Vitalina is a 47-year-old widow who lives with one of her granddaughters in rural Guatemala. Years ago, Vitalina sustained an accident in which she fell into a steep ravine. She severely injured her leg, and it had to be amputated. Since then, Vitalina's life has changed drastically—she can no longer work, and completing everyday tasks is a challenge. Since she is unable to work, she is dependent upon her eldest son. Without a steady source of income, Vitalina cannot cover the cost of a prosthetic leg. Receiving a prosthetic leg will change Vitalina's life. She hopes that receiving a prosthetic will allow her to find a job so that she can support herself and her granddaughter. On August 9, Vitalina will be fitted for a prosthetic leg. Now she is requesting financial support to cover her $1,166 treatment costs. "I am grateful to enter this program and receive a prosthetic leg. I will work very hard doing my physical therapies so that I can do more things," shares Vitalina.

Lah is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She works with an organization that promotes women’s empowerment and involvement in public life. Her husband is a soldier. They are supported financially by friends and community supporters, so their income is sporadic. For the past ten years, Lah has always had a slight stomachache. She received investigative tests in Burma, but they were inconclusive. She was prescribed oral medication, but it didn’t help. Her stomach pain was more intense around meal times and was accompanied by acid reflux and back pain. In April 2017, the pain intensified. It was sometimes so severe that she felt she couldn’t breathe. She went to a clinic for testing and was diagnosed with a gallstone, which requires surgery. On October 4, Lah will undergo a cholecystectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 to help fund the treatment. Lah says, "I look after women and children in my area. Those I care for are frequently discriminated against, and I am responsible for helping them support themselves and survive discrimination. I regret being unable to support the people who depend on me during my treatment, and I am hopeful that I can return to them soon."

Joy is a two-year-old girl from Kenya. She is her parents' only child. They live together in a house near her father's shop. About one month ago, Joy's parents began to notice that she was not responding to sound. They took her to the hospital, where they ran auditory tests. Doctors recommended that Joy receives hearing aids. Her parents then brought her to our medical partner in search of assistance. The audiologist believes that Joy's hearing can be restored with the help of hearing aids. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $929 to fund Joy's hearing aids. She is scheduled to be fitted for this new assistive device on July 5. After treatment, she will be able to hear and her speech development will improve. “My happiness will be to see Joy able to hear and talk,” Joy’s mother says.

Andy is a 12-year-old boy from Dominican Republic. He lives with his parents. His mother works as an office administrator, and his father works as a chef to support their family. Andy enjoys going to school and watching baseball on TV. Andy was born with a complex congenital heart condition that involves many defects including one heart valve that does not open and close properly, causing blood to back up into his heart, and leaving him feeling weak and short of breath. Throughout his childhood, Andy has undergone many heart surgeries to repair his heart. This surgery is the last one he needs to repair his mitral valve. Andy will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On August 31, he will undergo cardiac surgery. This $27,000 surgery is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman. Andy's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Andy's family overseas. Although Andy is not from Haiti, Haiti Cardiac Alliance is collaborating with partners to make his surgery possible. "I would like to share my entire family's gratitude to everyone who is helping my son become healthy!" says Andy's mother.

Radiet is a fourteen-month-old baby girl from Ethiopia. She is a cheerful baby, and she loves to eat rice and eggs. Upon learning about her child's condition, Radiet's mother had to stop working. She and her child are now supported by their community, which helps them to cover the cost of food and rent. Radiet was born with anorectal malformation, a birth defect in which the rectum or the anus fails to form properly. As a result, Radiet cannot pass stool normally. The costs of her medical care have worsened the family's financial standing, and Radiet and her mother additionally suffer from discrimination by some community members. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a colostomy and corrective surgery for Radiet. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 4 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Radiet to live comfortably and confidently again. Radiet's mother says, “I am all alone. I love my baby and I would give her all I have. Once my child got surgery, I would do everything in my power to raise her well. And now all I pray for is for her to get the treatment."

Kevin is a 22-year-old man who lives with his family in Guatemala’s rural highlands. During the week, he works at a factory that makes thread, and on the weekends, Kevin takes university classes. He hopes that after he graduates he will be able to find a good job and secure a better future for himself. Kevin’s family only earns enough money to cover their basic household needs. Kevin has always had problems with his eyesight, but has not been able to go to the doctor and get his eyes checked. However, a month ago, Kevin got the opportunity to attend a free clinic to get his eyes checked. At the clinic, Kevin was diagnosed with myopia, or nearsightedness. In order to fix his blurry vision and his inability to see faraway objects, Kevin needs glasses. The $552 requested by our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will allow Kevin to receive glasses fit with prescription lenses and includes all of the necessary labs, equipment, and physician time. These glasses will help Kevin see better, which will help him in his work and studies. With this support, Kevin will be able to live and work easier, so that he can continue to work towards his dreams. Kevin is very grateful to all of Watsi's donors for pooling their resources to help people like himself.

