“What I wish the most is for my baby to be able to walk,” says Aisha’s mother. Aisha is a cheerful 16-month old baby girl who lives in Tanzania with her parents and two siblings. Her father is the sole provider for their family, and relies on selling used clothing for an income. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Aisha’s parents began noticing abnormalities with her head when she was three months old. She was later diagnosed with hydrocephalus, swelling of the head that is caused by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. Aisha’s head has become so swollen that the weight of it prevents her from walking. If left untreated, Aisha may also lose her vision. For $775, Aisha will receive hydrocephalus surgery to drain the CSF in her brain and prevent future swelling. The cost also includes includes surgical expenses, medication, a five day stay at the hospital, and a two week stay at a rehabilitation center. AMHF shares that after surgery, “Aisha’s head will be lighter allowing her body to support the head giving her the balance to walk. She will also be out of the risk of losing her eyesight.”

"I had almost lost hope when I learned that I would have a chance for surgery. It is like a dream to me, and I can't wait to go!" says Monise, once again full of promise. Monise is a 26-year-old young woman living in Haiti with her mother. She enjoys going to church and helping her mother cook. Monise was preparing to enter university to study business when health problems put her plans on hold. “Monise suffers from a condition called ameloblastoma, in which a benign tumor began growing in her jaw and has now expanded to a life-threatening size,” writes our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “The mass is beginning to block her windpipe and would be fatal without immediate surgery." HCA is requesting $1,500 to help fund the cost of transporting Monise to New York City for a surgery expected to last over twelve hours. Mount Sinai Hospital is contributing $75,000 towards the procedure. HCA explains, “One team of specialists will first remove the mass, and a second team will then reconstruct her jaw using bone material borrowed from Monise's leg. While Monise's face will always bear evidence of her surgery, the medical team should be able to completely remove the tumor and restore her to health." Let's pitch in to help Monise gain a new lease on life!

Hei Naw moved to Thailand two years ago to look for more affordable healthcare after her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. But about a year ago, Hei Naw herself started experiencing abdominal pain, which she tried to treat with gastric pain relief medication. Three months ago the pain became much worse and “Hei Naw went to the local hospital where they diagnosed her with gallstones,” our medical partner, Burma Border Project writes. BBP says Hei Naw’s pain is "constant" and she is stressed that she is unable to work in the rice paddies to support her family. For $1,000, Hei Naw will receive a surgery that will remove her gallstones. This treatment will allow her to return to her normal life and “she will also be able to support her youngest daughter in her recovery from leukemia,” BBP writes. Hei Naw says, “When I recover from the operation I would like to go back to work so I can make enough to send our children to school. I am especially worried about my youngest daughter and really want to help her get better. To do this, I must be healthy myself.” Let’s make sure Hei Naw’s abdominal pain doesn't stop her from achieving her goals!

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.

Dinesh is a bright little boy from Nepal who loves school and playing with his friends. He suffers from a condition called chronic suppurative otitis media, a perforation in the membrane of his middle ear that causes hearing problems, drainage, and constant pain. Dinesh can barely hear at all, and doctors at Nyaya Health say he “needs treatment immediately” to prevent his condition from getting much worse. Because this is an urgent case, they plan to treat Dinesh in the next day or two under the assumption that Watsi funding is coming. The average income in the area of Nepal where Dinesh lives is $1 a day. His family has a small plot of land that supports them for six months out of the year, but they cannot afford to cover the cost of his care. We need to raise $975 to cover the cost of the travel, lodging, pre-op, surgery, and supplies it will take to make Dinesh’s treatment possible. Dinesh is in nursery school, but the severity of the infection is making it difficult for him to attend. His mother is very proud of him and optimistic about his future. She hopes he’ll grow up to become a political leader who can develop their community. Doctors at Nyaya Health believe in addition to preventing further complications of his condition, there’s a good chance that with surgery, Dinesh will begin to get his hearing back and be able to live a happy, healthy life.