Barok is a toddler from Ethiopia. He loves to play and laugh with others. Barok has an older sister who just joined kindergarten. Barok was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Barok has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Barok will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 19. AMHF is requesting $1,021 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Barok’s father says, “We can’t afford the necessary treatment cost.”

Joseph is a toddler from Haiti. He lives in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince with his parents and older sisters. He is a friendly and outgoing child and likes drawing and music. Joseph has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart, and blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen. This leaves him sick and short of breath. Joseph will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 11, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a catheter to insert a device into the hole, sealing it off. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $15,000 to pay for surgery. Joseph'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 Joseph's family overseas. His mother says, "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping Joseph become healthy!"

Yoe is a 16-year-old day laborer from Burma. He lives with his parents, two brothers, and one sister in Karen State, Burma. Yoe's parents work as subsistence farmers, and his older brother works on a neighbor's farm. On March 4, Yoe was driving a friend home at night when they got into a motorbike accident. Yoe injured his left thigh, breaking his femur. He is not able to walk or work, and he is in a lot of pain. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Yoe will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for March 5 and will cost $1,500. After treatment, he will be able to support his family again. Yoe said, “I am worried that if I do not receive medical treatment, I will not be able to find to work."

Marko is a young boy from Tanzania. He lives in an extended family of twelve people. Marko’s father is a security guard, and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. Marko has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Marko traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 14. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Marko's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk without difficulty. Marko’s mother says, “I would really like to see Marko get treated and attend school and reach up to university level."

Luza is a toddler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and several older siblings and cousins in a rural, mountainous area of central Haiti. Her parents are both farmers. Luza has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Luza also has Down syndrome. Luza will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 24, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart by sewing a patch across it. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Luza'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 Luza's family overseas. Her mother says, "We are excited for this surgery so that Luza can run and play with her brothers and sisters."

Nyunt is a 67-years-old woman from Burma. She lives with her children and used to work as a subsistence farmer. She also raises some chickens and pigs. In her free time, she enjoys going to the temple and listening to the monks’ sermons. Nyunt started to feel unwell in 2015, when she experienced pain in her lower abdomen. She stopped working because of her symptoms. She has been diagnosed with a uterine prolapse. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Nyunt's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Nyunt is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on December 14. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After surgery, Nyunt will no longer experience abdominal pain. She says, "“After I recover, I would like to look after my chickens and pig, and go to the temple to meditate.”

Meet four-year-old Htoo from Burma. He lives with his parents in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Htoo says his favorite things to do are "going to kindergarten and playing with my friends." Htoo's parents first noticed a lump on their son's throat two years ago. Doctors have now diagnosed Htoo with a congenital condition known as thyroglossal cyst. He requires surgery on his thyroid gland to treat it. Htoo was previously submitted for surgery through Watsi but doctors concluded that the cyst was too small to operate on. However, Htoo is eligible for surgery this time and will undergo a thyroidectomy procedure on November 20. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is asking for help to raise $1,500 for Htoo's surgery.

Abibatu is a three-year-old little girl from Sierra Leone. She lives with her parents and two older brothers. Abibatu likes to dress up and go to church with her family. Abibatu was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving several related defects including a hole between two chambers of her heart and a muscular blockage in one of the heart's valves. On August 2, Abibatu will be traveling from her home in Sierra Leone to our medical partner's care center, Narayana Institute Of Cardiac Sciences, in Bangalore, India. Although Abibatu is not from Haiti, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with other partners to make her surgery possible, and so is asking for $1,500 to help cover the cost of Abibatu's surgery prep. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, has contributed $12,000 towards her treatment. We are also fundraising for her [transportation costs](https://watsi.org/profile/468cd870f0a3-abibatu). "Our family is all very excited that there is hope for Abibatu to become healthy!" says Abibatu's mother.

Roselyn is a 29-year-old shopkeeper from Kenya. She has nine siblings and currently lives with her twin sister. Roselyn has unfortunately been diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis. Consequently, she experiences great pain in her back and is unable to lift heavy objects. While she used to operate a retail shop, her condition has forced her to close her business. For two years, Roselyn managed her back pain with painkillers. By 2015, her discomfort intensified, prompting her to seek treatment. She was eventually directed to our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, where surgeons confirmed her diagnosis and advised immediate surgery and medications. On top of the $1,237 subsidized by Roselyn's family, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Roselyn's spinal fusion, medications, and hospital stay. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 11 and, once completed, will hopefully relieve Roselyn of her pain and allow her to return to her former activities with ease. “Before the sickness, I could have a job and a shop to support my parents, after the surgery I want to continue supporting my family and be able to do even simple things like washing my clothes and the house," says Roselyn.

Kone is a 59-year-old nun from Burma who has been living at a monastery since she was 21 years old. Although she is post-menopausal, Kone has been experiencing vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain for the past few months. She has also noticed a mass in her lower abdomen. Her local health clinic referred her to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, where Kone underwent imaging tests and was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. These are benign tumors in the uterus, but can cause patients substantial pain, as is the case for Kone. A total hysterectomy was recommended to relieve her of her pain. She is scheduled to have her hysterectomy on June 9, and is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of the procedure. "I am very excited to have surgery soon,” shares Kone.

Mozart is an adventurous ten-year-old who enjoys the outdoors. He lives in Uganda with his parents and three brothers. Mozart's parents are subsistence famers who sell coffee on the side to put their children through school. Mozart loves school, especially mathematics, English, and science. He is also a member of the soccer team. At home, Mozart helps his parents collect fire wood and looks after their grazing goats. One day, while climbing a tree to collect firewood, Mozart fell and broke both of his arms. After he was taken to the hospital, physicians recommended that his arms be set and casted to heal properly. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is requesting $133 to fund his arm fracture treatment. Mozart is scheduled to receive his care on April 16. “I would like to tell all the donors how much we appreciate their help," says Nathan, Mozart's father.

Khoun is a 45-year-old farmer who is married with two sons and one daughter. He likes to cut bamboo to make fishing tools, water the vegetables in his garden, and relax at home in his free time. Khoun heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, from his brother, who lives in Phnom Penh. He traveled for four hours with his wife to reach CSC for treatment. On August 18, 2016, Khoun fell from his motorbike and sustained multiple injuries. He went to a nearby military hospital the next day, and surgeons performed an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) procedure of his tibia and hands to heal his fractures. An ORIF procedure often involves the insertion of steel rods, screws, or plates to keep a fracture stable during healing. Khoun first came to CSC on October 26, 2016 with complications of infection in both hands at the wound sites. Surgeons performed a debridement procedure to remove the damaged and infected tissue. Unfortunately, the infection progressed. He returned on November 7, 2016 for surgeons to amputate the fourth finger on one of his hands. Khoun currently is being seen at CSC to continue his treatment. He is still unable to use his hand, and he is in pain. The surgeons are now recommending he have an arthroplasty procedure of the metacarpophalangeal joint of his fifth finger of his right hand. The total cost of the procedure is $450, and covers medications, supplies, and four days of inpatient care. Khoun's procedure is scheduled for May 3, 2017. After surgery, his pain will be relieved and he will more easily be able to do his work.