Gritlie is a four-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city, with her parents and three siblings. Her father is a teacher, and her mother works at home. Gritlie goes to preschool and enjoys playing with her friends and watching cartoons. Gritlie was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. This means that there is a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sick and short of breath. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to cover the air transportation costs for her operation. She is scheduled to receive treatment on June 8 at our medical partner's care center, Health City Cayman Islands. "We are all praying that Gritlie's surgery goes well," Gritlie's mother says. "and that she will become healthy afterward."

Ny is a 43-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have three sons and a daughter. In his spare time, Ny likes to fish and plant vegetables around his home. In January, Ny sustained an injury to his left hand, damaging his ulnar nerve. The injury continues to cause Ny pain and interfere with his ability to work. With his symptoms unresolved after an initial treatment, Ny traveled with his wife to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On February 22, surgeons there will perform a nerve and tendon repair procedure to allow him to use his hand again. CSC is requesting $450 to fund this treatment.

Ma Nyein is a dressmaker who lives with her son and extended family in Burma. In early 2016, Ma Nyein had an accident in her home, which resulted in chronic, severe pain on the left side of her head and numbness in her left eye. She was no longer able to work as a dressmaker. After the use of prescribed painkillers did not help, she consulted an eye surgeon. After numerous diagnostic procedures, Ma Nyein was found to have a large cyst on her optic chiasm. The optic chiasm is the point in the brain where the optic nerves cross. The optic nerves are pathways that carry information from the eyes to the brain. The cyst on Ma Nyein’s optic chiasm needs to be surgically removed. On February 8, Ma Nyein will undergo a cyst excision procedure. She needs help to fund this $1,500 surgery. Ma Nyein says, "I am excited to have surgery and get well soon. I plan to start sewing as soon as I recover from this illness."

Steven is a 10-year-old fourth grade student from the Dominican Republic. He lives with his mother, brothers, and grandparents. His favorite subject in school is science, and he hopes to be a doctor one day. When not studying, Steven likes to play soccer with his brothers. Steven was was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. As a result, blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Steven feeling sickly and weak. On February 7, Steven will visit our medical partner's care center, Hospital Pediatrico Robert Reid Cabral, for a cardiac assessment that includes exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to fund his cardiac assessment, as well as his medications and social support. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Steven's surgical care. "I am happy to have surgery so that afterward I will be able to run as fast as my oldest brother!" says Steven.

Yi Swe is a 55-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with a cardiac condition, mitral valve stenosis. This means that a valve in her heart has narrowed and blocks blood flow. Throughout her life, Yi Swe has lived in nine different cities and towns in Burma, and for the past three years she has lived the capital. She has worked for a government agency since 1981. She lives with her two sisters. Their monthly income is enough to cover their daily expenses, but they cannot afford expensive healthcare. In 1990, Yi Swe noticed the symptoms of her cardiac condition for the first time. She grew tired easily and was sleeping poorly. She first sought care at a local clinic. The clinic gave her medication, which helped to improve her symptoms. In December of the same year, Yi Swe’s condition grew more severe. She was very tired and had difficulty breathing. She visited a hospital in Rangoon, where she underwent blood and urine tests and an x-ray. The doctor drained fluid from her lungs and performed a mitral valvotomy to open the narrowed valve. The surgery greatly improved her condition. For the next 25 years, Yi Swe’s condition was markedly better. However, in 2015, her original symptoms returned. She sought care at a local hospital. Over three visits, she underwent blood and urine tests, an x-ray, an echocardiogram, an electrocardiogram, and an ultrasound. She was advised to undergo a mitral valve replacement, and she was scheduled to receive surgery three years in the future, in 2019. Yi Swe started to look for an alternative treatment option and was eventually referred to our medical partner. On December 19, 2016, she underwent a mitral valve replacement. Throughout this whole process, Yi Swe has been working to pay for her treatments. Now, she needs help to fund this final $1,500 surgery.

Heang is a 63-year-old woman with two sons, three daughters, and six grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. Three years ago, Heang developed a pterygium in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and discomfort. Heang traveled for four hours with her son to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. On December 26, eye surgeons at CSC removed the pterygium from each eye to allow Heang to see clearly again. Now, CSC is requesting $148 to fund this procedure. "I hope my eyes feel more comfortable," says Heang, "so that I can do any kind of work and go anywhere outside easily."