Martin is a young student from Kenya. He wants to become a pastor. He is in sixth grade and has four siblings. Martin was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Martin has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Martin will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 29. AMHF is requesting $535 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I want to be a pastor when I grow up,” shares Martin.

Fro is a baby from Ethiopia. She is a cute baby girl who loves to play and laugh with people. Her father is a traditional farmer, and her mother a housewife. They have five children. Fro was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Fro is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on February 22. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Fro's procedure and care. After her recovery, Fro will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Her father says, “It is our hope that we get the next surgery and to see our child in a healthy and good position by your support.”

Ana is a five-year-old girl from Guatemala. Her mother used to work in a neighbor’s house, doing laundry, washing dishes, and preparing meals. However, she recently had to leave her job to take care of Ana. Ana has both cataracts and strabismus. Cataracts occur when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Strabismus is a condition that occurs when the eyes do not align in the same direction and appear crossed. In Ana’s case, these vision defects make it difficult to see, and they worsen over time. She has had symptoms since she was born, and often complains that she has trouble seeing. Ana needs surgery to fix these conditions. Without intervention, her vision could be irreparably damaged. Ana’s mother cannot afford to attend a consult with an eye specialist, or the expensive surgery Ana needs. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,500 to fund Ana’s eye surgery. Ana will receive further evaluation from an eye specialist and surgery to remove her cataracts and correct her strabismus. She will also receive post-op follow-up treatment and accompaniment and transportation throughout her treatment process. This surgery is safe, effective, and will positively impact Ana’s life for years to come. Ana’s mother says, “We are so grateful for this support. I hope everything will go well with the operation, and that next year Ana will go to school. She is very excited about this.”

Kyaw is a 39-year-old Burmese man. A while ago, he was working on a construction site in Thailand where a heavy piece of metal fell on his back and injured him. Due to his tough financial situation, Kyaw was not able to receive the level of medical care that he needed. A fracture in his spine soon developed into paraplegia, leaving him without the use of his legs. Due to his paraplegia, Kyaw spends much of his time in the same position. As a result, he has developed bed sores which require surgery to treat. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $851 to fund his procedure, which is scheduled to take place on June 27. Kyaw is looking forward to his surgery because it will allow him to rest comfortably again.

Meet Mekides, an adorable baby who lives with her parents in the Wolayta area of southern Ethiopia. Both her parents are students, and her father works as a driver in his free time to support the family. Mekides was born with a birth defect in a sensitive area, causing serious complications that will persist if untreated. After undergoing emergency surgery, she now requires further treatment. On August 15, surgeons will operate to address her condition. After full treatment, they expect she will be free from the medical complications she now faces. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,500 for Mekides's medical treatment.

Jackyto is a six-year-old boy from southern Haiti. He is in the first grade and likes going to school and drawing. Jackyto has four siblings and his parents are farmers. Jackyto was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This means he has a hole between two chambers of his heart and a muscular blockage in one of the heart's valves. As a result, not enough oxygen is delivered to his body, leaving him sick and weak. Although Watsi has already funded Jackyto's [transportation](https://watsi.org/profile/e95b7420cae8-jackyto) to the hospital for his surgery, he is still in need of $1,500 to cover exams, heart surgery prep, and medications. Have a Heart Cayman is also contributing $22,000 to the costs of his heart surgery. "I am so thankful Jackyto will be able to travel for his surgery!" says Jackyto’s mother.

Karin is a three-month-old boy from Kenya. His mother stays at home with him, and his father is a subsistence farmer. About one week ago, Karin suddenly lost the ability to hold his head up and began to cry incessantly. Within a few days he was also vomiting and developed a fever. Karin was then taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium that can increase pressure on the brain, causing severe mental and physical health problems. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to fund Karin's operation, which is scheduled to take place on June 19 at our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. The surgery entails insertion of a shunt in Karin's brain that will drain the excess fluid. Without treatment, Karin will be at risk of permanent brain damage, loss of vision, and even death. “We are determined to overcome this illness and not let it ruin his life, with your help," says Karin's father.

Taineng is a 68-year-old vegetable farmer who is married. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and go to the pagoda in her free time. Taineng developed a cataract in each eye about four months ago, causing her blurred vision and tearing. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any type of work, and go places by herself. Taineng worries about going blind one day. The $292 will provide for a small incision cataract surgery and a lens implant in each eye, and Taineng will be able to see clearly again. Her procedure is scheduled for May 24.

Then is a 70-year-old married woman who has four daughters and three sons. She likes to watch TV and look after her grandchildren in her free time. Diabetes has caused necrosis, or tissue death, in Then's left foot. She went to a hospital in Vietnam, but her symptoms did not improve. It is difficult for Then to walk, and she is in pain. The hospital referred Then to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). She traveled four hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform an amputation surgery on her left leg. Her treatment is scheduled for February 24. CSC is requesting $446 to help fund this treatment, as Then cannot afford it on her own. This procedure will help ease her pain and allow her to walk easily again.

Nawadia is a 79-year-old woman from central Kenya. She is the mother of six children and is a farmer on her one-acre piece of land. However, she is currently unable to farm due to her poor vision. Nawadia’s vision problems started about one year ago, when she was diagnosed with a cataract in her right eye and told to wait for the cataract to mature. Now, she needs cataract surgery that she cannot afford. If untreated, Nawadia may become permanently blind. On March 30, Nawadia will have the cataract in her right eye surgically removed at our medical partner's care center in Kenya, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $220 for Nawadia's treatment. This will pay for her surgery, medications, eye drops, and one night in the hospital. Nawadia looks forward to regaining her independence after the cataract surgery and says, “I want to cook for myself and do things on my own. I don’t want to keep disrupting my children on simple things.”

Meet Seab from Cambodia. She is a mother of seven children and a grandmother of five grandchildren. A year ago, Seab developed cataracts in both eyes, causing blurred vision. It is difficult for Seab to see clearly and go places on her own. She is worried about going blind. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), has arranged for Seab to undergo a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, followed by the implantation of an intraocular lens in each eye. This surgery will remove the cataracts and restore Seab's vision. Seab's surgery is scheduled for February 13. CSC is asking for $292 to cover the hospital and surgical fees.

Fyness is a 45-year-old mother of three from Malawi. After the loss of her husband, Fyness became the sole provider for her family. She works hard to support and raise her children. After developing troubling symptoms, Fyness went to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Physicians have scheduled her for a hysterectomy, a surgical operation to remove all or part of the uterus. The surgery is scheduled for February 7. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, has requested $643 to fund the procedure. This surgery should improve Fyness's current symptoms and protect her from further spreading of the cancer. "I give thanks to Watsi," she says.