Mudzatula is a 60-year-old woman from the Central Region village of Mzelembwe in Malawi. Mudzatula lives with her husband, and they have one child and six grandchildren. Mudzatula does many chores around her home during the day. When she is finished, she enjoys chatting with her friends. Since early February, Mudzatula has been bleeding and having abdominal pains that have interfered with her work and her life. It was discovered that Mudzatula has cervical cancer and needs a hysterectomy to save her life. Her treatment is scheduled for March 14. Now, her family needs help to fund this $650 operation. Once Mudzatula's surgery is complete, she is expected to live a healthy life. "I need the hospital's support. I am very grateful," says Mudzatula.

Alejandro is a one-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He is the first child of his parents. His mother is a homemaker, and his father works in construction. Born prematurely, Alejandro is very small for his age. His mother is unable to produce breastmilk, so he is also malnourished. To stabilize his condition, Alejandro was given a preliminary supply of formula, but he will need additional nutritional support in order grow healthily. Beginning on March 9, Alejandro will be monitored and receive nutritional supplements at our medical partner's care center, Clinic Panajachel. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $1,162 to fund his nutritional needs and a health education program for his mother. By supplying Alejandro with formula and his mother with health education, Alejandro will receive the calories he needs to grow. One-on-one education with Alejandro’s mother will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for Alejandro. She will also learn to check for signs of malnutrition and other illness. “We are so happy to be parents for the first time, and we want nothing more than for our son to live and be healthy,” says Alejandro’s mother.

Brandon is a ten-month-old boy from Kenya. He has one sibling and lives with his parents. To support their family, his mother knits woolen sweaters, and his father is employed as a caretaker. When Brandon was one month old, his parents noticed swelling in a sensitive area. They took him to a doctor, who assured them the swelling would reduce and repair on its own. However, months passed and Brandon has still been experiencing pain. His parents took him to see a specialist at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). At BKKH, Brandon was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition in which abdominal tissue protrudes into the groin area, causing swelling. On March 3, Brandon will undergo surgery to repair his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is asking for $423 to cover the cost of his surgery and accompanying labs and medication. Brandon's family is contributing $72 toward his treatment.

Cataracts occur when tissues in the eye’s lens grow thick and clumpy, rendering the patient’s vision cloudy. If untreated, cataracts can cause blindness. In fact, they are the world’s leading cause of vision loss in people over 40. These are urgent risks for 76-year-old Chriech, a woman from Cambodia. For about a year now, Chriech has lived with a cataract in each eye. As a result, she experiences blurred vision and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). It is difficult for her to see things clearly, and she is worried about going blind one day. Fortunately, we can help her avoid this fate. For $292, we can sponsor a two-part operation that will correct her cataracts. On March 9, doctors will surgically break up and remove the cataracts from Chriech’s eyes. Then, they will insert artificial lens implants. With these replacements, Chriech will be able to see again. This will allow her to enjoy her life, visit her siblings, and travel to her local pagoda.

Sot is a 77-year-old retired man. He is married and has two sons and 10 grandchildren. In his spare time, he likes to cook, watch the news, and see movies. Sot has developed a cataract in each eye. The cataracts are causing blurred vision, tearing, and photophobia (light sensitivity). These vision issues have made it difficult for Sot to work. In addition, he worries about his vision in the future. On February 15, he will undergo cataract surgery at our medical partner's care center. After removing the cataracts and and replacing the lenses with implants in each eye, Sot will be able to see clearly again. He needs $292 to fund this procedure.

Fedline is a ten-year-old student who enjoys going to school and spending time with her family and friends. Fedline lives in a very rural area in the mountains of southwestern Haiti. She hikes down a trail to reach a larger community. Fedline was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, a condition which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen. Fedline needs to undergo surgery to repair her heart. First, Fedline will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 17. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Redline also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Fedline's surgical care. "We are very happy that Fedline can have this surgery, so that she can have more energy and not get tired so often," says Fedline's mother.

