inguinal hernia, which occurs when a weak part of the abdomen allows part of the intestine to protrude through the muscle. If not treated, the hernia can continue to advance, causing intestinal obstruction, incarceration, or tissue strangulation. $220 will fund surgery to return the herniated tissue to its proper position and repair the defect in the wall of Kantu’s abdomen. The cost of treatment also includes two weeks in the hospital and the necessary antibiotics to prevent postoperative infection. After receiving care, Kantu will be able to tend to his farm and return to his daily life without pain or discomfort.

This is sweet Rosanika, an eight-year-old girl from Nepal. Our medical partner, Possible, shares, “Rosanika studies in Standard 1 at a local primary school. She likes Nepali language classes the most because the teacher tells them good stories. She likes skipping during the break at school.” She lives with thirteen family members who work in agriculture. To supplement the family’s income, Rosanika’s father works as a wage laborer in towns of India. When playing near her house, Rosanika fell and sustained an injury to her right elbow. Her doctors say, “She developed pain and swelling in the right elbow region after the incident and it was difficult for her to move the forearm.” For $205, we can help Rosanika access the treatment necessary to heal her elbow. Our medical partner is confident that after treatment, “Rosanika will be able to move her hand. She will be able to play with her friends and go to school.” Let’s help Rosanika get back to skipping with her friends at school!

Phea is a 12-year old boy from Cambodia who likes playing outside with his friends. He was born with a rare condition called meningoencephalocele, a sac-like protrusion of the membrane that surrounds the brain. A meningoencephalocele occurs when the neural tube does not close completely during fetal development, and it can be life-threatening. Phea's condition puts him at risk for complications like meningitis and brain hemorrhaging. His mom says she is worried about his condition, and has kept her son from school to protect him. Phea says that he was afraid of receiving surgery on his face, but when he saw his best friend from his village, Neng, receive surgery for the same condition (also through Watsi!), Phea decided that he wanted treatment too. For $375, Phea will receive surgery to remove the sac-like protrusion and repair his face. Let's help Phea grow up healthy and ease his and his mom's worry!

Hawanatu is five years old. She lives with her family in Sierra Leone, but came to our medical partner in Ghana to seek treatment for a condition called kyphosis, which causes an abnormal curve in her spine. This curvature constricts the space Hawanatu's lungs have to expand, making it difficult for her to breathe deeply. Hawanatu's limited lung capacity impacts her ability to walk, or even sit up, for short amounts of time. Her condition made it so difficult for her to keep up with her classmates in school, that she was bullied to the point where she could no longer attend. Hawanatu's parents are hopeful that their daughter will get better soon, but neither can afford her treatment. Her father works as a school teacher in Sierra Leone but is rarely paid. For $1,500 we can pay for an operation to correct Hawanatu's spine. This surgery will alleviate the pressure on her lungs, make it possible for her to stand and walk on her own, and allow her to move about like the other children in her class. Let's give this sweet girl a shot at a normal and healthy life!

"I have been sick throughout my life, I just pray for complete healing so I can at least finish up school," Olivery tells our medical partners. Olivery was born with Hirschsprung's disease. Because of his condition, Olivery lives with chronic urine retention and constipation. It is difficult for him to go to school because of his constant discomfort. Olivery lives at home with his mother and four siblings. His mother works as a day laborer and, since Olivery's father passed away three years ago, she must support all of her children with whatever money she makes. She is eager for Olivery to get well and finish school but cannot afford the cost of his treatment. For $1200, Olivery will initially receive a colostomy and then a surgery to remove the affected parts of his intestines. This procedure will allow Olivery to go to the bathroom normally so that he can finish school, and go about his daily life, without pain or discomfort.

Sota was hit by a car in Cambodia four years ago and has been in pain ever since. A gardener and volleyball lover, 34-year-old Sota hasn't grown vegetables or played sports since the accident. Even worse, he's been unable to work in the rice fields to support himself like he used to. Sota needs a total hip replacement to restore his mobility and allow him to work again. Let's raise the $500 it will take to cover the cost of his medical bills so he can get back to living his life!

Peace is almost three-years-old and looks up to her two older siblings. Although Peace is young, she is beginning to notice that she is different from her siblings because of the colostomy she received a few months ago. Peace was born with an anorectal malformation, which means she cannot pass stool properly. The colostomy procedure she underwent in a local Kenyan hospital is a temporary solution, but if Peace does not receive surgery soon she could develop a severe infection. Peace's parents were barely able to save enough money for her first procedure, but Peace's father passed away the same month she received her colostomy. Her father was the sole breadwinner in the family and now Peace's mother is struggling to provide for her three children's basic needs, let alone the cost of Peace's surgery and special diet. For $1,050, Peace will receive an anorectoplasty to correct her intestinal malformation and allow her to pass stool normally. This surgery will let Peace lead a normal life and grow up to be like her older siblings whom she admires so much.

Kyaw is a young boy from Burma who has kidney stones. He lives with his uncle and aunt, who have taken care of him since his infancy when his parents left to find work. Kyaw’s uncle and aunt call him their son and he calls them his mom and dad. Kyaw started feeling abdominal pain several months ago. His uncle is worried about the medical expenses as his condition worsens. He “feels very sad for his son when he is sick,” and he wishes for Kyaw to “gain the full experience of his education” like other children. For $600, we can fund Kyaw’s surgery for a kidney removal so his function can return to normal. Let’s help Kyaw have a healthy and educated future!

This is Amon's second time on Watsi. His first surgery didn't go as planned, so we're hoping to fund his second chance at health. Amon is a 17-year-old boy from Kenya who does well in school and hopes to become a policeman. He's been diagnosed with [cerebral arteriovenus malformation (AVM)](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/brain-avm/DS01126), a disorder caused by an abnormal cluster of veins in his brain. Amon suffers from severe headaches, dizziness, incoordination, and is at risk of sudden death if his AVM hemorrhages (bleeds into his brain). Last month, Watsi donors [funded surgery](https://watsi.org/profile/7c2ddbf717e5-amon) to remove Amon's AVM. Unfortunately, when Amon's doctors began operating, they realized that his AVM is much larger and more complex than they originally thought. Now, Amon needs a second surgery. His doctors warn that his case is extremely difficult. But they say that if he doesn't have surgery, it's only a matter of time before his condition "will cause his death." When Amon's father found out that Watsi donors were going to have the opportunity to fund his son's treatment again, he said he was "speechless that people who have never met me and my son would carry our burden in their hearts." Let's show Amon and his family that they're not in this alone.

Quinter is half-way through her pregnancy and her fourth child is due to be born in the middle of this year. Like so many Kenyans, Quinter and her family are farmers, growing corn and sugar cane to sell for a tiny income to support their family. Quinter has 3 healthy children and she hopes that her fourth baby will be the same way. Quinter is experiencing chronic nausea and abdominal pain associated with her pregnancy and she cannot afford the professional help or medications that could ease her discomfort. For just $215, the Lwala hospital can provide Quinter with pre-natal care, a safe delivery for her baby and post-natal checkups for her and her child.