Zakayo is a baby from Tanzania. He has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Zakayo's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 16. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Zakayo's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Zakayo’s mother says, “My son and I are being discriminated due to this condition please help treat my son so he can lead a normal life.”

Mopiani is a boy from Tanzania. He is the fourth in a family of five children. Early last year, Mopiani developed a swelling on his mouth. The swelling has been increasing in size, making eating difficult. Mopiani traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Mopiani needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. Mopiani’s father says, “Please help our son.”

Caren is a five-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is one of six children in her family, including her twin sister, who she loves and adores dearly. Caren is currently in nursery school. Caren was born a very healthy child but as she grew, her legs started to bend outward, making it painful and difficult for her to walk. Her parents never took her to the hospital, fearing treatment would be too expensive. If not treated, however, Caren will continue experiencing pain and discomfort when walking. On September 15, Caren will undergo surgery for her leg condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $838 for Caren's medical care. Caren’s father says, “I am grateful for this treatment, I can't wait for my daughter to start walking well again.”

Suwas lives with his mother and siblings in Nepal. He studies in grade two at a child education center. His father works in India to support the family back home while his mother is responsible for grazing the cattle and looking after the children. Suwas was walking down from his home to the field when he fell on a rock, fracturing his right hand and cutting the back of his head. His mother tried to treat his fracture at home using bamboo sticks. When she noticed how Suwas still had difficulty moving his hand, she finally decided to seek medical help. They walked for eight straight hours to get to the hospital from their home. Suwas has been in so much pain since the injury that he has been crying a lot and had to take medication to control the pain. He has difficulty moving the injured arm and there is some swelling too. He will have to do physiotherapy exercise to regain mobility after treatment. For $541, we can fund surgery to correct the fracture, as well as physical therapy to allow him to regain a full range of motion. "We have come from so far in hopes of getting a better treatment," Suwas' mother shares. "I wish my son’s treatment happens soon."

Meet Baston, a carefree and talkative three-year-old boy from Tanzania. Since birth, Baston has lived with unilateral clubfoot, where his right foot is turned inward. He uses the lateral part of his foot to walk, which has affected his gait. "He will be at risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age if untreated," reports the staff at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. "Despite his condition, Baston likes to walk and run around with other children." Baston started clubfoot treatment when he was 18 months old. Unfortunately, the person in charge of the treatment left Baston's village, and his family was unable to afford care at a different hospital. Baston's mother cares for the children at home and owns a kiosk where she sells drinks, while his father farms peanuts and maize. Baston will need to undergo further treatment to fix his clubfoot. Treatment will consist of stretching and manipulating the foot into the correct position, followed by casting, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation. After four months, Baston will no longer use the lateral part of his foot to walk. $1,160 will cover the cost of the treatment and four-month rehabilitation stay. "He will have better gait and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis," AMHF explains. "I love my little brother very much, we all do," Baston's older sister shared at their pre-operative interview. "I will be happy to see him able to walk like we do."

Ruth lives in the mountains of Haiti with her mother, grandmother, and four siblings. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us that eight-year-old Ruth "does not attend school, but likes helping her mother around the house, playing with her brothers and sisters, and singing." Ruth loses her breath and energy quickly, however, because she was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. "A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart," HCA says. "Ruth also has down syndrome." Ruth's heart condition makes it difficult for her body to circulate and process her blood efficiently. HCA explains that "because she has lived for so long with this condition, there is a chance it may no longer be repairable, but the only way to determine this is by inserting a catheter into the chambers of her heart. Since this is not possible in Haiti, arrangements are being made to bring her to Dominican Republic to perform this extremely important test in the hopes that she can have heart surgery soon." For $1500, Ruth will be taken to the Dominican Republic for the catheterization procedure that will determine whether she is a candidate for heart surgery. If she is operable, she will be prepared for surgery as soon as possible. "We are very happy that there is hope for Ruth, and hope that she will be able to have surgery," her mother says.

"When Min was walking in his village, he tripped on shrubs and fractured his left hand," shares our medical partner in Nepal, Possible. Min, a 14 year old boy, was left with a swollen and deformed elbow. He is unable to play with his siblings or attend school due to pain. “I am keen to go back to school after my treatment, I have already missed so many days,” says Min. “Min’s father is a teacher of Social Studies in his village and his mother tends to the farm to feed the family,” explains Possible. With an older brother and two older sisters to support, Min's parents cannot afford the surgery Min needs to heal. For $224, Min will undergo surgery to properly align his bones. The injured area will be plastered to allow the fracture to heal, and once his bones are properly set and healing well, he will be able to return to school.

“Chandra was walking at her neighborhood when she tangled her foot in a pipe and fell down. She tried to protect herself with her hands and since then she experiences a lot pain and swelling in her left wrist joint,” writes our medical partner, Possible. “Chandra cannot move her hands because she is in so much pain and she cannot perform her regular activities.” Chandra is 70 and lives at home with her husband. She's very hardworking. Even with her injury, she attempts to do all the household jobs—from cooking to looking after the cattle to washing clothes, while her husband sells milk from their buffaloes. It costs $205 for Chandra to receive a below elbow plaster cast which will allow her injury to heal properly. Let’s support the cost of Chandra's cast so she can continue taking care of herself and her husband!

Say hello to Marie-Maude, a 38-year-old from Haiti. Marie-Maude needs our support to complete cancer treatment and get on with her life. Marie-Maude experienced the most difficult moment of her life several months ago. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has already had surgery, but now she needs radiation and chemotherapy to complete her treatment. Marie-Maude used to work as a house helper doing cleaning, washing, and cooking, but she lost her job when she got sick. Now, she tries to sell food and cosmetic products to earn her living. Despite her hard work, the cost of cancer treatment is beyond her reach. That's where we come in. For $1,500, Marie-Maude will receive radiation and chemotherapy. Her prognosis is good, and doctors expect she will make a full recovery if she can access this treatment. Let's help her out!

Sokhom is a hardworking 51-year-old man from Cambodia. Thirty years ago, Sokhom had his right leg amputated following a land mine injury. In 2008, he broke his leg in a motorbike accident in which he also suffered a head injury and extensive nerve damage to the extent that he is no longer able to use his left hand. Despite his disabilities, Sokhom works at a construction company and does what he can. However, money is very tight. He and his wife have two daughters and two grandchildren he cares for dearly. Surgeons need to perform a tenotomy to release the contractures of his left fingers. Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) is seeking $300 to cover the cost of his treatment. Our donations will work directly to provide Sokhom much needed relief and mobility so he can continue to provide for his family.

Shwe Shwe lives with her grandparents in Burma. Her mother works as a day labourer at a construction site in Thailand, sending about $118 back to the family every four months. Shwe Shwe speaks with her mother on the phone, but has not seen her for three to four years. Because of her family's financial situation, Shwe Shwe's eye growth has gone untreated for nearly her entire life. The growth is benign, but it causes Shwe Shwe pain and impedes her vision. A few years ago, she was forced to drop out of school because of it. If left untreated, it will continue to increase in size and Shwe Shwe will be unable to open her eyelid. Burma Children Medical Fund submitted Shwe Shwe to Watsi for help funding the $1500 surgery to remove the growth and restore functionality to Shwe Shwe's eye. After receiving treatment, Shwe Shwe says she wants to join her mother in Thailand.