Mycko is an eight-year-old boy. He lives with his mother, father, and three sisters in a port city in southern Haiti. His father is a farmer and a construction worker, while his mother takes care of the children and the household. Mycko is in the second grade, and he enjoys going to school. Mycko was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, a series of related birth defects. There is a hole between two chambers of his heart and a muscular blockage in one of his heart valves. Oxygen does not circulate fully through his body, causing weakness and shortness of breath. Mycko flew to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On December 9, he underwent cardiac surgery to treat his condition. This $12,000 surgery was subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Mycko's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who accompanied Mycko's family overseas. "We knew Mycko had a heart problem since the time he was born," says his father, "but we always thought there was nothing anyone could do to fix it. We thank God for this chance!"

Meet Mesaidi, a three-month-old baby girl from Kenya. Mesaidi has acquired hydrocephalus, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tells us. “One month after her birth, her mother noticed that her head was increasing in size at a high rate and after several keen observations she decided to seek medical intervention,” they share. Hydrocephalus occurs as a result of a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. The extra fluid increases the pressure on the brain, and can have long-term consequences such as delayed development, brain damage, and eventually death. Mesaidi is currently displaying signs of irritability and restlessness, both early effects of the condition. With $615, doctors are able to correct this problem by inserting a small shunt into Mesaidi’s brain. The shunt will work to drain extra fluid from her brain into another body cavity, like the abdomen, where it will be absorbed normally. By removing the excess fluid, the shunt will decrease the pressure on her brain. “My only plea is that we will get funding for Mesaidi’s surgery because we have no means,” shares Mesaidi’s mother. She works as a tailor while Mesaidi’s father works as a mason, and their combined income provides only for the family’s basic needs. The funds will cover surgical supplies, medicines, and her hospital bed and meals for 5 days. The surgery will relieve the pressure on the brain and Mesaidi will no longer be at risk of the long-term damage.

"Shekina has been very sick since she was born, and I want her to be healthy and happy," says Shekina's mother, "I pray for a good result from this test." Her daughter Shekina, a three-year-old Haitian girl, needs a diagnostic heart catheterization procedure to determine her eligibility for heart surgery. Shekina's mother has stopped working as a market vendor to take care of her. "Shekina was born with a cardiac condition called complete atrioventricular septal defect, in which multiple holes exist between the upper and lower chambers of her heart," explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "Blood flows through these holes in her heart without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving her sickly and short of breath." Due to the severity of Shekina's condition, a surgical solution may not be available. However, the only way to determine this is through imaging done with catheterization. "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 later in the year," shares HCA. $1,500 covers the cost of the catheter procedure and travel arrangements such as visas and a place to stay. Following the catheterization test, Shekina's family will know with certainty whether her condition is operable or not. HCA tells us that if operable, plans will then be made to move forward with her surgery as soon as possible.

“My hope is that my son will be able to walk properly like other children," says Frank’s mother. "And when the time comes for him to start school he will have the ability to walk to school. I want him to be successful and live a better life." Frank is a happy three-month-old baby boy who lives with his two older siblings and parents in Tanzania. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) says, “Frank was born with club foot. If not treated, he will be forced to use the lateral (outer) parts of his feet for walking, which will be painful and affect his gait.” Frank's parents are small scale farmers, but their seasonal income is not enough to cover their daily needs as well as the cost of Frank’s treatment. With $1,160, AMHF will be able to provide Frank with clubfoot surgery. After surgery, "Frank will be able to walk on plantigrade when he starts to walk," AMHF adds. "That will reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the small bones at an early age."

Meet baby Lordjina! Lordjina is a four-month-old baby girl who lives with her parents and two older siblings in Haiti. Her mother is a businesswoman and her father is a casual laborer but with such a large family, they have a difficult time earning enough money for all their needs. Lordjina was born with spina bifida, an opening near the base of the spine, whch has now caused hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition causing an excessive accumulation of cerebro-spinal fluid in the brain, massive head size, and sun setting eyes due to brain pressure. If left untreated, this condition can lead to brain damage, a loss in mental and physical abilities, and even death. Lordjina’s parents are both casual laborers and cannot afford the treatment. Fortunately, we can fund a potentially life-saving treatment for $1,260. “The treatment will remove the excess fluids in Lordjina head and save her life. After the surgery, Lordjina will be able to grow up as a normal child,” reports our medical partner, Project Medishare. Let’s help Lordjina grow up healthy!

“My hope is that my son will one day be able to walk properly like the rest of my children,” says Mathayo’s mother. Meet Mathayo, a one-year-old baby boy from Tanzania. Mathayo is the youngest of five children in a family that makes a living by raising and selling cattle. However, due to dry weather conditions, grazing areas are limited which has made it harder to prosper as a cattle herder. Mathayo has been diagnosed with a bilateral clubfoot and is in need of corrective surgery. His family is unable to afford his treatment and they have turned to Watsi for help. For $1,160, Mathayo will be able to walk normally with straight feet, and will not be at risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Let’s help Mathayo get the treatment he needs!

Little Jaymar was born with a condition that prevents him from passing stool normally. This rare malformation has made it impossible for him to live a normal life. It affects his health, education, and social interactions, to the point where this eight-year-old and his family are hoping for any solution. Jaymar lives with his parents and two siblings. His father is a farmer who works hard to support their family, but the surgery Jaymar needs to live a healthy life costs more than 10 times what the family lives on per month. For $985, we can help Jaymar receive a colostomy closure that will completely cure his condition. Jaymar says he is very excited that after the operation, he will be like the other children when he returns to school. "We are so grateful that there’s an organization like you that helps us, because we can’t really afford the surgery," his parents say. "We will not forget this for the rest of our lives."

Meet Alisha, a young Nepali woman with a severe bone infection (osteomyelitis). Alisha lives on a small farm in Nepal with her husband, son, and parents-in-law. She wants to enjoy life with her family, but the infection causes severe pain and swelling in her right leg. If untreated, her bone could break and inhibit her from walking entirely. For $1,105, Alisha will be able to receive surgery to repair her bone and let her walk normally again. She can finally go back to working on her farm and helping to provide for her family. Let's help Alisha to enjoy her young adult life pain-free and without the risks of this serious condition!

Nory has a rare congenital condition called a meningoencephalocele, which is a failure of the neural tube to close completely during fetal development. This condition causes a protrusion of excess of brain fluid. If left untreated, this condition will lead to serious complications such as infection, which could be fatal. Nory is currently enrolled in school. She tells her doctors that she really wants to have surgery so that she can continue with her studies. In her hometown, the doctors have been unable to treat her condition. Her family was forced to travel elsewhere to seek treatment, an expensive undertaking in its own right. Now, they need help covering the cost of her care. For $375, Nory will receive surgery to decrease the fluid and consequential pressure in her brain. This will put Nory on the path toward safe and healthy development that every kid deserves!

Ganga Kumari is seven and loves to dance! She lives in Nepal with her mother and six siblings. She is currently in first grade and proudly reports that English is her best subject. Her mother is a farmer and herds animals, while her father works in India to earn more for the family. When Ganga Kumari was one and a half years old, she fell on a hot pot of oil and sustained severe burns on her back and thighs. To prevent lifelong disfigurement, Ganga Kumari needs plastic surgery that will cost $1,415. Let's help Ganga Kumari to pursue her education without the stigma and limited mobility that she currently faces.