Sam Ath is a 68-year-old farmer with five sons and two daughters. He likes to read books on Buddhism in his free time. In September, Sam Ath was in a motor vehicle collision that caused a fracture in his left forearm. He visited a Khmer traditional healer for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. It became difficult for Sam Ath to use his arm, and he was in pain. When Sam Ath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On November 24, CSC surgeons performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure and bone graft to heal his fracture. After recovery, Sam Ath should be able to use his left arm again. Now, he needs help to fund this $411 procedure. "I hope to have a normal arm again and no pain," he says.

Edna Mae, a four-year-old girl, lives with her parents and two siblings in a bamboo house in the Philippines. Her parents do not have stable jobs, so they have difficulty providing for the family. Edna Mae is much lighter than other children her age. Edna Mae has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. She began $268 malnutrition treatment on October 20. She is being 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 acutely 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. "I hope she will recover from malnutrition," says Edna Mae's mother.

10-year-old Bharat lives with his parents and siblings in Nepal, where is in grade five at school. His family is entirely dependent on agriculture for their living, and the yield from the field keeps them going for about six months of the year. Seven days ago, Bharat developed an abscess on his right inguinal region. A skin abscess is a localized collection of pus that generally develops in response to infection or to the presence of other foreign materials under the skin. It is typically painful, and it appears as a swollen area that is warm to the touch. Not only has it been extremely painful for Bharat, but it has caused abdominal pain as well. Before he visited Watsi's medical partner, Possible, he was taken to the health post in his village where he was advised to clean the wound with hot water and provided some painkiller medicines. Unfortunately, the wound did not heal. Instead, it became complicated and he finally decided to visit Possible. Unable to tolerate his son's pain any longer, his father took a day long walk to come to see his son in the hospital. To cure his abscess, Bharat will undergo incision and drainage procedure and will need to keep a hygienic dressing regularly. $157 will cover the cost of Bharat's medical surgery and hospital stay. "I wish Bharat gets well soon," shares his father.

Meet Ya, a 63-year-old woman from Cambodia who has five children and ten grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Three years ago, Ya developed a pterygium in each eye. This growth of fleshy tissue over the thin, clear layer of Ya's eyes causes her blurred vision and tearing. It is a common condition caused by UV damage, and often occurs in rural farmers who work long hours outdoors without sun protection. Now, Ya cannot see things very clearly, do work well, or go anywhere outside on her own. She traveled one hour with her husband to reach Watsi's medical partner Children's Surgical Centre ("CSC") for treatment, where doctors will perform a pterygium excision surgery in each eye to remove the growth. After this short procedure, Ya will be able to see clearly again and be relieved of pain and tearing.

Nachaki is a 66-year-old woman living in Kenya on a small-scale farm. Her husband has passed away, but her three children live nearby and work as subsistence farmers. Since January, Nachaki has had gradual deterioration of eyesight in her right eye. She has had associated problems while walking, especially in direct sunlight when she strains her left eye. The combined combination has prevented her from doing her daily work. Doctors diagnosed Nachaki with a cataract in her right eye. They have recommended cataract removal surgery, which costs $230, and the total cost covers the procedure, medications, and one day of inpatient care. However, Nachaki is unable to complete payment and needs financial assistance. Following her procedure, Nachaki will have restored clarity in her vision, and will be able to resume her work. "I want to be able to use both of my eyes to see and support myself," Nachaki shares.

23-month-old Kervens was born with two holes in his heart: one between the two upper chambers, the other between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Because of the nature of his condition, the only way to know whether surgery is possible for Kervens is to first do a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter probe is inserted into his heart in order to take detailed measurements. The results of this test will determine whether he is operable, and if he is, his doctors will then go on to arrange surgery. This procedure is not available in Haiti, so he must travel to the Dominican Republic to undergo the test. Kervens is a very calm and happy child who likes to be carried and to meet new people. Kervens lives in northern Haiti with his mother, aunt, and an older sister. His mother is currently unemployed and looking for work, and so the cost of the diagnostic test that her son urgently needs is beyond her financial means. "My family is all praying that the test will go well and Kervens will be able to have his surgery," Kervens’ mother shares.