Lester is a 12-year-old student and older brother from the Philippines. He has experienced painful abdominal symptoms since he was a baby. Although he loves to play outdoors, the pain sometimes prevents him from doing so. Persistent symptoms have caused Lester to miss long periods of school. Lester's parents work as laborers on a nearby farm, but their income is limited. They could not afford to bring Lester to a doctor. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Care Ministries, visited their community. Lester's parents took the opportunity to get Lester a medical consultation and laboratory tests. Lester was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition in which intestinal tissue protrudes through the groin. He is scheduled to undergo a repair surgery on January 11. After surgery, Lester will return to school full-time and resume his childhood. The surgery will cost $1,098. Your donation will help pay for the surgeon's fees, one night stay in the hospital, the use of an operating theater, and medication. "We are so blessed that Lester was given a chance to be treated," says Lester's mother. "He is a good child and an industrious one. He is very loving to us, his parents. He really deserves this treatment, but because of our financial status we cannot afford the surgery. Thank you for helping us and my son."

Rorn is a 60-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons, three daughters, and four grandchildren. He likes to listen to monks pray and join ceremonies at the pagoda. Two years ago, Rorn developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision and tearing. Over time, his sight has deteriorated, and it has become difficult for him to see things clearly, do any type of work, and go anywhere on his own. Rorn knew about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because his aunt had surgery there. He traveled for three hours with his daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Rorn is scheduled for cataract eye surgery on January 12. Surgeons will remove the cataracts and implant an artificial lens in each eye. After the surgery, Rorn will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund this treatment. "I hope I can see everything more clearly than now," says Rorn, "so that I can continue my work as a farmer easily. I want to plant lotus flowers, too."

Yesli was born weighing a healthy seven pounds. Since then, however, her mother has been unable to produce enough breastmilk for Yesli to gain weight. As a result, she is small and malnourished. When she is hungry, her mother gives her the only thing that she can afford, warm water. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Yesli's health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. Brain development is compromised, and Yesli is at risk of long-term damage. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 15. Yesli lives with her mother and grandparents in rural Guatemala. Her mother sells atol, a warm porridge, to earn a living. The family’s limited income, already stretched thin, puts treatment for Yesli outside of economic reach. They need help to fund this $1,107 treatment. Yesli's treatment will be simple and effective. She will receive formula, which will give her the protein, calories, and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. Her mother will receive in-home nutrition education, so she will learn low-cost ways to prevent future cases of malnutrition. Yesli's immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. "I am thankful for the help you will give my daughter," says Yesli's mother. "I hope that my daughter will grow well and not get sick, and then when she is big that she will be a teacher."

“Blessings is really a blessing to me. I love him so much that I would be a more blessed mother if I ever see him responding to treatment and growing just like any normal child,” shares Blessings' mother. Meet Blessings, a newborn baby boy from Malawi. He has a condition known as hydrocephalus, which is caused by a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain. Blessings has difficulty feeding as a result of the pressure in his head. “He is malnourished, cannot sit, and is experiencing sight problems,” explains our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM). $992 will fund Blessings’ procedure and post-operative medication, including antibiotics. After surgery to insert a shunt in his head and drain the fluid, "the pressure in the head will normalize and his head will return to normal size,” adds WAM. With your help, this treatment will allow Blessings to develop into a healthy young boy who can play and interact with other children his age.

Meet Mariano, a 60-year-old father of eight living in Guatemala with his wife. Mariano used to work as a health promoter in his rural farming community, until his condition worsened and kept him from working. Mariano has severe diabetes, a long-term condition characterized by high blood sugar. This high blood sugar results from two possible sources - either the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body doesn’t properly respond to insulin. “Because of severe diabetes-related symptoms, blurred vision, fatigue and dizziness, [Mariano] has been unable to work,” our medical partners at Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) explain. “He’s had three hospitalizations for severe high blood glucose in the last few months. He can’t afford the medicine, and without urgent intervention he is in danger of dying from this condition.” “I want to feel well, I want to spend time with my family, I want to watch my grandchildren grow up,” Mariano tells us. For $450, we can fund the treatment Mariano needs for his acute diabetes. His doctors at WK expect that the treatment will result in “resolved severe high blood sugars, prevention of hospitalization and death, [and the] ability to spend time with his family.” Let’s come together to make this happen for Mariano!

