“I want to be healthy and free from worry,” shares 34-year-old Mar, a mother and market vendor from Thailand. Mar has an ovarian cyst, a fluid-filled sac that has formed on one of her ovaries. “She is in pain when she sits and sometimes even loses sleep,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us. “Her legs and arms ache as well, and she is no longer able to work as much as before.” Because Mar is unable to work regularly, her 14-year-old son has stopped going to school to help earn money to support the family. The recommended treatment for Mar is surgical removal of her uterus and ovaries—procedures known as a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy, respectively. Mar’s stage three uterus prolapse, in which her pelvic muscles and the ligaments that support the uterus are weakened, also calls for specific treatment. $1500 in funding will cover the cost of the surgeries as well as a seven-day hospital stay and one outpatient appointment post-surgery. BBP explains, “After treatment, Mar will be able to return to work. She will no longer suffer from pain and will be able to earn an income again without worrying about further medical complications.” “I want to be able to work regularly and earn enough money to spoil my children,” says Mar. “I want my son to return to school to continue with his education. I wish that my children will have better education that I was able to.”

Say hello to Innocent, a sweet, one-month old baby boy. He lives in eastern Kenya with his parents, who rely on casual jobs to earn an income. Innocent's parents are hopeful that Watsi can help provide a healthy life for their first child. Innocent was born with spina bifida, a congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the neural tube, in which a portion of the spinal cord protrudes through the skin, causing an open hole in the lower back. As a result, Innocent is at risk of developing a tethered cord, a condition in which the spinal cord attaches to the surrounding tissue. Left untreated, this leads to mobility issues and nerve damage. Innocent’s mother is optimistic that Watsi will help her son: “If I can only have my son treated, I’ll be very grateful. I am hoping that we will find support for his surgical care.”
 For $980 Innocent can receive a closure surgery to correct his spine. Surgery will prevent the development of tethered cord and mitigate Innocent’s risk of infection.

Emilia is a humble 34-year-old woman from Guatemala who was born without a left arm. This has limited her independence and self-esteem her entire life. Emilia is from an indigenous community and has never had been able to afford a prosthetic device. As a result, she's been dependent on others to do basic daily tasks. “Emilia lives in a very remote area and was referred to us by one of our partner organizations. She traveled several days to come for an evaluation,” her doctor in Guatemala tells us. "She comes from a poor background, so she never thought a prosthetic arm would be a possibility. She’s excited to learn that there are people who can help!” We're raising $1255 to help Emilia afford a molded prosthetic arm. With this arm, Emilia will be able to move through life independently, something she never imagined was possible!

Eliazar is an optimistic and motivated young man from Guatemala. Five years ago, his right arm had to be amputated after gang members threw a fragmentation grenade into his home. Despite being badly injured in the explosion, Eliazar has gone on to study law. He hopes to have a career in criminal justice. The only thing holding him back is the daily challenge of being an amputee. For $650, Eliazar can be fitted with a prosthetic device that will enable him to do the daily tasks that have become nearly impossible since his injury. He says he is, "especially looking forward to being able to use the prosthetic device to write again."

Dudhakala is a 15-year-old girl from Nepal who needs surgery to treat rheumatic heart disease. For the last year, she’s battled worsening symptoms of her condition, including shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and severe tremors that prevent her from walking, playing, or living any kind of a normal life. If given the opportunity to have this surgery, Dudhakala’s whole life will change. Dudhakala has lived with her grandmother since she was 5 years old because her parents are not involved in her life. She loves school, studying Nepali stories, and playing [Kabaddi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GniFV8PtVhM) with her friends during her free time, but she’s had to limit her activity lately because of her worsening condition. Last month, Dudhakala stopped going to school because she is no longer able to make the 10 minute walk from her home. Her grandmother does the best she can to provide for Dudhakala, but she does not have nearly enough money to cover the cost of her treatment. Despite the challenges thrown her way, Dudhakala remains positive and hopeful about her future. She told her doctors that when she grows up she wants to become a teacher and take care of her grandmother. Let’s make sure a treatable heart condition doesn’t stand in the way of her ability to do it!