Meet Mesa, a 14-year-old boy from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) tells us, “Mesa has five siblings and is in the fourth grade at school. He likes to play volleyball and soccer with the kids in his school." Mesa has a condition where a defect in his skull causes brain tissue to be pushed from the cranium, causing a bulge in his face. CSC says Mesa’s condition “makes him very shy out in public.” If left untreated, it could also lead to health complications later in life. For $390, Mesa will receive surgery to repair the part of his skull responsible for his condition, leading to major improvements in both quality of life and avoidance of future health complications. Mesa says, “I am excited to go back to school with a better looking face after the operation.” Let’s help Mesa live a healthier and happier life!

Say hello to Gloria, a seven-month-old baby from Kenya. She is the youngest of five siblings and both of her parents are farmers on the quarter-acre piece of land that they own. Gloria was born with a condition called hydrocephalus, which means that she has an abnormal build-up of fluid in her brain. The buildup causes Gloria’s head to be enlarged and puts extra pressure inside of her skull. If it isn’t corrected, doctors say that the increased pressure could lead to blindness, severe headaches, brain damage, or even premature death. Because Gloria’s parents are entirely dependent on the proceeds of their farm to survive, it’s been a struggle raising funds for her surgery. Gloria’s mother says, “Both my husband and I have no means of raising the necessary funds for Gloria’s surgery, but we desire that she gets treatment as soon as possible. We pray for support.” For $980, we can fund surgery for a shunt incision to help make Gloria better. The doctors predict that with the surgery, Gloria will live a happy, normal life with no risk of blindness, brain damage, or premature death. Let’s make that a reality for Gloria!

Say hello to Innocent, a sweet, one-month old baby boy. He lives in eastern Kenya with his parents, who rely on casual jobs to earn an income. Innocent's parents are hopeful that Watsi can help provide a healthy life for their first child. Innocent was born with spina bifida, a congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the neural tube, in which a portion of the spinal cord protrudes through the skin, causing an open hole in the lower back. As a result, Innocent is at risk of developing a tethered cord, a condition in which the spinal cord attaches to the surrounding tissue. Left untreated, this leads to mobility issues and nerve damage. Innocent’s mother is optimistic that Watsi will help her son: “If I can only have my son treated, I’ll be very grateful. I am hoping that we will find support for his surgical care.”
 For $980 Innocent can receive a closure surgery to correct his spine. Surgery will prevent the development of tethered cord and mitigate Innocent’s risk of infection.