Meet Lwin, a 42-year-old father from Burma who has kidney stones. “Lwin currently experiences back pain, abdominal pain, and stomach pain. Sometimes he gets dizzy and feels weak and he also has low blood pressure,” reports our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). When Lwin previously went to the hospital, he was misdiagnosed and the kidney stones remained. It wasn't until months later that he received the correct diagnosis. “Lwin has five children and four of them are studying. Due to his illness, he cannot support his children and cannot provide any income for the family. His family has to rely on selling ducks and chickens,” continues BBP. “After his treatment, Lwin wants to go back to his normal life, return to work, and take care of his family.” Lwin aspires for all of his children to obtain an education. For $1500, we can fund surgery to remove Lwin’s kidney stones and have him return to his family healthy and able to work. “Lwin will be able to live pain free and return to work, allowing him to focus on his family’s welfare,” says BBP. “It will also restore his dignity which he feels like he has lost over the last year.”

Chorn is a hardworking rice farmer and family man from Cambodia. He comes from a family of nine children and has four kids of his own, whom he loves to spend time with. Over a year ago, 56-year-old Chorn started experiencing severe hip pain. He was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, a disease where bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply. He is now only able to walk with crutches. Chorn needs a hip replacement to minimize his pain and increase his mobility. With $500, we can give this dedicated family man exactly what he needs to make his daily life easier.

Meet Godon, a sweet three-year-old girl who lives in Ethiopia. Godon lives with bladder exstrophy, a very rare congenital anomaly that causes part of her bladder to exist outside her body. As a result, Godon's kidney leaks urine directly onto her body. Godon grew up in Somalia, where her parents spent all their money trying to find treatment. When they did not find any help, they moved to Ethiopia. Godon’s father says, “My daughter is a bright young girl, and I hope that she will grow up to be a doctor.” For $1,500, we can help Godon receive surgery that will use part of her intestine to form a new bladder. She will be able to maintain better bladder control and prevent urine leakage. Let's help Godon live a healthy, normal life!

Annabel is a friendly seven-year-old girl from Nigeria. She is full of optimism for the future, despite having a disabled left leg. She loves to read and has dreams of becoming a nurse so that she can help others who are sick. Annabel needs her lower left leg to be amputated and to be fitted for an artificial limb. Her parents simply cannot afford the cost of treatment for their daughter. With the $1500 treatment, Annabel will be able to live a near normal life and, more importantly, enable her to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. Let's work together to rid Annabel of crutches and limitations for good!

This is Chit Than, a sweet, six-year-old boy from a small village in Burma. Chit Than has been battling health issues every since he was an infant. Born with thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that already took his older sister’s life, Chit Than experiences heart palpitations, a decreased appetite, and extreme fatigue, which has forced him to stop attending school and spending time with his friends. Chit Than is being raised by his aunt, who is also raising her four children and taking care of her elderly, disabled mother. She wants nothing more but her nephew to grow up healthy and strong. Chit Than’s mother works in Bangkok so she can send home money and her son can afford blood transfusions. He and his aunt travel regularly to Thailand so he can receive them, but his condition has worsened and now he needs surgery to overcome it. For $1,100, Chit Than can finally receive the help he needs, and will no longer have to trek across the border every few months to receive blood transfusions. Let’s get him this surgery so he can go back to school, play with his friends, and finally enjoy his youth!

Meet Alba. Shown here with her mother, a sad and increasingly common story is playing out in her life. Our Guatemalan medical partner writes, "many families in Guatemala try to get ahead by sending a relative to the US to work and send home money. This is extremely risky because it involves paying huge fees to coyotes and then, in all likelihood, being deported back home with a huge debt." "This is exactly what happened to a member of their family. The family is under a crushing burden of usurious debt. They've been forced to sell their home and land, they have no money for food, and the children are the ones who are suffering. Alba is developmentally delayed and losing weight rapidly. We need to intervene to guarantee her future health and development." For $525, Wuqu' Kawoq will put Alba on a high-calorie diet, ensure she receives proper vitamins and supplements, and provide her parents with nutrition coaching so they are equipped to provide for Alba as she continues to grow. Let's raise this money and give Alba the kickstart she needs to grow up healthy!

Gadissa is an adorable ten-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He was born with hypospadias, a condition which makes it difficult for Gadissa to urinate normally and may impact fertility as he gets older. Gadissa's parents want their son to grow up healthy, but they could not even afford the cost of the trip to the hospital. Fortunately, another charitable organization heard about his condition and brought Gadissa to the hospital to get treated, over 300 miles from his home. For $1,200, we can fund Gadissa’s corrective surgery so he can pass urine normally and grow up with a healthy reproductive system.