Perepetua is a 40-year-old mother who needs surgery to heal an ovarian cyst. She and her husband are both small-scale farmers, and they have 5 children, ranging in age from 2 to 18 years old. They reside in a modest 3-room mud house. Unfortunately, her husband lacks financial support, leaving her to struggle to cover her children's school fees through farming. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Two months ago, Perepetua began to experience lower abdominal pains, as well as backaches, discomfort when getting up, and difficulty turning comfortably in bed. She was diagnosed with a right ovarian cyst and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Perepetua receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a curative laparotomy, a surgery to remove the cyst, on July 7th. Perepetua and her family need help with raising $284 to fully fund the surgery. Perepetua shared, “I pray for a successful surgery so that I may continue with farming and be able to take care of my family.”

Christmaelle is a beautiful toddler from Haiti. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and three older siblings in a small fishing village in southwest Haiti. The adults in her family all fish and raise livestock for a living. Christmaelle has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole without first passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery Christmaelle needs is not available in Haiti, so she will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 28th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart with a patch so that blood can no longer leak through it. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is contributing $7,000 to pay for her surgery. Christmaelle's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and followup. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports the cost of getting passports and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Christmaelle's family overseas. Christmaelle's mother said: "Our family is praying for everyone who is helping our daughter to become healthy again!"

Nuriya is 2-year-old toddler from Ethiopia who loves his mom and dad very much and always wants to be with them. Nuriya enjoys chatting and playing with his parents. Now he also has a three-month-old baby sister. His parents are working hard to raise them both. They shared that they went through a lot as a previous immigrant in Saudi Arabia and their family now decided to stay in their home country to raise a family and support it from their homeland. Nuriya's grandparents gave his parents a small piece of land that they are now farming. However, the fruit that they farm is only enough to maintain the daily needs of the family. Nuriya was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Nuriya is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nuriya was also born with another birth condition that Watsi donors supported for treatment and his family is tremendously grateful for support. Nuriya's mother is inspired by the care he is receiving, “I hope he will be a doctor in the future. Just as the doctor who treated him and changed his health in the past, I want him to grow and treat so many kids with sickness and disability.”

Robert is a 37-year-old matatu taxi driver with two children. Recently, Robert was involved in a traffic accident where he sustained multiple fractures in his legs. He has difficulty walking and can no longer work as a driver. Fortunately, with the support of Watsi donors he was able to have his first surgery and now surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), are able to help with his final repair. On August 5th, Robert will undergo a second fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will allow Robert to walk with more ease. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. "I am hopeful I will be able to walk again. I am halfway there. I know with this surgery, I will be able to use my legs and get back to working again,” shared Robert.

Twijukye is a preschool student from Uganda. He likes playing with other children but his condition and pain makes it difficult for him to play. He is the third born in a family of four children, the two older children are in school while the youngest is still breastfeeding. His parents are small-scale farmers but oftentimes they work on other people's farms as a casual laborers. Four years ago, Twijukye developed a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. This hydrocele causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on July 14, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $146 to fund Twijukye's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Twijukye's mother shared, “I pray that my child gets relief from this condition so that he can have a better life and grow up healthy.”

Gift is one-year-old baby girl and the last born child in a family of two children. When Gift was two months old her parents noticed she was struggling to pass stool and urine, and her stomach would be very hard. They thought it was because she was still a small baby and that she would be ok as time goes by, but as time went on her condition kept worsening. Her parents are small-scale farmers of maize and vegetables for a living, and they are struggling financially. They were able to take Gift to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center ALMC Hospital, where she was diagnosed with A.R.M. and doctors advised that she would need surgery to correct the problem. She was able to get funding support for the first stage of treatment so Gift had a colostomy placed. She now needs the follow-up stage of surgery of pull through and later a colostomy closure and are seeking $1,500 to support the treatment. Gift’s mother says, “Our baby has been suffering from this condition for a while now but due to financial challenges we can’t afford the cost, please help us.”

Mujuni is a baby from Uganda. He is the youngest of three children. Mujuni’s parents are farmers. For five months, Mujuni has had an inguinal scrotal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and if not treated, it may result in intestinal tissue damage and death. Fortunately, on August 8, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Mujuni's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. His mother says, "After surgery my son will grow up in good health and I will have peace of mind."

Mbabazi is a mother from Uganda. She and her husband have two children. The family also supports the education of the four children left behind by her husband's late brother. For four years, Mbabazi has been experiencing excessive abdominal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $268 to fund Mbabazi's surgery. On November 14, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Mbabazi will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. She says, "After surgery I will continue with farming. It is our source of school fees for our children in school.’’

Sarah is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, brothers, and sisters in a rural area in the mountains of central Haiti. Her parents are both farmers. Sarah has graduated kindergarten but is not attending first grade this year because of her illness. Sarah has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This diagnosis involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a blockage of one of the valves. Sarah will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On November 10, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart with a patch and remove the muscular blockage in her valve. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Sarah'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 Sarah's family overseas. Her aunt says, "Our family is very excited for Sarah's surgery so that she can be healthy and safe, and can go to school."

Yorki is a 16-year-old boy living with his mother and father in a small city in the Dominican Republic. He has intellectual disabilities and attends a special education program, where he is learning to work as a bicycle mechanic. Yorki was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. This means a hole in his heart that normally closes shortly after birth remained open. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and unable to gain weight. Although Yorki is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. He will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Yorki will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 17. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Yorki also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Yorki's surgical care. "My family would like to say thank you," Yorki's mother expresses, "to everyone who is helping God answer our prayers for our son."

Meet Francisco, a three-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. Francisco's mother is unable to produce breastmilk. His parents were able to purchase a small amount of formula to give him, but they have only been giving him about half of what he needs, leaving him malnourished. Now, his parents have run out of money and cannot buy him any more. Francisco has been losing weight since his parents have not been able to afford the formula, weakening his immune system and putting him at risk for seizures and diarrhea, which can be life-threatening. Since he was acutely malnourished when a physician from Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, first found and visited Francisco in his home, he gave Francisco a small amount of formula to use until he could be evaluated by a nutritionist. Francisco lives with his family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. Although his mother spends her days taking care of him and his father works in the fields tending to crops, they do not have the resources to buy Francisco the formula he needs. After borrowing money from friends and family, they are out of options to pay for this expensive treatment. Although Francisco is very sick, treatment is simple and very effective. Wuqu' Kawoq's nutritionist will design a treatment for him so he will get all the proteins, calories, and nutrients he needs to grow and thrive. For $1,016, Francisco will receive twelve months of milk formula and six months of micronutrient supplementation. He will grow stronger, catch up in his growth, and be able to have a normal childhood! Let's help fund this important treatment for Francisco.